Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

My son's class have been learning about times gone by, and have already paid a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, where they were most perturbed to learn that at one time they'd have been required to amuse themselves with a hoop and stick, and that even their teacher (37) remembers a time before Nintendo DSi. Next up is 'holidays past', and whilst looking through my stash of family photographs to find some he could take into school, I unearthed this. I think it's great photograph in itself, but even more propitiously for my blog, I've just discovered that someone's taken the time to date it on the back -  Hastings,16th June 1927 - so exactly 84 years ago today.

Cornettos all round then?

Ooh, they're having a gay old time, aren't they? And who's that pater familias glowering at the back like The Godfather? Why it's Great-Grandad George, whom you may remember from a previous post. Yes, he of being dressed up as his late twin sister fame! My Great-Granny May is seated on the left, and the dowager on the right must be my Great-Great-Grandmother. The little boy at the front is my Grandad Phil, now 88, the one who grew up to join the airforce and deface the Pyramids.

I love that the one concession to the fact that they are on a beach is that the kids have no shoes on - "Go, be barefoot and free, on the stoniest bit of beach known to mankind!" - otherwise they could all be going to Church. If you look closely you'll see a spade as well - presumably to tunnel their way to the Algarve.

Hope you enjoyed this little Thursday Flashback!

Lakota x

Linking up to Sepia Saturday

PS. Welcome all new followers, I see I've now passed 250, so I'll be doing another giveaway soon to say thanks. And if you need any more of my ramblings, come and say hi on my new Facebook page.