Several seafarers gathered in preparation to run a foot race, 'Melby' Balaclava, Christmas day, 1907. Melby was the house of Mr William Peter Peterson, a station owner and merchant. The house was named after his birthplace, a small town in the Shetlands, Scotland. William Peterson had married Louisa Eliza, the sister of Frederick Sargood,who he was in business with. She died in 1867 and he remarried to Emma Paulin Hutchinson, she is the Mrs Peterson who welcomed the seamen during picnics on the ground of Melby on several occasions in 1914, 1916, 1917 and 1919 (or 1918) generally for Boxing Day. Small monochrome photograph, some fading to right hand sideChristmas Day at "Melbe" Balaclava, 1907melbe, balaclava, race, 1907, melby, melbi, william peter peterson (1823-1898), louisa eliza sargood (1838-1867), emma pauline hutchinson (c1840-1928), picnic, lhlg, ladies harbour lights guild, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, mission to seafarers, seamen, sailors