THERE were rafts aplenty at Thorpeness Meare in July 1988 as pub teams vied for victory.

The photo of the Thorpeness Raft Race rekindled memories for one reader.

Liz Everett, from Leiston, saw the image and wrote in to say: “I have owned The Meare Shop & Tearoom, Thorpeness since 1986, when we first rented the building off Mr Glenn Olgivie, the owner of the Boating Meare, and started the tearoom from scratch.

“The photo shows the inter pub raft race I helped organise in aid of charity. The man standing at the back left hand of the photograph, in front of the Walls ice cream parasol is my late husband, Chris Everett.

“He and I worked the tearoom together, until his death in November 1998. I have continued to run the tearoom and shop, with the help of my staff, ever since.

“Shown in the picture is the Crown & Anchor from Framlingham and the Poacher’s Pocket from Carlton near Saxmundham.”

Amanda Pearce from Halesworth spotted a familiar face in a Wenhaston Primary School picture. She said: “This picture is of my mum, although she wasn’t the school cook, she was the school dinner lady, this job she had done for 25 years.

“Sadly my mum died two years after this photo, but all the family were really pleased to see this photo.

“Some of the children I recognise are: Stella Mcloughlin at the back with auburn hair, Stephanie Musk at the back with black hair band, Holly Macdonald, Sam Macdonald standing next to mum on the right, Jade Stammers behind Sam, Charlotte Canham third from left, standing, Ashley Canham sitting in front of Charlotte.”

Meanwhile a photo from the Hitcham Fete taken in July 1981 caught Pat Whymark’s attention, who wrote: “The competitors are (the then) Louise Chiddington and (the now local comedian) Richard Whymark. I wonder if this was the beginning of his impressions and comedy. A very proud mum.”

Louise Curtis from Troston, Bury St Edmunds, agreed, she said: “I know exactly who these are as I am Aunt Sally and Richard Whymark is Worzel Gummidge.

“My name is Louise Curtis (was Chiddington) and I was seven years old. Before this Richard and I won first prize in fancy dress at Butlins Bognor Regis in the June.”

David Cutler emailed in to give us more information about a picture of the Fressingfield Players 1984 production of Goody Two Shoes.

He said: “The two people in the front of the picture are Doctor David Chase and his daughter Christine. The beautiful sailor at the back is my wife, Judy Cutler, who was a district nurse. Dr Chase still lives in Fressingfield and we are now settled in Melton. The Fressingfield Players are, alas, no more”.

Another reader wrote in about our ‘golden olden photo’ of Creeting St Mary’s Gymkhana, from 1979.

Sue Pilgrim said: “I am in the photo, I was Pink Panther on the left. Mum (Rosie Pilgrim) was lead reining me on my pony Fortune. Next to me I believe was Anthony Johnson as the Devil and lead reining him was Julie Last (now married but do not know her married name). I believe Julie is now manager of Stowmarket Leisure Centre. The pony Anthony was riding is called Sugar. I’m sorry to say that I do not recognise those on the right hand side of the photo.

“I would have been five years old when the photo was taken. Mum tells me that we came first place in the fancy dress! The Gymkhana was held at Red House Farm in Creeting St Mary. Ann and Keith Johnson hosted it every year.

“It was great to see the photo again.”

Alien Love Child played in Stanton in May 1992 and Brian Wadsworth wrote in to say: “My son, Paul Wadsworth (second right) was a founder member of the band who were popular

on the Bury area pub circuit in the early 90’s. Your picture shows the second incarnation of the band which formed just over a year after the original band was set up around 1990 with

only Paul and drummer Pete remaining.

“The names of the band, from the left, are Greg Owen, Brett Allum, Crash, Paul Wadsworth and Pete Franklin. Their main claim to fame was performing at Glastonbury in 1992.

“The original line up of Ricky, Paul Wdas, Pete,”

Antoher proud parent, Nicola Hunter spotted a picture of her daughter in a photo from a fancy dress show at the Abbey Gardens taken in July 1989 and said: “This picture is of my daughter Lucy Hunter (then age five) with her friends James (five) and Katy Penman (three).

“They dressed up as a window box for a fancy dress party in the Abbey Gardens. I recall they were sitting in an old brown pram (the window box) and that we had spent the day before making the petals for the flowers and bee outfit!”

Mr Grimsey, of Hadleigh, write to tell us: “With regard to the Flashback photograph of Raydon Fete. The man to the right of the photo holding up the plant is the late Mr Basil Keeble, a wonderful character who lived at Lower Raydon. He always came into my shop at Hadleigh (Richardson & Preece) and have a couple of chocolate drops which we sold loose for the

dogs and also have a chat.

“The man on Mr Keeble’s right is Mr Jack Peacock who farms Raydon Hall Farm. The man with the glasses and moustache holding a plant is Mr Pearce who did, or still does, live

at Holton St Mary.”

If you have memories to share, e-mail flashback@eadt.co.uk. To buy a copy of one of these photos, click on the myphotos24 link above.