The lady in the doorway is Elizabeth Lyons, daughter of Henry Northwood Richards and Elizabeth Richards (nee Hall).  Elizabeth Richards married Alfred Lyons on 4 September 1875 at St. Michaels, Penkridge.   Unfortunately, Alfred Lyons died on 9 February 1900, at the early age of 48 years leaving Elizabeth to carry on with her business as a grocer with son Henry (standing next to her)..   Elizabeth was also a dressmaker.

The doorway and window on the right of the picture was the Tea Rooms, now the Opticians.  The photo was probably taken at the Coronation in 1911.

Picture supplied by Patricia Dodd who has been researching her family tree, as has also Bridget Amphlett.  Bridget asks that if anyone has any memories of the Lyons or Ingram families, she would love to hear from them.  I can supply both Bridget and Patricia's contact details.   Members of the Richards and Lyons families still live in Penkridge. 

5 January 2008 - the following two emails received from Bridgette Amphlett

Dear Bevan,

Thanks for your email.   I would be grateful if you would put my email onto the website - someone may see it and if they do get in touch with you about it would you give them my email address please.

I do have Good Old Grit, along with other books about Penkridge.  After emailing you last night I looked through them and found the picture you mention, (photo of firemen carrying coffin). I'm sure that this would have been uncle Harry.  I have a vague memory of a Brass Helmet like the ones shown in the photo, it may have been in his house when I was very small.  I will ask my brother, who now lives in France, and my cousins who live in Rugeley if they can remember Harry being in the Fire Service.  They are older than me and can remember quite a lot when I jog their memories. 

Thank you very much for your help, I will keep looking at the Penkridge Website. I now live in Devon,  but visit Staffordshire a couple of times a year, always visiting Penkridge as I'm trying to find various relatives in the churchyard.  I've had some success, but many must be in unmarked graves. 
 

"You may remember that I got in touch with you before re Lyons Grocery Shop in Penkridge which was owned by my Gt.Grandmother, Elizabeth Lyons.  I'm now trying to get information re my Gt. Uncle Henry John Lyons, Elizabeth's eldest son, known as Harry.  In 1901 he was working as a grocer in the Lyons shop.

In 1907 Harry married Susan Bartlett, born 1878 Teddesley Hay, at St. Michael's Church.  She later died, I'm still strying to find out when.  On 11th February, 1942 Harry remarried, again at St. Michaels, to Gladys Annie Mitchell, a spinster of full age, residence at time of marriage - Goods Station Cottages, Penkridge.  Her father's name was Henry Mitchell, deceased.  Winesses were Thomas Henry Parrott and Alice Maud Elsmore.

At the time of this marriage Harry would have been 63, he was born in 1879.  I find it interesting that his Profession was National Fire Service.  As it was wartime I expect that many older men took on this job, although he may have been doing this work for some years.

I wondered if there is anyone still living in Penkridge who may have any knowledge of the people mentioned, or perhaps their descendants, or if there is any information on the Fire Service at this time in Penkridge which may throw light on Harry's involvement. (Bridgette now knows of the articles in Good Old Grit and Staffordshire History Journal). 

I remember Uncle Harry from when I was a small child, he was a tall upright man with white hair and moustache who rode a sit up and beg cycle.  He visited my Gran, his sister Mary, every week, cycling from Penkridge to Cannock and back.  Aunty Gladys was a very kind  elderly lady.  This was in the late 1940's, early 1950's.  I've found that he died in 1958. 

I'm researching my family and building my Family Tree and would be very interested in any information regarding Harry and Gladys, and any other members of my Lyons and Richards families from Penkridge."

Regards,

Bridget Amphlett