Published: Thursday, 20th November, 2008 12:00pm

Retro: What's the occasion?

by David Cliffe

THIS week's picture was taken by Cyril May of Reading, and from the clothes I would guess that it dates from the inter-war years.

To enable me to catalogue it for the library's collection I need to know who these people are, what the occasion is, and where they are. I realise that this is something of a tall order!

The gentleman in the pin-striped trousers and tail-coat is obviously the centre of attention. The two older ladies to the left are wearing the fashions of their younger days, whereas the younger woman on the right wears something more contemporary.

People's attitude to wearing animal fur has changed completely in the years since the picture was taken. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, fur was something of a status symbol.

For one thing, it was expensive. At the time, Reading had its own furrier - Brahams, at 146 Friar Street, where Specsavers the opticians now is. During the summer, Brahams could keep your furs in their cold store for a fee, to preserve them.

The three ladies are smiling, or almost smiling, but the two gentlemen who stand behind them are looking rather severe. The man in the lighter coloured suit wears a very large, star-shaped badge on his lapel. Does anyone know its significance?

The building behind the group could be an institution or public building, but it could equally well be a large private house. Three sets of French windows, one of them open, lead onto a terrace, with steps leading down from it, and there are roses trained on the wall.

The photographer, Cyril May, did a lot of work for local papers, and this may well be a press photograph. If you recognise any of these people, or the location, please get in touch.

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