Family photo competition winners

By Sarah Williams

Published: Thursday, 03 February 2022 at 12:00 am

The results are in! A big thank you to everyone who entered the Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine family photo competition. It was such a pleasure to go through the hundreds of fabulous entries and it was far from easy picking winners from such a strong collection.

Our overall winner was also the winner of the category ‘My family and other animals’, submitted by David Whitmarsh in Dorset. The judges loved the composition and the story it told. “We were looking for a family photograph that anyone would want in their collection and this image was at the top of the list” said the judges. David Whitmarsh told the story behind the winning photograph: “The Reay Family travelled by two covered wagons from Nebraska USA to Alberta Canada. My Great Aunt Grace is the woman on the horse with my grandfather holding the gun. I love this photo for its pioneering spirit.”

David Whitmarsh wins £200 courtesy of our friends at Vivid-Pix imaging software and all the winning entrants will receive a framed print of their winning photograph courtesy of Vivid-Pix plus a year’s subscription to Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine.

On holiday

Winner: Dan Darby

Runners-up: Amanda Webb, Barbara Cooper, Caroline Webber, Danielle Ford and Sally Griffith

This was our toughest category to judge with many fantastic images submitted. In the end the judges chose Dan Darby’s entry. Dan described why he liked the image so much: “There’s so much going on in this photo. The foreground shows my grandmother being taught to swim by my great grandfather in his fashionable 1930s swimming costume! The background shows many more bathers enjoying themselves.”

"On
Dan Darby: “There’s so much going on in this photo. The foreground shows my grandmother being taught to swim by my great grandfather in his fashionable 1930’s swimming costume! The background shows many more bathers enjoying themselves”
© Dan Darby
"On
Amanda Webb: “I love this photo as some of my oldest relatives are included and they appear to be having a good time. The lady on the left is great great grandmother Rosa, then Jane (3x great grandmother). The lady second from the right is my great great Aunt Evelyn, who I knew.”
© Amanda Webb
"On
Barbara Cooper: “My dad, on a family trip to the seaside, always had a huge smile on his face and was such a funny gentle man. His sense of fun and humour continued throughout his life. I chose this photo taken around 1935 as it really sums up his personality and character.”
© Barbara Cooper
"On
Caroline Webber: “This photo shows my mother-in-law Barbara Yiend, who was born in 1918, and taken in the 1940’s. I love the carefree, uninhibited shot showing a young lady entering adult life at a turbulent time but still enjoying the simple pleasures of a day at the beach.”
© Caroline Webber
"On
Danielle Ford: “I chose this picture because the locals were shocked by the bikinis of the new tourists except for the donkey. This is a picture of my grandmother in Majorca in 1962. I think she looks amazing. Such a fabulous photo.”
© Danielle Ford
"On
Sally Griffiths: “I love this picture because it is so joyful and reminds me of simple pleasures. It was taken outside the guest house in Shanklin where my father’s cousins used to go on holiday. Five cousins and their partners later to be married are pictured, taking up most of the first row.”
© Sally Griffiths

Special occasion

Winner: Linda Kent

Runners-up: Debbie Cameron, Joanna Tolhurst, Judith Thomas, Linda Kent, Rae Knight and Susan Reeve

Many people sent in wedding photographs for this category but the winning entry was this photograph sent in by Linda Kent, “I love this photo of my grandmother on a day out with her colleagues from the laundry where she worked and they all look very happy. The trip was in a Charabanc on an annual excursion to the country or seaside, which would have been an eagerly awaited event.”

"Special
I love this photo of my grandmother on a day out with her colleagues from the laundry where she worked and they all look very happy. The trip was in a Charabanc on an annual excursion to the country or seaside, which would have been an eagerly awaited event.
© Linda Kent
"Special
This is the occasion that my husband’s grandfather was presented with his military medal, awarded for his gallantry in France in 1917. He was seriously injured but made a full recovery. He is near the back, above the man in the bowler hat.
© Debbie Cameron
"Special
The wedding of Ellen Lucy Goldsack and Burrell Raymond Fuller 1916. Bridesmaid, Florence Muriel Goldsack, and page boy, Algernon Henry Tolhurst (my grandfather), were Ellen’s niece and nephew.
© Joanna Tolhurst
"Special
My 3rd birthday party in 1953. We are waiting for someone to throw us a ball to catch, not for food!
© Judith Thomas
"Special
My lovely mum and dad, Iris Heath & William Parks, married in 1953. They were months away from celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary when my dad passed away. They would have loved to receive that special card from the Queen!
© Rae Knight
"Special
Wedding photographs are very special as whole families gather together wearing their Sunday-best outfits. This one dates from 1915. My grandmother took great pride in telling me who each person was. There was sadness that Henry (second from right back row) did not return from the Great War.
© Susan Reeve

Dressing up

Winner: Carol Bromley

Runners-up: Aileen Nock, Ed Ball, Joanna Tolhurst, John Fallows and Rae Knight

We had great fun judging this category but were all agreed on the overall winning picture submitted by Carol Bromley, “My grandmother, Annie Cracowski (front, left), taken May 1918, aged 24 at The Fancy Dress Studio, Oxford Street, London and sent to her older sister, Lily, as a postcard. Annie and her friends must have had so much fun choosing their costumes and trying to keep straight faces!”.

"Dressing
Carol Bromley: “My grandmother, Annie Cracowski (front, left), taken May 1918, aged 24 at The Fancy Dress Studio, Oxford Street, London and sent to her older sister, Lily as a postcard. Annie and her friends must have had so much fun choosing their costumes and trying to keep straight faces!”
© Carol Bromley
"Dressing
Aileen Nock: “Gran, Emma Jane Wright, taken in 1946, a ‘Highlander’ in one of the many ‘concerts’ that she and the ladies of the Y.W.C.A. put on. Every show a polished performance. ‘Don’t let the side down’ epitomises Gran’s attitude to the shows and has become a family motto.”
© Aileen Nock
"Dressing
Ed Ball: “Great excitement as schoolchildren in Heston celebrate George VI’s coronation, 1937. My grandmother is the girl in the front with the pram. She was 8 years old at the time.”
© Ed Ball
"Dressing
Joanna Tolhurst: “Algernon Henry Tolhurst, my grandfather, though Charles was his stage name. This was a performance of the Mikado at the Gaiety Theatre, Hastings, October 1930.”
© Joanna Tolhurst
"Dressing
John Fallows: “A photo of my great aunt Florence Pownall Smith Heald from (I believe) the early 1900’s. She was a skilled dressmaker so I presume this is demonstrating her ability. I chose it because it seems to have a lot more work than your average fancy dress.”
© John Fallows
"Dressing
Rae Knight: “Myself, left, and twin brother Stephen late 1950s. This photo reminds me of a happy childhood. Think the cap was my granddads. My brother was a bit of a hellraiser and this photo captures his cheeky nature!”
© Rae Knight

Solo photo

Winner: Frances Nelson

Runners-up: Alison Skipper, Carole Poulton, Carol Harrison, Heather Darby and Susan Reeve

This was one of our most popular categories with a fascinating winning entry submitted by Frances Nelson, “This car and the man looking back at me set me on a mission to find out who he was. The name Billy was all I had to start with, but with lots of detective work, including tracing the car, I discovered he was William Edward Norris, married to my grandfather’s sister.”

"Solo
Frances Nelson: “This car and the man looking back at me from the photo set me on a mission to find out who he was. The name Billy was all I had to start with, but with lots of detective work, including tracing the car, I discovered he was William Edward Norris and was married to my grandfather’s sister.”
© Frances Nelson
"Solo
Alison Skipper: “This is my favourite picture of my late father, Idwal Jones. It was taken in 1947 when he was on active service with the RAF in Egypt. Aged only 19 and from rural Wales, he was posted to Egypt for two and a half years.”
© Alison Skipper
"Solo
Carole Poulton: “Arthur Neal outside his shop in Kennington, London, around 1911. This photograph was the single item which set me on my genealogy quest. By this date, motor vehicles were in more common use and horse whips were becoming a thing of the past, hence the diversification!”
© Carole Poulton
"Solo
Carol Harrison: “This is my great great grandmother Mercy (Nee Hickman) Baldy. She was born in 1846 and died in 1928. Her husband died in 1921 and I wonder if the photograph was taken to mark that event. I would like to have had the chance to give her a hug.”
© Carol Harrison
"Solo
Heather Darby: “This photo of my mother has always been very special in our family. It was taken in the late 1940’s and just oozes glamour. My father kept a copy of this photo in his wallet until the day he died so she was always ‘close to his heart.’”
© Heather Darby
"Solo
Susan Reeve: “When I found this photo of Great Aunt Louisa I was amazed at the length of her beautiful hair. It was definitely worthy of a professional photograph. Usually ladies wore their hair up and often wore hats so it is wonderful to see her hair hanging freely.”
© Susan Reeve

Family together

Winner: Valerie Fuller

Runners-up: Alan Slate, Anne Illingworth, David Payne, Graeme Davis and Lucille Robinson

From large group shots to intimate family portraits, this category had some great entries. The judges particularly loved the winning entry submitted by Valerie Fuller, “This photograph is of my great grandfather and great grandmother taken on 24 August 1926 three days after their 60th wedding anniversary. It was published in the Daily Herald with the caption “Happy Old Couple”.

"Family
Valerie Fuller: “This photograph is of my Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother taken on the 24th August 1926 three days after their 60th Wedding Anniversary. It was published in the Daily Herald with the caption ‘Happy Old Couple’.”
© Valerie A Fuller
"Family
Alan Slate: “My great grandfather, William Francis and his three sons. William Jr. a singer, John a harpist and James Jr., my grandfather, a violinist. William and his brother James Sr., founded what was to become Francis, Day and Hunter, one of the foremost music publishers in England.”
© Alan Slate
"Family
Anne Illingworth: “My 3x great grandfather, born in 1821 with his great granddaughter. He lived in Fraserburgh Scotland and died in 1915, not long after this photograph was taken. She tragically died of septicaemia three years later.”
© Anne Illingworth
"Family
David Payne: “My Dad (born 1916) with his Mother. They were pretty poor so I don’t know how they got such a good photo. The fun thing is that throughout the 1960s, Dad was always nagging me to get my hair cut.”
© David Payne
"Family
Graeme Davis: “This photograph was taken about 1900. The child is my grandfather John David aged about five, with his straight hair curled for the occasion. He’s with his father Thomas Davis, wearing a London costermonger’s neckerchief and carrying his horse whip.”
© Graeme Davis
"Family
Lucille Robinson: “I like the mystery of this photograph. Who are they? Where are they? What have they been gathering in the basket? What is the significance of their headgear? What is their relationship?”
© Lucille Robinson

My family and other animals

Winner: David Whitmarsh

Runners-up: Beverley Stephens, Elizabeth Ashton, Joanna Tolhurst, John Smith and Michael Pitt-Payne

We loved the variety of animals that clearly played an important part in people’s lives, but it was the photograph of David Whitmarsh’s great aunt Grace on a horse travelling to Canada that not only won this category but also the main prize.

"Family
David Whitmarsh: “The Reay Family travelled by two covered wagons from Nebraska USA to Alberta Canada. My Great Aunt Grace is the woman on the horse with my Grandfather holding the gun. I love this photo for its pioneering spirit.”
© David Whitmarsh
"My
Beverley Stephens: “My Nanny looking so full of joy on ‘Happy’ the donkey. I only knew her when she was old and in pain, so it is fabulous to see her clearly loving life.”
© Beverley Stephens
"My
Elizabeth Ashton: “1950, Chester, our golden retriever, who was the friend of any food related delivery van driver coming on to the estate; indeed, he was a friend to everyone.”
© Elizabeth Ashton
"My
Joanna Tolhurst: “My great grandparents, Charles and Jessie Haines, and my grandmother Caroline Jessie (born 1914) with pride of place in a studio family portrait, her bull terrier. I remember her explaining that she could dress him up and push him in the doll’s pram.”
© Joanna Tolhurst
"My
John Smith: “Candy was my nan’s dog. She was a great fielder in tennis ball cricket and endlessly patient with me, not a natural dog person. We’d often just sit together, sometimes for ages, sometimes waiting for my uncle to come home with yet another tall tale.”
© John Smith
"My
Michael Pitt-Payne: “My grandfather Dr William Pitt-Payne with ‘Jock’ in 1924. He was born in Calcutta in 1874 – the son of a missionary – qualified as a doctor in 1900 and practiced in Bromley, Kent. He fed the family by shooting rabbits and used Jock as a gun dog.”