Faces from the Archive

Ongoing auditing work has revealed a set of photographs relating to Aberdeen Joint Station, circa 1937, that gives an interesting insight into daily life on the platform in that year.

Miss Tadman says goodbye to her tea rooms 

At the centre of one image in the set is Miss Tadman, the Manageress of the Aberdeen Joint Railway Refreshment Rooms. A little research uncovered that she resigned from her post in April 1937 due to ill health. According to the Aberdeen Press and Journal of 28 April 1937, Miss Tadman was presented with the travelling case and an umbrella as parting gifts from her colleagues and friends. The presentation was made by Stationmaster John Davidson (pictured far left in the photograph), who spoke warmly of the excellent relationships Miss Tadman had maintained with passengers, staff, and railway officials over the years.  

Celebrations in 1937

Another woman in the photograph—standing immediately to Miss Tadman’s right in the photograph above—appears to have been captured again in a second image taken later that same year. This time, she is part of a formally dressed gathering at the station during what is believed to be the first Royal visit following the Coronation in early August 1937. The station is beautifully decorated with flowers, flags, and bunting. Outside, drivers stand proudly beside polished limousines waiting to transport their distinguished passengers to Balmoral via Ballater—an event well documented by the press of the day.

We are keen to learn more. If you have any information about Miss Tadman, Stationmaster Davidson, or the 1937 Royal visit, we would love to hear from you.  The full set of thirteen photographs has now been accessioned as 2026.0013‑25 and can be viewed in the archive on request.