While researching The Blackest Streets I was informed that no picture of Reverend Robert Whatwood Loveridge had ever been found. And then Richard Read goes and finds one among his late parents’ belongings.

Richard emailed: “The photo was used as backing behind two certificates (for swimming and issued by the London North Western Railway Co) framed by my late father in the 1930s. Whilst my father died nearly 14 years ago, the framed certificates remained in the family home’s loft until it was cleared four years ago following my mother’s death. It is only now that I have had time to look more closely at some of the items removed.”

Richard Read is not related to Reverend Loveridge, but his parents were brought up in Bethnal Green in the early 20th century.

The reverend’s descendant, Peter Must, was delighted to be told this, and Richard Read has been a real gent and handed over the photograph to the Musts without even waiting to be asked. They are beyond thrilled.

Kevin Scully (“Rev Kev”), formerly of St Matthew’s Bethnal Green, kindly put Richard in touch with me. (Weirdly, Rev Kev is now the warden of The College of St Barnabas, Lingfield, Surrey, where I grew up.) http://www.kevin-scully.com/about.html