S. R. Adams and Sons Ltd., bakers & confectioners, 12 High Street, Waltham by S. J. Warren c1940/50s.

An original photograph by S. J. Warren, photographer. Sidney Robert Adams was born in New Clee on 29th March 1900. He was the son of Willian Henry Adams (18??-1918) and Lucy Ann Adams (née Joynes) (1869-1954) of 72 Park Street. In 1911, he was living with his mother, by then a widow, at 9 Wollaston Road, Cleethorpes. Sidney Robert Adams married (Elizabeth) Irene Chevins in Grimsby in 1927. They had three children. In 1930, they moved to Waltham High Street, to the shop in the photograph. Sidney’s mother, Lucy, was living there too. At first it was a grocer’s shop and, as the business developed, it then became a bakery too. Sidney went back to his his earlier career as an engineer on Grimsby Docks for the war years. The business was run by his wife. Sidney died in 1973. His wife died in 1964. Sidney had lived at 33 Kirkgate, Waltham. The photographer, Stanley John Warren, was born in Leamington Spa or in the adjacent county town of Warwick in the last quarter of 1890. His father was secretary to the local hospital, assistant to the Warwickshire Auditor and secretary to the Public Garden Trust. The family moved to Eastbourne in 1896 where they ran a boarding house and Stanley’s father was also a local auditor. He advertised his ability to advise on all accounting matters. Stanley’s parents and sister moved up to Grimsby in 1912 where Stanley’s father became auditor to the Sleight Trawler Group, then the largest private trawler group in the UK. Stanley remained down in Eastbourne where he was already a professional photographer, although much of his work was taking photos of the visitors to Eastbourne. He also did studio work and was eventually working in Brighton. Stanley wasn’t permitted to serve in the army in the First World War as he had had rheumatoid fever which had left him with a heart murmur. He married Sarah Frances Cheal,(known as Saidie and born in Newhaven on 20th December 1891) in Brighton in 1916. Their daughter, Edith Joyce Warren, (known as Joyce) was born in Brighton in 1920. In c1921, Stanley was seconded into the army and served with the occupational army in Germany. Saidie and Joyce visited Stanley in Germany. Work as a photographer probably didn’t go too well upon Stanley’s return to Eastbourne. In 1926 or 1927, Stanley moved up to Grimsby to be with his parents and sister, Nellie. He established a darkroom and studio in their house at 53 Ainslie Street. Stanley’s wife and daughter followed in 1928 and they all lived in Welholme Road, then 225 Hainton Avenue and after his father died they lived at 53 Ainslie Street. Stanley’s mother died in 1929. Stanley subsidised his income as a photographer by working in a Post office alongside his sister and daughter, Joyce. Joyce Warren, Stanley and Saidie’s daughter, married James Alfred Chevins in Grimsby in 1941. Stanley married for a second time in Grimsby in 1944 after his first wife died in 1942. He married Elizabeth Lingard. Stanley was temporarily arrested during the war as they thought he was a spy. He was found to have photos of local radio and radar installations in his possession. Fortunately, he was released after 24 hours. In the 1950s, Stanley’s interest in photography waned somewhat following the appearance of Polaroid. He died in 1963. Stanley J. Warren’s collection of photographs form part of the Hallgarth Collection. They were at Welholme Galleries until it closed and are now in storage. Many thanks to Michael Chevins, grandson of the late Stanley John Warren, and Jane Tapply, Warren family members, who kindly provided all of the above information. [May 2020]