The Rutter Family Photo Album
(Part 2)

This is a picture of my mother and her sister Josie, with my sister Audrey hidden away in her pram. This photo was taken around April 1955 on the park wall. This was a time when life was less hectic in Dunmore, a time when you could stand out on the road and take a photo without fear of getting a belt of a car.

This is Audrey sitting on the doorstep of the house in Lower Dunmore. She was about six months old in this photo. In those days, babies didn't need fancy bouncers or high-tech gadgets to keep them entertained. As soon as they were able to sit up on their own, they were placed on the doorstep to watch the world go by.

This is Audrey again, a lively and curious toddler who, at around 18 months old, was ready to explore the world on two feet. Gone were the days of sitting contentedly on the doorstep, as Audrey was now eager to venture out and discover new sights and sounds. With a determined look in her eye and a wobbly gait, she was getting ready to go places and nothing was going to stop her. 

This photo captures a moment in time at the Storm Wall during the summer of 1956. For Ernie, the war years felt like a distant memory, and he was now facing different battles as a fisherman and a husband. On the rare occasions when he was able to come ashore, he made sure to spend quality time with his family. Barbara had arrived at this time and my mother’s hands were full with looking after two babies. Ernie cherished the moments he had with his loved ones. Despite the challenges that came with his job, Ernie found joy in the simple things and appreciated the time he had ashore. Looking at this photo, it's clear that Ernie's dedication to his family was as unwavering as his commitment to the sea.

In this old photograph, Audrey has been joined by her new baby sister, Barbara. It's not clear from the picture if Barbara was one of those rare babies who can walk right after being born, but she certainly seems to be eager to explore the village on her own two feet from a very early stage in her life.

In the photo, Barbara can be seen pointing towards Jimmy’s bus, and Audrey looks like she's about to protest. Perhaps she's not in the mood for a shopping trip, or maybe she's just feeling a bit nostalgic for the simpler days of her own childhood when all she had to do was sit on the doorstep. Either way, it's obvious that these two sisters have very different personalities and interests.

Looking back at this old photo, it's clear that Audrey and Barbara were always destined to be an inseparable pair. Whether they were sitting on the doorstep of their childhood home together or exploring the outside world, these two sisters had a bond that nothing could break.

This colourised photo of my sister Audrey was taken in the park in Dunmore when she was around 18 months old, in the summer of 1956. She is still wearing her baby harness in this picture, which indicates that she was in the early stages of learning to walk. 

This intriguing photo captures a moment of bravery as Barbara and Audrey stand fearlessly at the entrance of their home, preventing a marauding beast from entering. 

This delightful picture captures the two girls all set and ready for a Sunday walk with my mother. The usual route for their walks was up the hill, across the village, up the Coxtown coast road and back down the Cuckaloo road. They sometimes got to explore the woods on their walks and would often pick flowers as they meandered along the way. If the season was right, they would also pick blackberries. The photo exudes a sense of joy and simplicity, reminding us of the beauty and charm of a leisurely stroll on a Sunday afternoon.

For the two girls, leisure time meant one thing: soaking up the sun on Councillor's Strand. The grassy bank provided the perfect spot to stretch out, chat, and enjoy the warmth on their skin. In the 1950s, the beach looked quite different from the one we know today. Concrete and steel bars were yet to replace the natural beauty of the grassy bank. For these two sisters and friends, it was a place of pure relaxation and escape from the stresses of everyday life. They would lay there for hours, listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and enjoying the salty breeze on their faces. It was a simple pleasure, but one that brought them so much joy. Though the landscape may have changed over time, the memories of those carefree days on Councillor's Strand will always be special.

In this picturesque scene, the two girls immerse themselves in a delightful session of swimming at Councillor's Strand. The strand was a tranquil oasis in those days, untouched by the whirring presence of windsurfers or jet skiers. The absence of these modern watercraft allowed for an undisturbed and peaceful aquatic experience.

Another photo of Barbara and Audrey out in the water at Councillor’s Strand.

After completing an exhilarating session of swimming and ensuring the safe containment of their collection of shrimps and jellyfish in carefully secured buckets, the young adventurers patiently await their journey back home, eager to conclude their aquatic escapade and indulge in a well-deserved tea. These girls were living the dream.

In this photo, you can observe the two girls on their initial sets of wheels. They covered a significant distance on these vehicles before eventually passing them on to me. Subsequently, I enthusiastically utilized them until Mrs. McColl, who lived at the top of the terrace, discovered an old two-wheeled bicycle in their garage and generously gifted it to me. That marked my inaugural encounter with speed on two wheels.