RECOGNISE anyone in the photo? If you do then Newton Abbot publican Andrei Slipszenko would be delighted to hear from you, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.

Mr Slipszenko, landlord of the Saracens Head in Fairfield Terrace, is working on a history of the pub and its landlords, who have been pouring pints since the early 1860s.

And Mr Slipszenko hopes a Mid-Devon Advertiser reader might just have his or her memory jogged by seeing the photo.

The photo, which has been gathering dust in the Mid-Devon Advertiser archive since June 1967, was taken at Newton Abbot Euchre League awards evening, which was held in the former Jolly Sailor pub on East Street.

The smiling gentleman in seated in the middle of the front row is Charlie Frost, who was the pub landlord for more than 20 years from the 1950s to the mid-1970s.

The composition of the photo with a trophy in the middle suggests the Saracens team were celebrating winning the league. Sadly, no caption exists for the picture, although there are two things Mr Slipszenko is certain of.

‘I already have a photo of Charlie Frost and that’s definitely him in the front row of the photo,’ said Mr Slipszenko.

‘And that is definitely the same Euchre trophy the pub won in 1965 as I have a photo of that team with it, which was taken in my pub.

‘A couple of the faces in the photo resemble people in the other photo, but there are a number of new ones as well.

‘If anyone can help me identify the people in the photo, please, please get in touch.’

Mr Slipszenko is particularly keen to find out more about the Frost family, who ran the Saracens Head for more than 60 years.

‘Thomas Henry Frost took the place over in 1909 and was there until the early 1950s, when he handed over to his son, Charlie,’ said Mr Slipszenko.

‘Mr Frost senior was on the old Urban District Council either side of the War and served as the chairman – what we would call mayor now – from 1939-1942 or 43.

‘Charlie Frost also served on the council, but as far as I can find he was never the chairman, although one or two old boys who come into the pub are convinced he was.

‘The Frost family left a mark on Newton Abbot and I would like to find out more about them. I have no information about, wives, children, brothers or sisters, never mind friends.

‘Why did the Frosts stay so long in one place? And what happened to them when they retired? If anyone knows anything about the Frosts – even better if there are any family members out there – please get in touch.’

► Mr Slipszenko is still compiling a list of landlords from the 1970s onwards. Anyone who can help him fill in gaps can contact him on email at [email protected], or by dropping into the pub during opening hours.