WITH BEST LOVE FROM THE FADING PAST There is something wonderful when old photographs fade, so that the person almost merges into the background like a memory merging into time. I have no idea who this lady was, but she has written on the back of the photograph, "With best love".

ETHEL WITH THE LONG FACE The 1930s saw a high point in studio portrait photography : sandwiched between the stiff poses of the Victorian era and the self-obsessed postures of the Selfie age. I have no idea who Ethel was, but she sent love down the decades along with her photo.

THE PICTURE WITHIN 3 : THE FADED LIFEBOAT My first thought was that there was a problem with the print - some fading, scratching, taring or the like. The "problem", however, is with the wall of the pub where layers of public house archaeology are on display.

The Picture Within 2 : The Presentation THE PICTURE WITHIN 2 : THE PRESENTATION The entire print shows some kind of presentation taking place and there is the hint of a photographer on the right. However, it is the couple comparing notes that look real, look relaxed and look worth recording for posterity.

The Picture Within 1 : Berets And Frowns THE PICTURE WITHIN 1. BERETS & FROWNS Within each good old photograph there generally is another good photograph waiting to get out. This is from a photograph from the Charles Gordon Palmer album which is captioned "Taken at the Garth - May 1934"