A PHOTO from a ploughing back has brought back memories for several readers of Flashback.

Roger Clark emailed to say: “The Flashback picture of two Suffolk horses ploughing was taken at Snape Ploughing match in 1973.

“The two horses belonged to Roger and Cheryl Clark (now Grover) and are Benacre Count and Euston Charles. Charles won many prizes for The Suffolk Horse with best feet and was a prolific prize winner at shows.

“Stanley Mayhew is behind the plough and is accompanied by Ted Chambers.

“Stanley was a skilled ploughman and featured in the TV programme ‘The Harvest & The Horsemen’. I was so lucky to learn my craft from such men as Stanley.” Agreeing with Mr Clark, Tony Smith added: “The two men in the picture are - Stanley Mayhew from Cransford working the plough, Ted Chambers from Worlingworth walking alongside.

“My dad and I used to compete in nearly all the furrow drawing matches in Norfolk and Suffolk in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s (tractor ploughing only for us) and we still attend at least one that is still going today. The aim is to plough as straight a furrow as possible over a distance of 65-70 yards.

“We were almost definitely at the Snape match in 1973. We used to sometimes have two or three different venues to attend on the same day, some as far afield as Bures near Sudbury, up to Holt in North Norfolk.

“Today there is really only Carlton Rode in Norfolk that we religiously attend every year. My Dad, Barry Smith, came first in the Case/International tractor class this year and I came first in the Ford class. E Frost came first in the Massey Ferguson class (he is also from Suffolk). My best furrow to date is 1/4” deviation. Us Suffolk folk can still give them Norfolk lot a run for their money!

“Regarding the Snape ploughing matches, a friends of ours still has a cup presented to him at the last match (in the early 80’s I think). They were not able to return the cup as the Snape match was no more. So if you know who would like it back......

“If you would like to see horse and tractor ploughing next year (and perhaps have a go yourself), put the Carlton Rode furrow drawing match in your diary, usually about September 24, 2013, or the nearest Saturday to that date.”

Michael Burton, Stradbroke & District RBL Branch Chairman, wrote regarding a long service award for poppy sellers, held in September 1991.

He said: “I was Suffolk County Chairman and presented the awards on behalf of The Royal British Legion.

“The ladies were, left to right: Joyce Pinner (27 years as a collector), Ida Sheldrake (38 years as a collector), Betty Gooderham (30 years as a collector) who was also the appeal organiser in the area and Beryl Churchyard (34 years as a collector).

“All were members of the Bacton and District Royal British Legion Women’s Section.

“Almost 130 years service between them.”

Sandra Welham added: “The ladies were, from the left, Mrs Joyce Pinner who was Standard Bearer, Mrs Ida Sheldrake, Mrs Betty Gooderham who was chairman and Mrs Beryl Churchyard. All were members of Bacton and District.

“The gentleman is Michael Burton who at the time was Suffolk County chairman of the RBL and who presented the Merit awards which were for 25 years or more service by each lady.

All the ladies pictured have since passed away but the Bacton & District RBL Women’s Section will be celebrating their 60th anniversary in April, 2013.

“It was nice to see the photograph again.”

An eamil regarding a photo from the 1968 Felixstowe Carnival reads: “We returned from a few days away in Cambridgeshire to find a message on the phone from an old friend we hadn’t spoken to for some time and a letter from him with a page from the EADTshowing the first family carnival we did over 40 years ago.

“From the left of the photo the people are: John Runnacles, Ian Gray, my wife Penny and son Nicholas, my sister Carole Shafto and her children Charlotte and Adrian and me, Roger Brookes, on a float loosely based on “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Roger Brookes continued: “The theme that year had been what Felixstowe needs most, and John thought up the idea of home rule for Felixstowe and thought up the idea of calling us the Democratic Association of Felixstowe Townsfolk; a name we were to use for the next three years. He also wrote and printed a flyer to be handed out during the procession laying out our aims. Despite only displaying the initials I seem to remember some people thought we were a serious political party.

“For the next 12 years I didn’t miss a Carnival.

“Thank you for printing the picture it’s brought back a lot of memories.”

Bernard Mills wrote in relation to a photo of centenary celebrations at Bramford Methodist Church Centenary Celebrations in 1973.

He said: “Like Mr Holmes I cannot identify the Clergy at the Bramford Methodist Church Centenary Celebrations in September 1973 but I can identify the gentleman to the left of George Thomas (third from right in the picture). He is John Turner from Haughley.

“Mr Turner was an Alderman of the old East Suffolk County Council and I believe was its last vice-chairman. As an ex-miner John was a staunch Labour supporter but was well respected in an otherwise Independent (Conservative!!) County Council.

“When I became a County Councillor (Conservative) in 1965 John Turner was an constant source of help and advice.”

A photo of Stowmarket Falcons Under 10s caught Dean Munnings eye and he said: “The full list of players is as follows. Back row from left: Darren Pleasance, Robert Finbow, Graham Flack, Matthew Edgar, Lloyd Cobbold, Richard Collins, James King, Jonathon Walton.

“Front row: Dean Munnings (that’s me), Peter Cobbold, Scot Bennett, Steven Pearce, Stephen Cooke and Adam Thorpe.

“I also recall two other players not pictured Shaun Kidd and David Shilton. The coach at the back of the picture is Keith Hammond who is still coaching junior football to this day at Finborough school into his late seventies.

“Hope this is of use to you as I appreciate the photo was published a month ago.”

Rita Playle spotted her husband in a photo of youngsters trying out a police bike. She said: “The police officer in this picture is my husband Ian Playle commonly known as ‘TOSH’ due to the moustache (character in ‘The Bill’). No one seems to know where this was though.”

And finally, Brian Hammond, of Halesworth and District Gardeners Society, said: “This was the very first annual flower and vegetable show of the Halesworth and District Gardeners’ Society,” in relation to a flower show picture published in Flashback.

He added: “Pictured from left to right are: Mike Kindred (vice-chairman), Stanley Felgate (treasurer), Jennifer Dickson (president), Ron Payne (show secretary) and Les Rolph (chairman).

“It was a hot, dry summer so growing conditions were very difficult. However, we went ahead and it was a very successful show with 250 exhibits.

“We have just held our 37th show and are still going well.”