THESE happy folk were enjoying a well-deserved break from work.

We know the picture was taken at Southend-on-Sea on June 16, 1951. It is also clear that they travelled in a Tappin’s coach from Didcot.

All we know about the women, however, is that they were “glove factory girls”.

But we haven’t a clue which glove factory they worked at, or where it was.

The only clue is that it may have been in the Abingdon area. The reason for that is that one of the workers, Mary Davis (nee Allen), lived at Abingdon and later at Radley.

The picture comes from her cousin, Brian Higgins, of Morton Avenue, Kidlington.

He writes: “I have just got around to sorting through a box of photographs which I inherited from Mary, who died about three years ago.

“I thought the photograph might be of interest to your readers.

“Luckily, Mary was very diligent and has written on the back of the photograph – “Glove Factory Girls – taken 16th June 1951 – Southend”.

“Mary is standing, eighth from the right. I am afraid I do not know anything about the glove factory or any of the girls, but perhaps someone will recognise themselves.”

Woodstock was probably Oxfordshire’s best known centre for glove making, but Abingdon was also prominent in the trade.

At one time, it was a major employer in the town, offering jobs to factory as well as outworkers.

The Savernake Glove Company occupied part of the Pavlova leather factory.

Can anyone identify any of the glove factory girls and recall the day trip?