Bromley’s lorries, Columbia Road, Grimsby c1960.

A scan of the original slide. Photographer: G. Bromley. The location is over the road from Bromley’s premises in Columbia Road, Grimsby.

George B. Bromley (1850-1915) was a greengrocer in Ashton-under-Lyme, Lancashire. Sometime after 1901, he brought his wife, Rebecca (1853-1934), and two youngest children, twins Frederick (1892-1977) and George (1892-1974) to Grimsby.

By 1911, George B. Bromley had set up as a herbal beer manufacturer with the help of his two sons, who were aged 18. They were living at 46 Alexandra Road, Grimsby. George B. Bromley died in 1915, aged 65. Frederick and George built up the business their father had started. George B. Bromley & Sons continued very successfully into the 1970s.

George B. Bromley & Sons’ ‘Silver Foam’ herbal drinks must have proved very popular. The company was also described as a mineral water manufacturer and botanical brewer. As can be seen from the photograph, their range included fruit squashes, cordials and pure malt vinegar.

The vehicle registration plates help date this photo. MEE numbers date from April 1959 and OEE from April 1960. (The AEE registration dates from 1947.) The two rear lorries look new. Bromley’s lorries were a familiar sight on the area’s roads at the time.

Note: Rebecca and sons, Frederick and George were living beside the business at 150 Columbia Road in 1921.

Note: George (1892-1977) married Mary Kathleen Wright (1912-2005) in Grimsby in 1937. They lived at 150 Colombia Road and, later in life, at 27 Vaughan Avenue.

Note: Frederick (1892-1977) married Gladys Billany (1894-1970) in Grimsby in 1925. They lived at 178 Fairmont Road. They both lived at 15 Brighowgate at the time of their deaths.

Note: Both Bromley brothers fought in WW1. Their mother must have kept the business running between 1915 and 1918.