Party time of their lives

ITH a big white bow in her hair and her party dress on, Jean Broughton looks like she is having a great time at this Christmas party.

She is one of the children on this photograph, taken during the festive season in 1947, who are clearly enjoying themselves.

Jean spotted herself, just to the left of the centre of the picture.

She has her mouth open and someone’s hand on her shoulder and is between a girl who also has her mouth open and one with dark rimmed, round glasses.

“I would have been nine-years-old when the photo was taken,” she said.

“My dad, Les Broughton, worked as a lorry driver at London Brick and then went into the offices at Phorpres House in Peterborough when he was a bit older.

“I can’t remember how many years he worked there but it was a long time. My uncle, Les Wise, used to drive one of the double decker buses that would have picked us up and taken us to the party.

“I think there were several of them.

“I think he worked for London Brick as a bus driver.”

Jean was born and grew up in Fletton and went to Old Fletton County Primary School in High Street, where many of her classmates also had parents working for the London Brick Company.

She recognised the girl on her right, whose mouth is obscured, as Pat Spreckley, and told us Violet Sawyer was the girl directly in front of Pat. one year.

“My brother, who is seven year younger than me, remembers go to the pantomime at the Embassy Theatre instead.”

happy days: Jean Cuthbert was known as Jean Broughton when she attended this children’s Christmas party, organised by the London Brick Company at Phorpres Club in Peterborough, as a nine-year-old.