This is one of those pictures I wish I had taken.
We are at the official opening of the Mancunian Way on May 5th, 1967, which was a Friday, and I suspect that accounts for the number of children in the crowd.
Doing the ceremonial bit, was the Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor, Mrs. Nellie Beer, O.B.E., J.P., and because they are on the plaque, Councillor S.C. Rimmer, Chair of the Highways Committee, his deputy, Councillor Ken Franklin, the Town Clerk and representatives from City Engineers and Surveyors, along with those from the construction firms.
But what captures your attention, is the crowd.
It may have been small compared to some events, but it is a busy picture, with lots going on, from the serious looking faces of some of the adults, to the mix of emotions from the young people, including the girl distracted by something. and the lad beside her clearly “off script”.
And yes, that does look like the actor Jack Howarth who played Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street, for almost a quarter of a century.
What is also interesting is that this does have an element of the “staged crowd”, from the children let out of school, to the group of young men and women, who may be Council staff, or equally likely were Labour Party members drafted in to support the Labour Prime Minister
And then there are the rest who seem a cross section of local residents.
But however, contrived the scene might have been, there is no doubting that the photographer caught the moment, perfectly.
Location; Under the Mancunian Way
Picture; Capturing the moment, 1967, Courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection, https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY
Doing the ceremonial bit, was the Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor, Mrs. Nellie Beer, O.B.E., J.P., and because they are on the plaque, Councillor S.C. Rimmer, Chair of the Highways Committee, his deputy, Councillor Ken Franklin, the Town Clerk and representatives from City Engineers and Surveyors, along with those from the construction firms.
But what captures your attention, is the crowd.
And yes, that does look like the actor Jack Howarth who played Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street, for almost a quarter of a century.
What is also interesting is that this does have an element of the “staged crowd”, from the children let out of school, to the group of young men and women, who may be Council staff, or equally likely were Labour Party members drafted in to support the Labour Prime Minister
And then there are the rest who seem a cross section of local residents.
But however, contrived the scene might have been, there is no doubting that the photographer caught the moment, perfectly.
Location; Under the Mancunian Way
Picture; Capturing the moment, 1967, Courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection, https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY
The children from St Philip's School in Hulme were in the crowd as their teachers (including my Dad) took them out. I have similar photos which appeared in the MEN
ReplyDeleteThank you ... knew the school.
DeleteWhat was Albert Tatlock doing there.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting for me.
ReplyDelete