This photograph shows members of the Walton-on-the-Naze Bowls Club pictured at their bowling green opposite The Crescent.
I am hoping to date the photo, but have only one clue to go on. This is it…
the man in the front row is reading
John Bull which has a headline reading SHO…..ASYLUM (his hand obscures some of it).
The only facts I do know about the bowls club are that in 1914 Colonel H. P. Davis JP was president and Mr. J. Wordley of
19 The Parade was Hon. Sec. and Treasurer.
I believe that the club flourished until 1929.
Can anyone find an archive for John Bull newspaper or suggest the headline and date.
This photo shows the location of the bowling green at the cliff top behind the Pier Hotel
Walton Tales 
The British Newspaper Archive might have records of John Bull but you have to subscribe I believe.
Thanks Sally. As I no longer subscribe I’m hoping that someone who does will help.
It doesn’t look like the British Newspaper Archive includes John Bull – you can see from the ‘Browse by newspaper title’ menu here: http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk I wondered if http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers would have it, but it seems not. I also looked at the newspaper archives accessible from our local London library, but they don’t include it. You could try those accessible from Essex libraries (I don’t have a membership at the moment): http://www.essex.gov.uk/Libraries-Archives/Libraries/information/Pages/Reference-library-online.aspx#newspapers
Thanks Phil for all of your information. I had some interesting responses from the FaceBook group “Essex – A Walk Down Memory Lane” which I will send to your email address
“Shocking asylum tragedy” ? Maybe.
Belated but glad to be able to confirm your suggestion. See comment from Lindsey Arkley below. Thank you Pete
I’m sure Aron is correct: “Shocking asylum tragedy” – An article on 1 October, 1921 has this exact headline, published on Page 8, though there must have been more than one Page 1 produced – the digitised version now available with a subscription to https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers has a different front page…cheers.
Thanks Lindsey – 1921 sounds correct and good to find that Aron was my super sleuth with your assistance.