A VE Day street party in Hartlepool - but who can clear up the mystery behind this 1945 photo?

The street party on VE Day, but where in Hartlepool is it?

Jo Hepplewhite has shared this photograph which shows a street party on VE Day in the town.

But Jo, from Rutland, is not sure where it was taken and would love your help.

Jo said: “The photo belonged to my late mother who was four years old and living in Crossley Street, Hartlepool, with her war widowed mother, or is it a different location in Hartlepool?

Patricia Hepplewhite who originally had possession of the mystery photo.

“Mum’s name was Patricia Anne Hepplewhite (nee Rutherford).

“She was born in West Hartlepool on August 23, 1940. Her mother was Jennie Rutherford (nee Tappenden) and her father was John Rutherford. John served on the SS Medjerda and it was struggling to keep up with convoy SL68 when it was sunk by a German u-boat.”

Jo believes another address in the town – where her grandparents lived in Slater Street – may be another ‘contender for the street in the VE Day street party.’

Jo added: “Despite the tragedy of never knowing her father, Mum lived a great life. With Dad (a Hartlepool lad) for 60 years, she had two children and four grandchildren. She was a creative person, an artist.

Patricia Anne Hepplewhite on a shopping trip with her mother.

“Mum and dad built a life in the south of France in retirement, where she died in 2018.”

“Mum went to Hartlepool High School for Girls and when she left she worked as a typist in the Education Office in the town and then as a typist for Tom Brooks who was head of engineering at the Technical College, where she met Dad.

“Mum was a secretary for most of her working life, but fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher whilst living in France and taught English at the primary school in the village where they lived.

“When we were young I remember her transcribing children’s books into Braille.”

Patricia, far left on the back row, is pictured in the High School netball team.

Jo lives in Rutland and said: “I spent many happy school holidays staying in the town with my paternal grandparents.”

Can you help solve the street party mystery? If you can, email [email protected] and tell us more.

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