Anyone like to help try and solve a local history mystery? Very little to go on but we've had some success before!

[YeOldeTrot]

Hello

I'm back and calling on the Mumsnet history sleuths

I posted last month with a little jewellery box and we made some fascinating discoveries but this one is TOUGH

So, we have a photo. This photo was clearly once in a newspaper - possibly North Wilts Herald.

The couple in this photo are receiving bunches of flowers and it's believed that it was their Golden Wedding Anniversary and they were having their pic taken for the paper.

As for the year ... hard to say but clearly late 60s - early ish 70s?

So we've not got much.

Any pointers appreciated

You may have already tried but there's a Facebook group called family history and photography. It's brilliant for this type of mystery.

No, look closely at the leaves, they are chrysanthemums.

My late DM had glasses like that in the mid-late 60's. Judging by the gentleman's tie, the 70's kipper ties had not yet made an appearance.

Another thought - could it have been a joint retirement?

I think you have to be a bit careful dating off ties. A man might buy a black tie and use it for events for 50 years - not that I would know anyone like that.

The relatively narrow black tie is pretty timeless. Older blokes are not known for being avid followers of fashion.

Shirts a bit different because they wear out and fit people differently and as people get older they tend to put on weight. So shirt collars much more reliable for dating.

That’s a good spot with the reflections. Looks like the property opposite is also a bungalow.

Ooh lots of things to work through - thank you all

@DrCoconut I'll join that group! Worth a shot. I know the answer is out there somewhere because this is a newspaper photo so it's gotta be there!

Could local estate agents help, maybe they would recognise the type of property.

Sorry haven't read the whole thread so I might be repeating someone.
I grew up in Wantage.
The local paper is the Wantage Herald.
Now a paper spread over South Oxfordshire and published by the Herald Series. The front page now covers Wantage & Grove, with pages inside from other towns.

@SomethingUniqueThisTime ha! I am one of the local estate agents and it's got me beat!

@toomuchlikemyusername they look great in colour! Thank you

There are a few old wantage fb groups. Worth trying there.

@Fitzbillie very good spot about what's reflected. It's definitely a large tree in full bloom and yep, could be on a green

Not in the same area but my grandparents house was built in 1970 and has the exact same windows. It may be later than the 60’s.
my great grandma had glasses like that well into the 70’s

They're not in their 50s. My grandparents didn't look any different from all their pals and they looked like that when they were in their 60s

It may be their diamond wedding anniversary

Not sure if you've already answered this but unless you know for certain, it doesn't look like an anniversary photo to me. It looks like they are home crysanth growers (we used to have an old guy who turned his front garden into a mini crysanth farm), and they're showing off their flower harvest. Maybe it's a story about their home business?

@Mementomorissons I've asked the historian if it's definitely an anniversary pic or if there's any chance it could be another occasion

Try the Newbury Past & Present Facebook group. There are some amazing sleuths on there!

Haven't read the whole thread but that front door is identical (with the mesh insert in the glass) to the one from my childhood. When we moved to our new council house built in late 60's early 70's. It may help to narrow down the bungalow if it was a council one?

I’m not sure it’s a golden wedding -perhaps they have made the bouquets for others.
Not many bouquets were given out in the past -not everyone had cars. Let alone a flower delivery van. Or roses flown in from Africa.
G weddings were usually photos of the couple cutting the GW cake.
in the left window is reflection of another little bungalow and in the right full size trees.

I don’t think anniversary.
flowers in bouquets and purposely taken shot in front of flowers in the garden. This could be a back garden not front, with reflection of the row behind not opposite.

I think they are showing off flowers that have won a prize, as has been suggested before. Why on an anniversary would you get several random bunches of acetate wrapped flowers? You’d be more likely to pose them outside the door directly holding a card and flowers, or a cake.

this is more to do with the flowers if you think logically!

Yes I agree with this idea, they look proud - like they are showing off the flowers, rather than more coy expressions you normally get on anniversary photos. I think the photographer wouldn’t have had the foreground flowers in the composition and would have suggested standing more closely with perhaps only one bouquet in the wife’s arms.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/free-photo-restoration/ help date photos

It’s definitely a front door, you can see the door bell.

Going by the woman's hairstyle (I'd say rollers and a stint under a dryer hood there) it looks like how DM had her hair late 60s early 70s.

Are there tags / cards or anything like that on the wrapped flowers?

They might not be the recipients of the flowers.

I suspect a 50th wedding anniversary but...