This week's pictures from the past

A little while ago we carried a shot showing the magnificent Park Hall at Oswestry – it burned down in 1918 – at the end of a long avenue of trees. That prompted John Powell, of Oswestry, to e-mail us this shot, not of the hall itself, but of the gate house.

"I have come across a glass plate negative of the Park Hall Gate House," he said.

"This glass plate was among a collection of similar negatives, one of which is dated 1907.

"The Gate House is still there as a private dwelling and in the times of the army camp, it was the guard room. Looking at it now, there is quite a short front path to the house. On the attached picture, there is a long front path and garden in front of the Gate House before Burma Road was constructed.

"The glass plates came from Rogers Coachbuilders who had a factory on The Horsemarket, Oswestry, on the opposite side from the rear of the Powis Hall."

This is George Rogers of Rogers Coachbuilders, who had a factory on The Horsemarket, Oswestry, standing on a caravan in about 1907.

The photo was e-mailed in by John Powell, of Oswestry, and is one of a number of glass plate negatives that he has from Rogers Coachbuilders. "The pictures have been in my possession for many years," he said. "I have made contact prints previously but have recently acquired a scanner that will scan large format negatives at high resolution.

"That has prompted me to have a further look at some old negatives and glass slides from the past. The other glass negatives from the set of George Rogers Coachbuilders have members of his family and his employed workmen."

This photo is not the best quality, but has topical interest. This week, as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, the Midland Gliding Club at the Long Mynd has been having a Vintage Glider Week in which a number of visitors have taken along some very old wooden gliders.

Among them, on loan from the Brooklands Museum, is a 1939 Gull 3, which was flown from the Long Mynd by Prince Bira, a Thai prince who was a member of the club from 1945 to 1951. This particular glider is not cleared to fly these days.

Our picture shows Prince Bira and his dog, his companion in the cockpit. The location of the picture is unconfirmed, but may be the Long Mynd shortly after the war, and it's possible the glider is the one that is on display.

Camera call for pupils six decades ago

Meet the children of Donnington Wood School in about 1950. Front, from left, are: Robert Johnson, Tony Money, Ronnie Honeywell, unknown, Alan Bourne, Jimmy Austen, Len Lloyd. Second row: Bernard Taylor, Clifford Biddulph, Amy Price, Ann Ellis, Valerie Howells, Wendy Ford, unknown, Ian Cochrane, unknown.

Third row: Jean Cobb, Doreen Davis, unknown, Cynthia Jeeves, Pat Ost, Janet Mansell, Diane Martin, Vera Carter, unknown, Paulette Alim, Angela Byrne, Vivian Acton. Fourth row: Two unknowns, John Owen, Dave Roberts, Peter Plimmer, Michael Molyneux, unknown, Keith Gaut, Michael Houlston, unknown, Dennis Easter, Mrs Withington (teacher).

The picture was brought in by Ron Honeywell, of Trench, but originally of Donnington. Ron said: "Can anyone help with the other names? 1950 is a long time ago."

This trio were competing at the 1951 Shrewsbury Musical and Floral Fete – i.e. Shrewsbury Flower Show – where they came second in the Pony Club's inter branch jumping competition.

From left are Ann Maiklem, her twin sister Betty, from Bridgnorth, and Janet Davis, from Wall Furlong Farm, Sidbury. They were riding for the Wheatland Hunt Pony Club. Janet, who was just 15 at the time, loaned us this picture. She was riding Danny Boy The IX. She is now Mrs Janet Williams, from Stottesdon. The late Ann was later Mrs Head, and Betty became Mrs Brookes.

A hunt meeting at the More Arms pub, Shelve, some time in the 1930s, although we don't know which hunt it is. This is one of a number of pictures loaned by Mrs Freda Elkes, of Ketley. Her maiden name is Oliver and she was born at the More Arms in 1939. Her parents Clive and Daisy took over the More Arms pub and hotel on June 18, 1934, immediately after their marriage. They were there for 14 to 15 years.