League of Pity Handicraft Guild, Cleethorpes 1935.

An original, large group photograph by J. W. Hardy, Cleethorpes.

The NSPCC’s Children’s League of Pity was established in 1891 to enable children of all ages to learn about the NSPCC, their work and become involved in fund-raising activities. Some will remember the blue and yellow League of Pity charity collection boxes in the shape of an egg.

Over time, we will try to add some details about the members of the Guild who appear in this photo.

S. Noxon – Possibly Sheila M. Noxon, born in St. Austell, Cornwall in 1922. Married John K. Daft in Grimsby in 1946. M. Mothersdill – Possibly Kathleen Margaret Mothersdill (known as Margaret), born in Grimsby in 1920. Married James A. Peck in 1941. K. Tollerton D. Green Mrs Curley – Possibly Mrs Margaret (Marguerite) A. Curley (née Tench), born on 27th August 1898. An arts & crafts dealer, wools – needlecraft. Wife of a dental surgeon. Lived at 10 Cumberland Avenue, Grimsby. M. Edge I. Tollerton – Possibly Isla M. Tollerton, born in Grimsby in 1916. Married Thomas Moore in Cleethorpes in 1938. J. Brummond A. Goodhand L. Stone J. Allen L. Baker M. Ross M. Curley – Possibly Mavis A. Curley, born in Grimsby on 5th February 1926. (Daughter of Mrs Curley, above.) M. Bradley M. Brunton B. Cooper P. Curley – Possibly Patricia J. Curley, born in Grimsby in 1926. The twin of Mavis A. Curley. E. or F. Dobbs M. Stevenson M. Hadfield – Possibly Margaret Hadfield, born in Sculcoates (Hull), Yorkshire in 1929. Married Samuel Cooper in Cleethorpes in 1952. V. Hunt A. Hadfield – Possibly Alda Hadfield, born in Sculcoates (Hull), Yorkshire in 1925. Married Gordon Windley in Cleethorpes in 1947.

The photographer, John William Hardy, was born in Sheffield on 10th February 1876. He was the son of a newsagent. John married Minna in Sheffield in 1905. He was a photographer by then. By 1911, he was working as a photographer in Cleethorpes. After living in Signhills Avenue in the early 1920s, the family moved to 52 St Peter’s Avenue (where the Co-op in now) between 1925 and 1926. J. W. Hardy had a studio on the seafront. He also took outdoor, souvenir photos of holidaymakers walking along the promenade sitting in deckchairs and paddling in the sea.

John William Hardy worked as a busy photographer through many decades. He still had the studio at his home at 52 St Peter’s Avenue when he died on 29th or 30th July 1954. His son, John Keith Hardy, was also working there as a photographer.