Lorraine Roberts watering her garden at Pennine House in Leeds

Lorraine Roberts watering her roof-top garden at Pennine House in Leeds, Yorkshire 1971 [Author's Collection].

Lorraine Roberts watering her roof-top garden at Pennine House in Leeds, 1971

This press photograph issued in August 1971 had the headline Dizzy Lizzies. The cutline or caption read : "Shapely gardener who can lay claim to tending some of the tallest flowers in Britain is Lorraine Roberts of Leeds. Her garden is on the roof of the 105ft-high Pennine House here. From her vantage point, no place for anyone with a fear of heights, Lorraine can look across to the Town Hall."

I was not sure if Lorraine Roberts was a model or simply that she was photographed at her home that just happened to feature an unusual garden. However, I have spotted her in another fashion photograph in which she was posing in hot pants, along with Pam Moorhead.¹ Her name also appears in reports of beauty contests in the north. One such event was an opening day at the T. Hayselden Service Garage, at Brampton Crossroads, West Melton - not a big glamour event but such things happened during this period. The press bigged it up a bit and wrote: "there will be a top-line beauty competition which has attracted entries from some of the North's loveliest girls in the beauty queen business." So, in addition of a chance to ride in a racing car simulator, or enter a "Name Our New Baby" competition, or watch a road safety display by the police, people could ogle at the 23 women shortlisted for the open day beauty competition. They paraded in both hot pants and swimwear. Compere for the event was none other than the garage parts manager. The prize for the winner was £50 plus the title of, wait for it .... "Miss Computer Diagnosis." This was to mark the installation of a computer for vehicle diagnosis, part of a Volkswagen scheme across their garage agents.²

The Lorraine Roberts photographed here was born in Leeds in 1947. I am not certain, but I think the secretary married the rally driver Vincent Girardier a few months after this image was captured on top of Pennine House.

References
1. "Lorraine Roberts" : Wolverhampton Express and Star; February 22nd, 1971, Page 32.
2. "Lovelies Line Up For The Big Open Day" : South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times; December 11th, 1971, Page 15.

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