VOLUNTEERS at Largs Museum are looking for help from News readers recalling a kind gesture towards the town from Australia which was made just after the Second World War.

Children from Largs Bay, a suburb of Adelaide, sent food parcels to their counterparts at Largs Primary School in 1947, when rationing was still in force in Britain as the country struggled to adapt to the ongoing effects of the war.

Trustee Linda Grieve discovered a photograph of children at Largs Bay School in New South Wales while undertaking educational research and archive work last year.

The picture was included in the museum's exhibition on education in 2023.

It was originally published in Australia in 1982 as part of celebrations to mark Largs Bay's centenary.

Published with the image was an account of how Largs Bay School's then headmistress, a Miss A.A. Milne, "inspired the students to provide items which were still scarce and rationed in Britain".

It adds: "Members of the Mother’s Club spent many hours packing and addressing the parcels to children who were students at Largs School in Scotland."

Linda said: "It is a very poignant picture of young children lined up with said ‘food parcels’ in their hands, each parcel addressed to a corresponding Largs Primary School child, with all parcels marked c/o Miss Grace Ford, 53 Irvine Road, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland.

"It would appear that number 53 may well have been a Burgh property at the time, utilised by local employees.

"Only four of the children’s names are clearly visible in the photographm and these are as follows: Brian MacDonald, Pauline Evans, Pat Wilson and Bill Irvine.

"Having conducted an initial examination of our ‘Wee Paper' for the whole of 1947, I have still to come across any reference to these ‘food parcels’.

"It may well be that they did not land in Scotland until 1948, and I will endeavour to examine more historical records of the early part of that year.

"Food parcels were still a feature of 1947 Britain and mainland Europe, especially as rationing was still in place.

"They were organised by many sources and shipped from many countries, especially commonwealth countries and the USA."

Linda's appeal comes as Largs Bay School celebrates its own centenary this year.

She added: "Having had a couple of recent queries from folks in the Antipodes, I have decided to put out a local appeal on the subject.

"It would be wonderful to share any information collected with our Australian counterparts, especially Largs Bay Primary School."

If anyone has any recollections of the event first-hand, through a relative or friend, or has any memorabilia that they'd be willing to share, the museum would be most grateful.

Contact Linda on Linda@largsmuseum.org or call on 07712 039155.

Alternatively, you can visit the museum in Manse Court during its regular opening hours, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.