Published: Thursday, 7th May, 2009 11:00am

Retro: Mad dogs and Englishmen

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I REALISE that trying to find a connection between this photograph and the town of Reading may well turn out to be impossible but I thought I"d try.

In any case, the photograph is worthy of study because of its unintentional humour.

It has been in the 'problems" box for years, and often makes me smile as I sift through the unidentified pictures.

We must be somewhere in the colonies, and probably in the tropics, about 1890, and those three gents really are wearing collars and ties, three-piece suits, and pith helmets. The early motor-car, with no licence plate, round radiator and very wide mudguards, is hilarious.

When it rained, I suppose two of the gents would have opened umbrellas to protect the driver and themselves.

One would guess that the servants are in that thatched bungalow with a shady verandah, keeping cool. The small dog looks as though it may have been brought from England. The three men probably dressed and behaved much as they had in England. There is nothing written on the photograph to suggest who the men are, or where they might be, or when.

Maybe they are members of one of the land-owning families near here, though so far I haven"t been able to identify them.

If anyone is able to help, I"d be grateful - information about the people, the style of house, and the car would be welcome.

Call Adam Hewitt on 0118 963 3152.