By the buttonholes, it took place on 'Oak Apple Day'.

Lovely photograph. It would be wonderful if each individual could be identified. The man, back row, third from left, bears a resemblance to the one second from right, same row. The two with trilbies look like 'tofs' to me. Are the button holes a clue? Are they daffodils? If so, it may narrow a search of the local papers. I guess it may have been an outing as extreme left there's someone holding a squeeze-box.

The man in the second row (after front row) second from the far right looks like he might possibly be my grandfather, William Breeds. He's wearing a lighter coloured cap and has a light moustache....he's beside the man with the thick grey beard. Not too sure. I have a photo of a smaller group of men similarly dressed but without the hats, except for a couple of straw hats. One man has a banjo, and one has a mandolin, so it must be some kind of men's choral group. It was sent to my grandfather in Toronto, some time shortly after he had left Brighton in 1913. The note on the back says they had stayed at the Bridge Hotel in Arundel, and it reads to the effect that my grandfather had been part of the group.

I don't like to spoil the party, but I do not think this pub is the Albion Inn. Despite the obvious similarity and co-incidence that Charles Norman was the publican, I believe the pub shown was the Cross Keys at 17, Cheapside, on the corner with Wood Street. Charles Norman was the publican there from around 1914 until around 1916. He died early in 1917. The structure of the building in the photo corresponds much more closely with that of the Cross Keys. Additionally, the windows and door arrangement are completely different to the Albion Inn, as shown in pictures on this site. Regards.

Perhaps the location is not the Albion Inn, but a positive identification has been made, regarding Henry Terry, which implies that the group of men were from Brighton. So the question remains as to why they were on the outing.

Carol, have you also seen the similar photo of the Obed Arms group under 'People/Local folk?'. Do you recognise anybody there? There is also a photo of The Cross Keys in the James Gray Collection website - you can search for Wood Street and one of the options shows a pub on the corner. It is difficult to make a firm conclusion but see what you think. There are obviously some differences between my old photo and the present day Albion. There seem to be some reflections in the side window of what is opposite but unfortunately I have been unable to discern precisely what they are. If it was 1914 to 1916, a lot of men were going off to war. The Royal Sussex Regiment was mobilising in earnest from 1914. That would not have included my grandfather. Here we have 42 men enjoying themselves possibly at a time when there was, in some towns, a lot of pressure for them to serve their country. It is hard to judge my grandfather's age; I had estimated him to be in his early thirties. He was born in 1874 but he was often a very sickly person with chest problems who died in 1921. He lived in and around the Elm Grove area. A later picture of him shows he must have aged quickly so it is difficult to tell exactly and that is why, with Kelly's directory entry 1905 for Chas Norman, I guessed at 1905 when he was landlord at the Albion. My other grandparents also ran a shop called the Albion Fruit and Vegetable store in I think Richmond Buildings so there was a close connection to the whole area. As far as I know Henry Terry was not a musician and this gathering could possibly have been a men's' outing. The Group has been well prepared by the photographer but there is nothing on the back where did your grandfather live in Brighton and what did he do for a living? Is there any way you can positively identify him which then would give a year if it is him. Like you I am intrigued about what the gathering was about. By coincidence I also have another photo of a group which includes my grandfather; probably outside a pub or similar establishment but I not sure where it was. There are men with musical instruments and straw hats. It is not brilliant quality but I can scan and enhance it a little. If you want to see it please e mail me at dparrett@talktalk.net

On the James Gray Collection website, I found another photo of the Cross Keys looking up from Whitecross Street which I passed to Andy for his opinion. This one, the other photo from a different angle and the advantage of Andy's information and analysis by e-mail, makes it as certain as can be that the group of men are outside the Cross Keys on the corner of Wood Street and Cheapside. One of men with peak caps may be a driver of a coach and this perhaps was a charabanc outing. I am not any the wiser as to why my grandfather was there as it was not his local in terms of his home or work, but perhaps he was with a friend or was a member of an association of some kind.

Dennis, have a look at the photo on this site, under Bonchurch Road, it's a picture of Mrs Cox's Laundry van.
There is a man in the photo with a beard, and he's wearing the same cap as the man in your photo, who has the white beard and moustache (the man on his right is the one who looks like it could be my grandfather). It appears that it's the same man, only younger. I wonder if he is a member of the Cox family.
My grandfather worked for the Cox Pill Factory from about 1900 to 1907/1908. Is it possible that your grandfather worked for the Cox family's laundry business, and maybe this was an outing for both groups of employees?
I don't know how many worked at the pill factory.