This charming photo of youngsters dressed for the carnival in 1927 was taken by the Burgess photographers.

Children in fancy dress for Market Lavington Hospital Week in 1927

We know the names of many of the children. From left to right they are:

• Bessie Gye who later became Bessie Francis, the wife of Peter who took over the photography business
• Tom Gye, the soldier, is still living in the village.
• The tall girl is Lily Drury
• Bob Drury is dressed as a golly – now politically incorrect but blacking up was not seen as any kind of a problem then.
• Eric Hopkins looks to be a bus conductor.
• The next two boys are not named. I wonder if anybody can help there.
• This brings us to Peggy Welch as a flower girl. Peggy married Tom Gye and was, of course, our museum founder.
• The next girl is actually Peggy’s brother, Tony Welch.
• The right hand girl is Phyllis Hatswell who appears to be dressed as a candle.

Bessie and Tom Gye and Lily Drury from a photo at Market Lavington Museum

Here we have zoomed in on Bessie and Tom Gye and Lily Drury.

Behind them we get a seasonal clue for stooks of corn stand in the field. It was harvest time.