Reuniting photos with families - Fleetwood, Lancs

Hi all

This is a bit of a long shot, but I thought it was worth a go...


I recently purchased a group of photos of men who served in the Second World War. They seem to have been collected for an exhibition at some point, as they all have labels with their names.
All the men seem to be from the Fleetwood area, and have worked for the same company or organisation.
One of the photos indicates that it should be returned to the owner, but sadly this was not done. So I am hoping to return these to family members now, if people want them.


If anyone reading the forum recognises any of the following names, and knows that a relative from Fleetwood, Lancashire served during the Second World War, I would be very happy to hear from them.

Family names are:

Barrowclough photo returned to the family!
Colley
Coulthurst photo returned to the family!
Craven photo returned to the family!
Dickinson
Dickson
Fielding
Hardern photo returned to the family!
Hetherington photo returned to the family!
Hudson
Leadbetter
Ligo photo returned to the family!
Moon
Parkinson
Paley
Robson photo returned to the family!
Snape
Spivey
Stansfield
Swarbrick photo returned to the owner!
Thompson
Ward
Whiteside photo returned to the family!

There doesn't seem to be a British Legion group in Fleetwood anymore, but I will be contacting the local paper too. I've done a quite a few searches on the internet, but haven't come up with anything.
If I can return a couple of photos it'd be a good result.

Cheers
Matt

 

Hi I am originally from Fleetwood but left in 1970 and now live in Cape Town. There is "Fleetwood Past" on Facebook and I am sure there are people there who can help you. There are names on your list that are familiar to me but I can't really help you. You could also contact Richard Gillingham at Fleetwood Museum.

If you are not on Facebook I can post the names for you.

Anything I can do to help. Just sorry my Dad's name isn't there
Diane

 

Matt,
Do you just have the surnames, no first names or initials?
Guy

 

Hi

Yes, there are initials or first names, but I didn't list them here. Some forums are not too happy about listing details about people who may still be living without their approval, so I was being cautious. Happy to share full info with anyone who is interested.

Matt

 

I'm happy to take a look if you want to PM the names?
Guy

 

Hi all

Just an update - Diane kindly posted the appeal to the Fleetwoods Past group on facebook, and this has resulted in one photo being reunited with the family of the man - Tom Hetherington, who served with the East Lancs Regt during the war. There were also a lot of other enquiries and there is another possible lead as well. I am also hoping that the local paper is going to put an appeal in.

Guy - thanks for your offer to help as well. If the offer is still open, I will be in touch after we've dealt with the responses from the facebook group and (hopefully) the paper.

Thanks everyone!

Cheers
Matt

 

Hi

Another update - one more photo returned - RAF man Ray Coulthurst returned to his family, thanks to Diane's help again!

Matt

 

Hi

I just updated the list - more photos returned, some in response to an article in the local Fleetwood newspaper.

Matt

 

Well done Matt!

 

I've made a couple of updates to the list as I've managed (with considerable help from DianeE) to return a few more photos.

One photo was actually sent back to the chap in the picture - now 95 years young!

 

Brilliant effort Matt, congratulations. And well done to Diane for her superb contribution.

 

Excellent work everybody. I would love to find the photo of my Dad RASC NW Europe posing with Monty. My Dad had sculpted a small bust of Monty and fixed it to the front of his Tipper truck. It was pointed out to the General and his photographer captured it on camera.

 

Matt
There is a free magazine that is delivered to every house/flat in the Fleetwood area called Fleetwood Town it maybe worth contacting them and asking if they will do an article for you.
POC is link-mag.co.uk

 

Thanks for the idea Oldman - I will look into this!

I've just updated the list - another photo returned to the family this month!