This week's photograph from Sepia Saturday shows probably a father and son proudly posed by a car, displaying on its bonnet, a collection of winning shields. I have opted for the obvious - photographs of family and cars.
My parents wth my Aunt Fran in the middle, with my brother and I - c.1950.
I have my pigtails pinned on top of my head, Austrian style.
The car as the backcloth c.1957 for this family picnic with my aunt Edith.
Why on earth was my brother photographed amongst all that litter (not created by our picnic, I am sure)? My father was a sales representative for the firm which manufactured the popular drink Lucozade and I think Chris was demonstrating it here for a mock advert.
My elegant mother by an impressive looking car, c.1937. My father was the first on either side of the family to drive a car, which was part of his work as a commercial traveller.
Fast
forward 30 years on, to 1968 (this photograph was dated) - my mother this time atop
of the car - I am surprised that my father allowed someone to sit on
the bonnet.
Mum with her sister, my Aunt Edith, c.1965 - in the far background the very feint image of the Forth Rail Bridge (built 1882 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and in the foreground the tower of the new Forth Road Bridge.
Sunday afternoons often meant we drove out to see the building of the Forth Road Bridge. Before then, you had to join the queue at South Queensferry to cross the River Forth on a ferry, first established by Queen Margaret of Scotland in the 11th century to transport pilgrims to Dunfermline Abbey and St. Andrew's . The opening in 1964 by the Queen of the 1.6 mile Road Bridge - at the time the longest suspension bridge outside the USA - was a major event in Scottish transport linking Edinburgh with the north east of the country. (I always like adding a bit of trivia history to a post!)
Band of brothers - my father with his eldest brother Fred.
A happy photograph of my father
I have shown this photograph before on my blog, but it fits this week's theme so well. This was my husband's first car -
a silver grey Ford Escort, bought just a few weeks before we first met
in 1970 -ou can tell the decade from my mini skirt! My husband was always proud of his cars and looked after them well.
This brings back memories of our engagement. It must have been love,
that he actually suggested I sit on top of the car for this photograph -
not something he has ever allowed since! But note the thoughtful touch of the tartan rug!
1972 and we had graduated to a bronze Ford Cortina in anticipation of the birth of our daughter, so a larger car was called for with room for the pram and all
the baby paraphernalia etc. as we visited both sets of parents and relations.
My brother (the tiny tot in the first photograph) with his pride and joy - pity the car bonnet was cut off the image!
The car daughter and I hired on our trip to New England in 1996 - my first visit there since I had spent a year working in Cambridge, Mass 1965-66. This was in Falmouth, Cape Cod where we stayed in this wonderful cottage and made a magical trip on a beautiful Autumn day sailing across to Martha's Vineyard.
Lots of happy memories in a nostalgic post!
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Sepia Saturday give bloggers an opportunity
to share their family history through photographs
A delightful selection of cars and family. I must get to work on my post so I won't be late.
ReplyDeleteA neat selection of family and cars - and mostly car bonnets too! The instant I saw the picture of your Mum and Aunt Edith I recognized the Forth Rail Bridge and tower of the Forth Road Bridge! That was such a wonderful trip. If there weren't so many other places I'd love to see, I'd almost want to make that trip again! Then, in scrolling down, I came to the picture of you with the '72 bronze Ford Cortina. I think I've mentioned it before, but SNAP - about the same time we bought a tan Ford Maverick! :)
ReplyDeleteLovely family photos with the beautiful old cars. Cars have a lot less that distinguishes one maker from another.
ReplyDeleteLove the cars and the stories that go with them. My fav is your mother in 1937.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and interesting narrative. We never actually photographed our cars - no idea why not. I did enjoy your shots.
ReplyDeleteLots of different cars but I notice the composition of the photos are much the same, as though there is a correct way to take car with humans photos. Great post.
ReplyDeleteA fine medley. Next to children and pets the best clue for dating an old family photo is a car. Personally I can easily divide my adult life into car\truck eras.
ReplyDeleteCars were plainly a big deal in your family. I love that photo of you on the car!! Even though I’ve seen it before, I hadn’t noticed the rug previously...definitely needed given it looks cold and those bare legs :)
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind comments. The thing is now we have no photographs of our cars, since the Ford Cortina above taken in 1972. It just never occurred to take any as a record.
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