The picture above appeared in the Loughborough Echo at the end of October 2018. It dates from 1937. The owner, Chris Freer, kindly gave us permission to reproduce it here and his mother displayed amazing powers of recall in offering the names of those (including herself) who appear in the shot. She is 99% sure that she has the names correct. How many of us could claim to be able to remember our classmates after such a long time?
The four girls on the left, wearing headscarfs: (L to R) Margaret Taylor, Sheila Ladkin, Kathy Jackson, Barbara Dexter.
The two little lads in front of them (from left) are Jackie Rooney, Anthony Ladkin.
The tall guy in the middle with no headdress is Billy Peel. Kneeling to his front is Peter Dexter.
The lad with the false beard is Cyril Hubble. In front of him resting his head on his hand is Peter Cox.
The small girl on the front row next to Peter is Joan Taylor, and the little lad sitting cross-legged next to her is Jimmy Cox.
Moving to the back right, the tallest person there (with the headdress) is Doreen Farr. To her right as you look at it is Cedric Newby.
The girl in front of him with the dark headdress is Nancy Farr and next to her with the lighter headdress is Dorothy Dexter.
Last but not least, on the extreme right of the picture is Mary Peel.
 Chris adds: "My mother, Margaret Freer (née Taylor) thinks some of them might still be alive. I joked with her that there should be a re-staging of the play! Incidentally, she was married at St Gregory’s in 1951."

The "Famine Door" at Ratcliffe College where the people of Sileby went to receive food. (photo by Phil Walker)

The door into the old church at Ratcliffe College - it is now the library. This was the entrance that the people of Sileby used as it saved them having to go through the school. (photo by Phil Walker)

The former St. Alban's Church with the bell clearly visible.

This plaque was in St. Alban's. The person commemorated is a mystery. He also appears on the Barrow War Memorial, but was not from the area. Ralph Bowles carried out extensive research on the people listed on the Barrow War Memorial and learned that this young man was from Kent. His connection with the village is not known. (photo by Phil Walker)

Since the photo above was first posted, further research has revealed more details about Lieut. Fellows. Kathryn Timmons travelled to France in October 2018 to place a wreath on his grave - this was part of a project by the village of Barrow upon Soar to honour their dead. Click here to learn more. In May 2019, the plaque was transferred to the chapel in Barrow Cemetery which seemed a more appropriate location.

The "Famine Door" at Ratcliffe College where the people of Sileby went to receive food. (photo by Phil Walker)

SAM DERBY (1860 - 1940) He played the organ and was responsible for the Music at St. Alban's for fifty years. He was also bandmaster of the Barrow Silver Band, a position which he held from the age of seventeen. He was Veronica Brown's grandfather.

Extract from the Derby Mercury - 26th June 1839

St. Gregory's Church

A copy of the accounts for the church from 1877 - 1878. The original is in the diocesan archive.

Pat Collins' cousin's wedding on 23rd February 1957. Pat is one of the bridesmaids

Terry and Sheila Breed's wedding on 20th February 1954

The two documents above come from the archive of the Diocese of Birmingham. They seem to be a request for repository items for Barrow and Sileby and give some statistical information about the two parishes in 1856

A copy of the licence to solemnise marriages in the church. The original is in the diocesan archive.

A children's party from the 1950s. We know a few of the names - can you shed light on any of these angelic faces?

We are grateful to Phil Walker for providing us with these pictures of assorted Memorial Cards.