What a fantastic photo! Taken at the Corbett Hospital Fete, August 1957 (Click for full version)

They look like the cast from "Grease" but this amazing photo was taken at the 1957 Corbett Hospital fete in Amblecote. Full credit has to be given to "Hal", the local Stourbridge photographer who had a shop in Market Street, then Lower High Street, for capturing the sheer exuberance of these young people 55 years ago, and special thanks go to Hal's son Chris Hall, for giving us permission to publish a few of his photos. At a guess I would say the age span of these young people is probably around 17 - 25 years old, and, if correct, looking at the photo it's hard to imagine that they are now aged 72 - 80 years! Are you on this photo? If so we would love you to get in touch and tell us what life was like as a teenager then and any recollections you may have of that day. With your permission we will publish your messages.

The photo is a study in youth culture, after World War Two the first example was probably the "Teddy Boys" or "Edwardians", so named for their style of clothes. Look at the lad on the far right for a great example of "Edwardian" style. The eye is drawn to the couple in the centre in particular, but it would be great to hear from anyone in the photo. Teddy boys had a reputation for violence, but in reality it was probably only the minority that caused any trouble. The same was true with the "Mods and Rockers" a decade later, I know, because I was one of them!

Please take a look at the other photos taken by Hal that we have located, he clearly had a great talent for capturing emotions in his photos. Please click on a thumbnail image to see a larger version and please respect copyright.