Historical information

This is one of a series of photos donated by Arthur Lyons.
From 1907 a cab service operated from near the railway gates in Union Road. It was established and maintained by Mr C Fraser until c1916. George Rea either took over then or set up in opposition. Fred Lyons initially worked for George until he set up his own business. In time he changed over to a motor vehicle and continued his service until 1960.
Frederick Adolphus Lyons (1891-1980) was born in Surrey Hills, son of Thomas and Catherine Lyons. He married Elizabeth Ruby Hall in 1918. They lived just around the corner at 55 Sunbury Crescent.
The Lyons’ home in Sunbury Crescent was called ‘Knopshambury’ - this was probably a misspelling of Knockshanbally in Co Kilkenny, the birth place of Fred’s father, Thomas Edmund Josias Lyons (1846-1915).
Arthur Lyons was born in Surrey Hills on 12 Jun 1920. He became a motor mechanic / welder and lived at 55 Sunbury Crescent. The donation was made while he was in hospital. He died shortly afterwards (23 Sep 1990). Donation was finalised by a neighbour, Mrs Florence Ann Armitstead, wife of Glen Victor Armitstead. Glen was a local hairdresser. They moved to 11 Sunbury Crescent after their marriage in 1939. Arthur had no relatives to distribute the material to.
Empire Day celebrations were held in Surrey Hills from 1906-1911; they were revived between 1933-1938 by the Surrey Hills Progress Association. They featured street parades with highly decorated vehicles provided by local businesses and bonfires, including the one in Beckett Park.

Physical description

Black and white photo of Mr Fred Lyons with his taxi decorated for Empire Day. The tourer car is parked in the street and is festooned with flowers and ribbons on the hood, bonnet radiator, running board and in the tyre spokes. Mr Lyons stands by the driver's side door. He is wearing a suit with a winged collar and tie. A small child is watching from the footpath on the left just behind a mature tree. There are houses in the background.