I had an email from a cousin a few days ago with the following message about a little discovery he’d made.

“Now we know where our parents were 66 years ago! See attached picture of a signed beer mat from the Black Horse in Gate Helmsley.

Signed by R.J. Fort, J. Dobson, D.J. Dobson, Lord Jack Fort DSO! as well as their friends Pam and “Mac” Mathieson who lived further down The Back Lane in Gate Helmsley.”

Indeed, they were at the Black Horse on 17th June 1957, Jean & David (my parents), David’s sister Joyce and her husband Jack, with their friends. It’s just a daft little bit of ephemera, but it made me smile. It is a pleasure to have it on record and to remember them today on what must have been a very convivial evening – and it certainly reflects Uncle Jack’s humour!

It only occurred belatedly to me to wonder where we 3 kids were! We’re guessing that Gran might have been staying and pressed into service!

I’ve since ferreted out a couple of slide scans of my aunt, uncle and cousins (not forgetting Jill the dog) that must be from around the time of this cheery (and beery!) meet-up.