Most of the people in these photographs will have been regulars to the Conservative Club on Maritime Road. The chap in the top photograph, pictured in the centre with the buttonhole is Kevin McGlade and his sister Anne is next to him. He is sat next to a lad who used to live in one of the older houses in St Annes Terrace, until they were knocked down, the house was opposite Mr Sims grocery shop.

The New Cons is now gone, which in its turn replaced its predecessor in Barrett Street, opposite the Methodist Chapel. The Conservative Club was absolutely non-political. This being a definite policy dating from the 1930s, when a Conservative candidate, visiting the one in Barrett Street, bought a round of drinks, presumably thinking he was with supporters. This was pretty unlikely in Portrack, and word got out that he was trying to bribe voters.

Photographs and details courtesy of Fred Starr.