The following photograph collection has been kindly made available by the Kirby family who's pictures have been a wonderful source of history for our town.
Edna was born in Helmshore in 1923 and when she was eight years old her father sold his window cleaning round and started a photography business on Bury Road in Haslingden.
Apart from a short spell working in an office Edna worked for her father in the business mainly in the dark room, developing film and printing. So accomplished was she that when she joined the WRAF in 1941 she became a photography instructor, teaching dark room skills to new recruits. She was then posted to RAF Benson near Oxford where she remained for the rest of the war, loading and unloading film in cameras on reconnaissance aircraft.
After the war Edna returned to Haslingden and the family photography business, until the death of her father in 1951 when the business closed. In 1953 she married Donald Kirby and after raising their children she helped Donald in his family grocery business until their retirement in 1983.
Photography was always a passion for Edna and we are so lucky to be able to share these with you now.
Enjoy.
Jack and Joyce Barnes who used to farm at Martin Croft Farm (accessed from Hud Hey).
I spoke to Edmund their son about this photo and he thinks its when they entered the Gala.
I spoke to Edmund their son about this photo and he thinks its when they entered the Gala.
