Select a region
Dozens of islanders turned amateur sleuths to help the daughter of two 1950s sweethearts track down one of the spots they visited on their honeymoon in Jersey.
Doris 'Dolly' and Fred Smith tied the knot on 2 April 1955, picking Jersey, where they travelled shortly after, as the ideal spot to celebrate their marriage.
The pair have since passed away, but their London-based daughter, Jan Linsell, is now keen to retrace the steps of the lovebirds.
Armed with a photo of the smartly-attired newlyweds side-by-side on a bench, Jan had hoped to scout out the location it was taken when she visited the island last week, but was unsuccessful.
Pictured: Jan Linsell was hoping to track down where her parents visited in Jersey.
"Unfortunately I've no idea where they stayed [during their honeymoon]. I'm trying to find the original photo to see if there is a stamp or some other information on the back but I'm not having much luck... I will for sure visit the spot if I find out where it is," she told Express.
However, with another trip planned to Jersey in just over a week's time, she renewed her efforts to find the bench where her parents posed - now with the help of the 6,500-strong 'Jersey Temps Passé' Facebook group.
The post attracted more than 90 comments of islanders taking clues from the grainy image's surrounds to figure out where it was taken.
An early commenter drew attention to the excursion sign behind Dolly and Fred as a potential clue, leading many to suggest it had been taken in the area of the Esplanade and Grand Hotel.
That suggestion became firmer when some noticed a reflection in the window of what appeared to be a coach behind the pair.
Pictured: One islander examined a window reflection to work out the location.
"I am going with the Grand Hotel - and the reflection is the top of Elizabeth Castle. The pavement is the biggest help - it is wide and they are facing a view. The bus/coach is parked so must be a wide enough road. Good luck with sleuthing," one detective said.
Another chipped in: "The windows certainly look like the Grand. The promenade opposite would have been wide enough to park a coach. Also note that the photographer is eye level with the couple, so he has knelt down to take the photo."
Other group members suggested the structure in the background could have been in the area of La Hougue Bie or Mont Orgueil, but one commenter pointed out that the silhouette most closely resembles Elizabeth Castle.
The clincher appeared to be when the editor of Jerripedia, Mike Bisson, stepped in with two images of the promenade opposite the Grand Hotel taken in the 30s and 50s, showing a series of benches along the walkway.
"I have no doubt that this coach was parked across the road from the Grand Hotel, probably between the two furthest lamp-posts in the right hand picture, in the area just off the promenade where the railway track used to be... I suspect the benches survived the Occupation in storage somewhere and that the one the honeymooners sat on is on the right, next to the couple strolling past," he explained.
Pictured: A pair of images that appeared to solve the mystery. (Mike Bisson)
Expressing her gratitude to the investigators, Jan commented: "Thank you so much for all your help and fabulous comments. I am looking forward to returning to Jersey in two weeks and will be at the Grand Hotel. You are a great group of people and I am honoured to be able to share all this with you."
One islander pointed out: "You will be able to look out of your hotel window and see where your parents sat all those years ago."
Jan replied: "That will mean the world to me."
Do you have a different idea where this could be? Comment below or email editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.