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SIMPLER TIMES

Baby sips a pint and swimmers tiptoe into the chilly sea in nostalgic picture book celebrating the great British holiday

LIFE in Britain through the ages has been captured in a series of stunning nostalgic photos in a celebration of the great British day out.

Images of days gone by of Brits enjoying road-side picnics, outings to the beach and snippets of family life have been compiled into a photo book by filmmaker Lee Shulman.

A baby boy tries his first sip of beer from a pram, leaving a thick layer of foam around his mouth
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A baby boy tries his first sip of beer from a pram, leaving a thick layer of foam around his mouth Credit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
These women walk to the waters edge before taking a dip in the ocean
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These women walk to the waters edge before taking a dip in the oceanCredit: The Anonymous Project/Lee Shulman/When We Were Young/Hoxton Mini Press
A mother and her two young children stand outside their home in England in 1963 as washing dries in the background
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A mother and her two young children stand outside their home in England in 1963 as washing dries in the background Credit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
A man grins from an enormous hole he's dug in the sand on a British beach
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A man grins from an enormous hole he's dug in the sand on a British beachCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman

The collection 'When We Were Young: Memories of Growing Up in Britain', is a poignant set of portraits from , detailing a record of memories of growing up in Britain between the 1940s and 1970s.

"These anonymous family photographs provide a unique window into past lives. Each image, shot on colour slide film in Britain between the mid 40s and 70s, transports us to a world full of possible stories and forgotten memories," publisher Hoxton Mini Press describes.

"Looking at them is akin to discovering an old relative's long-lost photo album. What happened to these people after the shots were taken? These intimate moments provide an escape into the lives of others and at this time of uncertainty and darkness some light from the past."

Life enjoyed outdoors with friends and family seems like a far cry from the lockdown restrictions millions of Brits face this winter.

The evocative snaps of unknown individuals leave the viewer to interpret their own endings.

A young girl takes a giant lick of her ice cream as the sun goes down by the beach
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A young girl takes a giant lick of her ice cream as the sun goes down by the beach Credit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
A little girl stands beside her dog on a warm summer day wearing a pink dress and hat
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A little girl stands beside her dog on a warm summer day wearing a pink dress and hatCredit: The Anonymous Project/Lee Shulman/When We Were Young/Hoxton Mini Press
Two beach-goers enjoy a dip in the water as waves crash onto the shore
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Two beach-goers enjoy a dip in the water as waves crash onto the shoreCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
This brightly dressed trio pulled over on the side of the road to enjoy a tea break on the go in 1961
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This brightly dressed trio pulled over on the side of the road to enjoy a tea break on the go in 1961Credit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
A swimmer glides through the water to cool off on a hot day along the British coastline
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A swimmer glides through the water to cool off on a hot day along the British coastline Credit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
Three little boys sit atop a brick wall wearing gumboots as they share a laugh
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Three little boys sit atop a brick wall wearing gumboots as they share a laughCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
This stunning snap shows a group of three young girls running in delight from the approaching sea
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This stunning snap shows a group of three young girls running in delight from the approaching seaCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
Taking a quick break on the side of a country road, this woman is on her way to the beach
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Taking a quick break on the side of a country road, this woman is on her way to the beachCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
A little girl shows her sea-side treasure as she holds a crab to the camera
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A little girl shows her sea-side treasure as she holds a crab to the camera Credit: The Anonymous Project/Lee Shulman/When We Were Young/Hoxton Mini Press
An elderly couple enjoy a picnic with scenic views next to their red Renault 16 car
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An elderly couple enjoy a picnic with scenic views next to their red Renault 16 carCredit: The Anonymous Project / Lee Shulman
Three children play in the back garden as a little girl take a dive down a wooden slide
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Three children play in the back garden as a little girl take a dive down a wooden slideCredit: The Anonymous Project/Lee Shulman/When We Were Young/Hoxton Mini Press
The collection 'When We Were Young: Memories of Growing Up in Britain', is a poignant set of portraits from the Anonymous Photo Project and compiled by Hoxton Mini Press
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The collection 'When We Were Young: Memories of Growing Up in Britain', is a poignant set of portraits from the Anonymous Photo Project and compiled by Hoxton Mini PressCredit: The Anonymous Project/Lee Shulman/When We Were Young/Hoxton Mini Press
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