Reference
X1053/1
Title
Photograph album of the mayoralty of Ronald George Gale
Date free text
1955-1956
Production date
From: 1955 To: 1956
Admin/biog history
Ronald George Gale (1911-1993) was a director of the Frederic Gale builders merchants. He was mayor of Bedford in 1955 and 1956.
Scope and Content
Typed list of principal events during the municipal year 1955-6 loose at front.
P2-3 photographs of the arrival of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Manton Lane, 4th May 1956, for the opening of the transonic wind tunnel.
P3 group photo of Mr Edwards, Mr R A S Head, the mayor, Mr Percival, Mr Teece, Mr E Munday, Deputy mayor and Mr Roland at the opening of the new offices of the National Employers Mutual General Insurance Association in Bromham Road.
P4. The mayor extends best wishes to Mr Tim Kelly, the Eagles manager, members of the team and supporters before they leave for their tour of Northern Ireland.
P4. Major J S Ross presents a silver table piece to the mayor in commemoration of the laying up of the colours of the 1st battalion the Beds and Herts Regt.
P5. Mayor opens hospital fete (North Wing); Mayor of Bedford, Mayor of Northampton, Chairman of Wellingborough UDC, Mayor of Kettering at cancer relief ball at Northampton May 1956.
P6-8 Mayor making ceremony and walk to St Paul's church.
P8 The Mayor, Mr S Northwood, Mr C Robinson, Mr A D Nightall at Bedford Chamber of Trade luncheon.
P9. The mayor congratulating Ald. Richard Turner (top) and presenting a certificate to T Merrall in recognition of his 40 years voluntary service (bottom) [Bedford National Savings Committee].
p10. Telegraphist Miss P Juffs transmitting the mayor's message of greeting to Bedford, South Africa and Bedford Quebec.
p11-29 The Mayor's 'At Home' at Castle Close Grounds, 21 June 1956 - mainly photographs of the mayor meeting people (often other mayors) including Mr and Mrs Herman Lawson of America, and of a rather uncomfortable looking tea for many people set out in the castle gardens.
p30. Sir Ernest Wood, regional director of civil defence with the mayor and F W Dawkes. A
p30-33. Archbishop of Canterbury at Corn exchange for mass meeting of CEMS national conference.
p33-34. Bedfordshire Agricultural Show supper, Mr Simmons, Mr Swaffield, Mr Reeves, the mayor and Sir Frederick Mander, Lady Mander.
p34-35 Exhibition of historic carriages at Great Barford.
p35-36, 43 stone laying service of the new branch church of Bunyan Meeting at Putnoe, 11 Aug 1956.
p36. Mr and Mrs Tompkins diamond wedding celebrations - showing the mayor telegram from the Queen.
p37. Viewing gladioli at the Bedford Allotments & Gardens Association at the Town Hall.
p. 37. Mayor on the saluting base in St Paul's Square during a march past of the Bedford Branch of the RAA with their new standard.
p38. At Kempston Show 1956.
p39. Mayor lays wreath at Embankment war memorial after the Battle of Britain Service in Holy Trinity.
p39. Student Nurses' Association Eastern Area Speechmaking Contest.
p40. laying foundation stone of new Christ Church.
p41. Municipal Conference at Brighton (top), Mayor presents awards to six Eastern Gas Board Drivers.
p42. Mrs F M Ball, matron of Bedford General Hospital (North Wing) retiring after 25 years.
p44. Annual dinner of the Bedfordshire Area of the National Association of Corn & Agricultural Merchants (top); Sixty years of cinematography exhibition at Granada opened by Miss Betty Balfour.
p45. Presentation of the Hospital Cup (top); Mayor of Luton's 'at home'.
p46. Brache Methodist Church Maulden - the mayor with the chairman of Ampthill RDC.
p47. Searchlight Tattoo at Kempston Barracks organised by Bedford Round Table (top); Mayor opens meeting sale of work Mrs D Mastin buys a cake.
p48. Ladies Circle Charter Anniversary (top); Countess of Mimerick with the Mayor of Bedford, Lady Laurie and the Hon Romola Russell at the Red Cross exhibition at the Corn Exchange.
p49. Civic service at Bunyan Meeting, 21 Oct 1956.
p50. Bedford Soroptimists' Jubilee cocktail party (top); Cricket League prizes - mayor presents the premier division shield to F J Whiteman of Langford CC.
p51. Retirement of T Merrall secretary of the Bedford National Savings Committee (top); Annual hospital staff ball at Corn Exchange.
p52. Annal dinner of Old Bedfordians Club, Bedford School (top); Bedford press ball.
p53. Top photo not present. Bottom Mayor's invitation ball.
p54-60 Mayor's invitation ball, include people collecting for the appeal for the Hungarian Relief Fund.
p61. Annual ladies night round table.
p62 Dame Alice Harpur School speech day (top); mayor sees how the Christmas mail is handled.
p63. Mayor gives luncheon to town councillors (top); Musical Society's Dinner.
p64. South End Club's Golden Jubilee (top); Mr Braggins opening the new church at Putnoe (bottom).
p65. 26th annual dinner of the Soroptimists Club (top); mayor presenting safe driving awards to Corporation drivers.
p66. Annual dinner of the Bedford Rotary Club (top); annual party for the blind given by the North Beds Society for the Welfare of the Blind at the Corn Exchange.
p67. Induction of the Rev Frederick Lloyd as minister of Bunyan Meeting, Goldington
p67-68 Goldington Church extension dedicated (bottom).
p68-70. Bedfordshire Competitive Musical Festival: mayor presenting cup to Mr G Mepham for the Bunyan Meeting choir, to Mrs Marjorie Brown, to unnamed lady, to Miss Betty Fisher and to Mr Geoffrey Whitbread.
p71. Bedford Town Cricket Club's annual dinner (top); Bedford Insurance Institute annual dinner.
p72. Bedford Civil Engineering Society's annual dinner (top) Bedford & District table tennis league finals mayor with cup winners.
p73. Visit of Viscount Alanbrooke by the Natural History Society and Field Club (top); presentation by mayor of an illuminated address to Mr J F Wilkinson on his retirement as deputy chief public health inspector.
p74. Lieut Edward Hennevick presents the mayor with a book of photographs sent by the mayor of Bergen during the Good Friday Festival of the Bedford Salvation Army (top); Governors of the Harpur Trust (bottom).
p75. Opening of Keysoe's new cricket pavilion (top); Organists convention of words and music at St Paul's church Bedford.
p76. Mayor presenting whist trophies at the Bedford Clubs League (top); mayor presented to the Duchess of Gloucester on her visit to two Bedford Girls' schools.
p77 Duchess of Gloucester presented with a bouquet by Anne Kendall at Bedford High School.
p79. Duchess of Gloucester at Dame Alice Harpur with Lieutenant Colonel Part, Miss Lawson-Brown and the mayor.
p79. Luncheon at Bridge Hotel to mark the opening of the English Pork and Bacon Campaign.
p80-81. Mayor making ceremony May 1957
Archival history
The depositor worked for Mr Gale in the years after his mayoralty.
Level of description
item