Hilda's engagement and wedding rings
Hilda's engagement and wedding rings
Painting by Ronnie's mother as an art student
Painting by Ronnie's mother as an art student
A poignant letter from 1937
A poignant letter from 1937
The vicar of Rochdale Parish Church pleads for someone to give Ronnie's brave, educated and very talented, but deeply impoverished mother a decent job.
Wilfred in uniform
Wilfred in uniform
Hilda's father in his Royal Warwickshire Regiment uniform before he was injured in the First World War.
Image restored by Nick Foster at www.photo-restoration.co
Childhood memories
Childhood memories
Hilda and Ronnie had drastically different childhoods. In this entry in a "Grandparents' Book", written by Hilda on behalf of both of them, we are told that Hilda was happy at home, and went on holiday to the seaside for a whole week every year. Ronnie remembers that his family was so poor he had to eat dry crusts, and only ever had one day trip to Blackpool.
"When we are married" 1946
"When we are married" 1946
This is the play, "When we are married", by J.B.Priestly, put on by St John's amateur dramatic society in 1946, which Hilda writes about in her letters. She is seated, second on the right in the picture.
Honeymoon postcard
Honeymoon postcard
The letters, the suitcases, and Hilda's favourite flowers
The letters, the suitcases, and Hilda's favourite flowers
Hilda and Peggy
Hilda and Peggy
Ronnie about to win a race
Ronnie about to win a race
He is the one dressed all in white. The date was 14th July 1951.
Three generations of the family
Three generations of the family
Wilfred, Ronnie, Hilda, Wendy and Edith in 1957