Mystery photographs

The Together Trust has a number of photograph albums within its collection, which contain various images of the young people under its care as well as the different buildings used and events attended. Many of these photographs have been labelled by the committee members who put them together, either with the name of the young person or the event that was being attended. The photograph below for example, highlights that the group of girls shown were from the Heathfield Home and were about to be emigrated to Canada in 1885.

Girls from Heathfield to Canada

Other images within the collection are not as clear as to their origin. Their inclusion within the books suggests that they are taken at a Refuge event or within one of the homes, but no accompanying detail been included.

Man with donkey

 

The photograph shown above, for instance, has not been annotated. This shows an unknown man with a donkey which has just won 1st prize, presumably at a fete or festival. It is assumed that the photograph shows a staff member or that the fete itself was raising money on behalf of the Refuge. Without accompanying information however it is impossible to recognise the significance of this image within the collection.

Sometimes however a mystery photograph allows your imagination to run wild. I hope the winning donkey (who I’ve named Phil) went on to bring joy to some of the slum children within the charity’s care. Whether it did or not we’ll never know.