Bridegroom: Harry Slaney aged 35, bachelor, of West Hallam. Bride: Alice Toplis aged 27, spinster, of West Hallam. Witnesses: Richard Slaney, brother, Best man. Hannah Slaney, Mother. George Toplis, brides father. Mary Toplis, brides mother.

George was landlord of the Punch Bowl. Harry Slaney’s brother Richard married Glady’s Lois Luckman four weeks earlier 25 August 1921. Richard’s trade was butcher. (The above information obtained from parish records)

Photograph Identification:

Front: Page-Boys: Eric Weston aged 6 on the left. Hedley Weston aged 4 on the right. Boy aged about 2 is Arthur Norman.

Adults, left to right. Vernon Weston, man with pipe??, George Toplis, man with light waistcoat??, Mrs Hannah Slaney, Gladys Lois Slaney white dress, Bridesmaid, Millicent Slaney, Bridegroom, Bride, Richard Slaney, Bridesmaid Mildred Toplis aged 21, married later to Mr Hinton, 1934? Frank Slaney, lady with flower Mrs Mary Toplis, Harry Slaney (Senior), lady on end of row, probably another Slaney ?? Bowler hatted gentleman probably Sam Hunt.

Next Row, left to right. Mrs Weston, mother of Eric and Hedley, large hat, John Hunt felt hat and flower buttonhole, usher. (the village blacksmith). Arthur Norman, no hat, below the handrail, greengrocer and florist Ilkeston, father of 2 year old Arthur. Lady behind “bowler hat”, probably Mrs Sam Hunt. Felt hat to right of John Hunt, Jimmy Toplis.

Back Row: On the stairs: John Derbyshire, moustache and flower button hole, farmer and butcher, Parish Councillor, later County Councillor. (confirmed).

Near to top of stairs: Mrs Emma Derbyshire, fur hat and white gloves.

Next to top step: Mrs Wicks, wife of Rector, white hat. Same Step: Lizzie Toplis wife of John Armson handrail and felt hat, Aaron Toplis, Lady with white collar Mrs Hunt mother of John last man top of stair – John Toplis wheelwright.

Notes:

Majority of the above identified by Hedley Weston (Tuesday 9th March 1993).

The Slaneys were building contractors, came to West Hallam from Hednesford, near Wolverhampton.

Built Captain William Harvie Gilchrist House, The Rough, High Lane, West Hallam, Derbyshire. (Now know Bramble Lodge Residential Home).

Said to have built the council houses on Station Road about 1928, for £350 per pair exclusive of cost of land.

Harry Slaney (senior) was ‘killed’ in an accident with a car on High Lane, 1924.

Miss Annie Martin was almost certainly given a copy of the photograph by Mr and Mrs Slaney – this is how it comes to be in Mr Hartley’s possession.

Miss Martin was my grandmothers (Jack’s) sister and when Grandmother Mrs Sarah Hartley died, she became Fred Thomas Hartley’s second wife.

Jack Hartley May 2003

With thanks to Roger Wood for the photograph and the identifications