Wigan Album

The title RAOB & GLE means:

The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.
Grand Lodge of England.
They opened many orphanages in England

Art, Thank you for your comment. I am in the photo but too young to remember where it was. The girl seated at front was adopted from the Orphanage.

Hi josie, the building on the pic is very similar to raob orphanage druids heath school walsall wood rd west midlands, later to become barnados.

Dave, Thank you for your reply. The girl who was adopted is now married & living in Walsall, W.Mids. Small world!

Hi josie, the pic is very old on your photo and difficult to make out, if you go on internet and type raob old orphanages then go to orphanage memories s larcombe, there is a more updated pic there but taken from different angle.

My friend Ken Gregory also has this photo as it has his mum, Ellen on it.
He says it was a celebration party for V.E. Day 6th. June 1945 held at 'The Banner'. He named the lady on the extreme right as Joan Rosbottom who was the landlady. Her husband was a member of RAOB. Ken also recognised Pat, Barbara and Marion.

Sorry Josie!
Oh dear - I just looked on Lancs BMD and I can see that Barbara was born in 1943 and Marian 1945 so I've obviously got the date wrong!
Do you think it looks more like the early '50s?

Hi cathy b, the rosbottam you are describing if his name was richard i knew him well i am also a member of raob, richard was secretary for hindley and tyldsey

Sorry Dave, I didn't know them, but I'll ask Ken.

Dave, Do you know anything about R.A.O.B.Hindley & Tyldsley?Photo was in early to middle 1950`S.Could it be in Hindley, & how can I find Out.?

Mr. gregory told my sister the pic.of the party was at the "Hand & Banner" pub, Hindley.Thank you for the info.

Barbara married Dave Smith and emigrated to New Zealand in about 1974. Barbara worked for me as clerk at Hindley Co-Op for a few years when me and Dave were friends. It was letters from Barbara that prompted my move to NZ. Remember Mat being a great singer. Barbara sadly died a few years ago, far too soon. Me and Dave are still friends and work colleagues to this day.

Peter, I was a cousin of Barbaras & a bridesmaid at her wedding to Dave at All saints, Hindley. Have you seen the photos of her & Dave on Jackson family? Josie

Hi josie, to my knowledge there were two lodges in hindley, lion lodge which met at the ellsmere pub this closed in 80s but i visited them and knew a few names, the other was prince of wales which i was a member,their last meeting place was social club facing spinners arms, sadly this also closed a few years ago.