Family snaps were shared

IN this week’s Memory Lane feature we are taking a look at family photographs sent to us by reader Tim Nuttall.

The first picture of the week (above) shows a local Home Guard unit during the Second World War. Tim said: “Like so many family photos, this one has nothing written on the back apart from the photographer’s stamp (A Constantine MIBP, Leigh Bank Studio, Haslingden).

“In the middle of the front row, legs crossed and wearing spectacles, is my uncle, Jim Nuttall.

“Born in Rawtenstall in June 1923, Jim would have been only 16 when the war broke out in September 1939 and the Home Guard was set up the following May.”

Tim added that his uncle Jim went on to join the regular Army, reaching the rank of sergeant before retiring in the late 1960s or early 70s.

Tim also sent us a photograph (right) of his parents, then-Alderman William (Bill) Holliday Nuttall and Alice Nuttall, who were the first deputy mayor and mayoress to wear the Rossendale deputies’ badges of office.

They can be seen being presented with the badges at a council meeting in the council chamber at Rawtenstall Town Hall during their year of office in 1962/3.

Tim explained that the deputy mayor and mayoress’ badges of office were used by the deputy mayor and mayoress of Rawtenstall borough from 1962, until the abolition of Rawtenstall as an independent borough in 1974.

He added: “When on official duties, the mayor and mayoress would always wear the official chain of office, but until 1962 the deputies didn’t have anything to denote their status.

“The then-mayor, Alderman Fred Haworth, suggested that the deputies should have badges of office to wear when on official duties and he persuaded Rossendale Rotary Club to buy these and give them to the borough.

“Alderman Haworth was a Rotarian and the Rotary Club agreed to his suggestion to mark his term of office as mayor of Rawtenstall.”

Finally, Tim has also shared images from a 12-page booklet produced by Rawtenstall Borough Council - and printed by ‘Free Press, Rawtenstall’ - to mark the presentation to Rossendale Male Voice Choir of an illuminated album ‘in honour of the choir’s achievements during the past 30 years’.

There is a picture of the choir and a list of their successes, as published in the booklet (below right).

Tim explained: “The The leather-bound album, with two vellum pages, was presented at a special council meeting held on December 8, 1953 where the mayor of Rawtenstall, Alderman Harry Turner, proposed a council motion recognising, amongst other things, the choir’s ‘achievement in being awarded the First Prize for Male Choirs at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 1952 and again in 1953’.

“The motion also recognised ‘the able and inspiring leadership of their conductor conductor, Mr Fred Tomlinson’. The ceremony was attended by the chairman of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the chairman of Llangollen Urban District Council and was followed by a short concert by the choir.”

Do you have any memories or pictures to share? Please get in touch with the newsdesk.

Many thanks to all our regular contributors.