A day out and picnic in the countryside for Thomas Butcher, his wife Violet, daughter Pauline and Winifred Hunton-Young.

Joan Forstad with her new bicycle, in the back garden at Pelham Street. Joan regularly cycled to and from work.

Happy children in the garden of No.31 Percy Street, after the Armistice Day Parade. At the back is Walter Chaffey, who was Chief Gardener at Hartlepool Gas Works, at the bottom of Middleton Road.

Alan Butcher (Tom Butcher's brother), was born around 1926. He was conscripted into the Royal Navy during the Second World War and is believed to have served on escort duty on the Russian Convoys. He once brought home a folding umbrella, which caused quite a stir as they had not been seen before.

An idyllic - and hot! - day at the seaside for Winifred Hunton-Young (in the deckchair at the back), Alan Butcher and a young Jean Butcher. After the war, these days at the beach during the summer were an ideal opportunity for family get-togethers, and proved to be quite a logistical effort. Two tents were set up (one for cooking), together with various tables and chairs, and of course food - Grandma Butcher brought the pies!

This group of Boy's Brigade proudly display a Cup and Shield, although it is not known what they have been awarded for.

Thomas Butcher (far left), and other members of the Burn Road Harriers.

Hartlepool often played host to other Civil Defence units, one of the exercises being to practice catering for large numbers of people at any one time. Joan Forstad is on the front row, far right.

Violet Forstad with cousin Tommy Smurthwaite (Fleet Air Arm), at the back of Pelham Street, West Hartlepool. Tommy was once reported as "missing" during the war, but survived and emigrated to South Africa after the war.

Thomas Butcher very nattily dressed on the rocks at Hartlepool.

Bertram Forstad was a life-long RAF-man, reaching the rank of Chief Technician. Apart from a brief spell as a "civvie", which he couldn't come to terms with and re-joined, he essentially spent all his life in the RAF, eventually being presented to the Queen for his services. His wife served in the WAAF.

Thomas Butcher (No.18, Burn Road Harriers), and other runners dodging traffic on a road race.

A group photograph of Jesmond Road Juniors class Standard 2A, taken in 1932. This was a large class of 52 children, many coming from very poor families. Some of these children qualified for vouchers so they could get shoes from certain shops, while some of the poorest children didn't attend Empire Day events because they had no 'best' clothes.

Violet Butcher and her young daughter Diane, outside their house in Perth Street in 1963.

Thomas Butcher in uniform during his time on National Service - his beret is on at a remarkably rakish angle! He had always wanted to join the Royal Navy (as his two other brothers did), but ended up in the Home Guard during the war, staying on for National Service for a further two years (as a Gunner), to support his widowed mother.

A well wrapped-up Pauline Butcher playing outside her house in Perth Street, in 1955.

A group of ladies standing by with the tea for a wartime get-together. Second from the left is Jane Forstad, who successfully passed her First Aid and Fire Precaution courses.

Joan Forstad enjoys a quiet moment sitting on the steps of a Civil Defence vehicle. Volunteers - and later conscripts! - regularly visited local rural communities demonstrating the role of the Civil Defence. Born in 1933, Joan was to too young to be conscripted, however, like all the other members of her family, she volunteered for the Civil Defence. 

Violet (on the left), and Olive Forstad standing on the steps of their home at 14 Mayfair Street around 1930. They are both dressed alike in over-size navy blue frocks (for them to "grow in to", which they never did!), rolled-up under their jumpers -  hence the bulky midriffs! They both went to Jesmond Road School.

From left to right, the three sisters, Violet, Joan and Olive Forstad, standing at the back of their mother Jane's house in Pelham Street during WWII.

Civil Defence Volunteers continued to be active even after the war came to an end. Here Bert Forstad (far left, to the back), and Wilf Forstad (centre right), are enjoying a cup of tea and a cake at a local cafe or canteen.

Action shot of Thomas in a race on what appears to be a cold winter's day.

Bertram Forstad and his new wife Jane (Aungiers), outside St Luke's Church Hall. Jane is wearing a dress specially made for the occasion, which had coloured sequins in the veil.

The Forstad family out in force at Muriel Johnson's wedding at the Staincliffe Hotel, Seaton Carew, sometime in the 1950s. In the front row we have (left to right), Joan, Olive and Jane Forstad, and Violet Smurthwaite.