Wigan Album

I'll probably get laughed off of here for this,, but the lady reminds me of the young Princess Alexandra of Kent..

Don't think you will get laughed off Janet. I think the VIP is Princess Alexandra's Mother, Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent. Think the Duke of Kent was killed when a pilot in WW2

You are right Helen, as soon as I clicked on submit, I knew the time frame was wrong for Alexandra.. I wonder what the occasion was..

Thanks for the comment. always wondered who it might be. Not sure of the occassion or time. I presume it is sometime in the 40's

The answer to this photo was found no further than than this excellent website ! The Wigan chronology makes interesting reading.

The Duchess of Kent visited Messrs Eckersleys No 3 Cotton Mill on the 24th April 1941, she inspected ' the premises & production of the mill ' I think she may have gone to Skemersdale as well. The Duke of Kent was killed a year later in 1942, in a plane crash when on his way to inspect troops in Iceland. They were married in 1934. I wonder if Alexandra Park was named because of the visit ?

By Jove Helen, You've got it, Well done!

I offer a possible explanation,In the war a weaving shed at the rear was commandeered and R ,A Brand & Co of Pendleton Manchester occupied it. Auxillary fuel tanks for aircraft were produced Made from layers and leyers od paper glued together and disposable in flight after use.
Mt father worked there and as a schoolboy in 1944 on the birth of my sister I went there to notify my father.
The door looks familiar and in view of the Duchesses visit
her allegience to the R A F ,and the war effortand and as a dignitory, not being at the main entrance,we can only guess.