It was brought in by Leamington man George Bubb, whose father was a driver for the Auxiliary Fire Service during the Second World War, and who may have been part of the procession.

The picture seems to have been taken from the building on the corner of the Parade and Dormer Place.

As well as policemen, there appear to be some vehicles in the parade and a tradesman, possibly a butcher or baker, appears to have joined it on his bicycle together with other cyclists.

Mr Bubb, 74, is hoping readers may remember what the occasion was and remember when the picture was taken. The former Ford worker has a number of other pictures his father Jack ‘Kelly’ Bubb passed down to him, including a number of the AFS.

His father was a kennelman who lived above veterinary premises in Guy Street, but volunteered to help at home, finding himself much in demand during the Blitz.

His father and other firefighters were even due to leave for France after D-Day until an administrative decision led to the move being called off.

It may not have been front-line service, but the work had its risks. Mr Bubb’s father told him of one occasion during an air raid in which a colleague pointed to something across the road, before realising flying shrapnel had cut his finger off.

Mr Bubb said: “Although he never got hurt he had a rough old time.”

The picture below, dated September 17, 1939, shows the then AFS office in Adelaide Road piled high with sandbags. Jack Kelly can be seen wearing a peaked cap next to the doorway of the station. In the doorway wearing a tin helmet is a man Mr Kelly remembers as Vick Godfrey.

The other picture below shows firemen attending a blaze in New Street or Trinity Street, Old Town, at a building Mr Bubb’s father remembers as being a glove factory.

l If you can shed any light on the reason for the parade please call the newsdesk on 457720.