THE photograph of this sprightly-looking lady celebrating her 90th birthday — note the iced cake behind her right shoulder — was taken in 1978.

Her grandson Michael Marshall, who lives in Eccleshill, sent it to us in the hope that one of our readers would be able to help him to solve a family mystery surrounding his grandmother Alice Sumner, who was born in 1889 in Northwich, Cheshire.

Mr Marshall said: “Her mother was Maggie Elizabeth Harrison and her father was Thomas William Sumner. My grandmother is listed on the census of 1891 and 1901 with her family in Cheshire, but then our family has no knowledge of her whereabouts until she turns up in Bradford in 1909, when she was married in the West Bowling area. She is listed on the 1911 census in West Bowling.

“The mystery is why she moved to Bradford in 1901 which, in those days, would have been a long distance, and also because of her age at that time when she would have been 12.

“There are rumours she was put in service or she was adopted out of the family, although her marriage certificate has her parents surname on it.

“There are other rumours that she was in service to a Lord Mayor of Bradford during this time and she was trained by the Girls Society, which was supposedly housed in what became Belle Vue Barracks.”

The Girls’ Friendly Society was set up in 1875 by Mary Elizabeth Townsend, an Irish clergyman’s daughter married to the wealthy Frederick Townsend.

The organisation, which still exists, has a website which explains why Mary Townsend created it. ‘She was concerned with the fate of many working-class country girls who left home to take up urban employment. Cut off from the support of friends and family, Mrs Townsend’s idea was for ‘lady’ associates to befriend and guide these girls, who would form the Society’s members.

‘Girls could join GFS from the age of 12, but from 1882 those from the age of eight could become Candidates, preparing for membership.

‘GFS provided facilities for the young women under its protection. Most important were the lodges offering cheap, good-quality accommodation to young women working in domestic service and as mill and factory workers.

‘By 1900, GFS had over 150,000 members and nearly 33,000 associates in 1,361 branches. Young women working in domestic service comprised the largest single occupational group among the members. Others were teachers, nurses, clerks, students and workers in refreshment bars, mills, factories and warehouses.’ Mr Marshall may be contacted on 01274-823101.