Description:Pictured are the winners of the 12 to 24 months class at the Stafford and Stone Constituency Labour Party’s Annual Baby Show, held at the Borough Hall, Stafford, as they pose with Alderman G W Newman, who presented the prizes. Left to right: Mrs E M Fisher, and Glyndive James, who tied for third place; Mrs G M Edwards and David Michael, who came second, Mrs L Rogers and Paul, who won his class and was judged as the best baby in the show (and thus became holder of the Stephen Swingler Shield) and Mrs G Moore and Shirley, who tied for third place. Mother of the best baby said that Paul and his four and a half year old sister Linda have never entered in any baby show in the past.
The show was opened by Mr Stephen Swingler, M.P. for Newcastle-under-Lyme and former Labour M.P. for Stafford, who originally donated the shield bearing his name, which was competed for annually. Mr Swingler was unable to stay throughout the show so the prizes were presented by Alderman George Newman, Chairman of the County Council’s Health Committee. Mr Swingler was introduced by Mr Ted Garnett, President of the Divisional Labour Party. Mr Swingler said that the Stafford labour movement held their first baby show after the introduction of the National Health Service. He expressed thanks to the judges of the show: Dr G I Wilson, Dr J B Murphy, Councillor Mrs F Rowley, a nurse and member of the Cannock Urban District Council and Miss E McGing, a nurse at the Staffordshire General Infirmary, Stafford.
There were 69 competitors in the show, with babies from Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall, Church Eaton, and Hopton. The show was divided into three classes, babies up to 6 months, for which there were 14 entries, babies of 6 to 12 months, 20 entries and babies of 12 to 24 months which attracted 35 entries. In addition there was a special class for twins, in which there were two entries.
Results of the show:
Up to 6 Months: 1, Lynda Maureen Cartwright of Merrivale Road, Stafford; 2, John Henry Burton of Mill Street, Stafford; 3, Terence Norman Rattle of Victoria Street, Stafford.
6 to 12 months: 1, Linda Bentley of Walden Avenue, Stafford; 2, Christopher Robert Allen of Marsh Street, Stafford; 3, Sandra Lorraine Woodman of Second Avenue, Stafford.
12 to 24 months: 1, Paul Rogers of First Avenue, Stafford; 2, David Michael Edwards of Woodlands Road, Stafford; 3, Shirley Moore of St. Peters Gardens, Stafford and Glyndive James Fisher of Doxey, Stafford.
In the Twins class: Allan and Judith Simpson of Mill Bank, Stafford were successful.
M.C. of the show was Mr Norman Perry.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 11 October 1952. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.