I was recently sent a high resolution photograph of David Livingstone Centre, taken sometime between Summer 1930 and Summer 1934. The photograph shows an outing to the centre with many hundreds of people enjoying the new facility and the wide open spaces of the grounds. I have been able to zoom in on the photo to highlight specific areas of interest and what emerged were interesting photos in their own right. I’ll be bringing you some of these over the next few days.

1934 Entrance to David Livingstone Centre

Firstly, these 3 photos. At the entrance to the David Livingstone Centre, a boy walks along the road carrying what looks like a souvenir of the day or perhaps his sports equipment. In the background, i thought pony rides were taking place, but I’m sure I recall part of the original play equipment in the park were false horses, for children to sit upon. This certainly looks like that.

1934 Children at David Livingstone Centre

In the second photo, which I found quite touching. Two little boys or girls with a dark shawl around them, cuddle up to watch the game of rounders taking place in the sports field. A woman shades by the tree, looking around to see what the photographer was doing. Some women sit on the park bench, perhaps cheering on their sons and daughters on the playing fields.

1934 Crowds at David Livingstone Centre

In this third photo, groups of children and their parents sit on the park benches, some facing the park, the children facing towards the entrance of the park. Grouped together , playing together as children do at such outings. What strikes me in this photo is the fashion of the day. The large hats, the floaty dresses and of course, even the young girls have bobbed haircuts, like the young girl wearing a dark dress facing the right of the photo.

Thanks to Gordon Cook for supplying the original photo.