We have a puzzle for readers to solve in this week’s Peeps into the Past.

Len Huff has for many years been meticulously compiling the history of one of Britain’s great long-lost car manufacturers, and a great Farnham employer, ED Abbott.

Occasionally Len needs a little help identifying employees of the great Wrecclesham firm - and that is the case this week.

Len has shared the delightful photo above of four men sitting on the grass, leaning on the wall behind them, enjoying the sunshine during a hard-earned lunch break.

He believes he knows two of the chaps - at the far end is coach trimmer Charlie Terrell and nearest the camera is foreman of the carpenters' shop Jack Davis - and suspects the photograph was taken in 1958.

But he needs help identifying the remaining two gents.

“My fingers are well and truly crossed that some sharp-eyed reader with a keen memory recognises either or both of the two in the middle of the row,” said Len.

Compiling the history of ED Abbott has truly been a labour of love for Len, and he estimates he has sent to the tune of 24,000 emails in his pursuit of the coachbuilder’s story.

He hopes his weighty tome will be ready for publication this June - details of which will follow in Peeps.

In his most recent Abbott newsletter, his 35th, Len again delved into some fascinating aspects of the company’s history, including personal stories of former employees, rare archive photographs, and insights into the firm’s most celebrated car designs.

Each edition of the newsletter has uncovered new details, helping to paint a vivid picture of life at the Wrecclesham works.

Len has been overwhelmed by the generosity of former Abbott employees and their families, who have shared anecdotes, documents, and cherished photographs that had been tucked away in attics for decades.

Through their contributions, he has been able to piece together a near-complete history of the company, from its early days under the guidance of founder Edward Dixon Abbott to its closure in 1972.

One particularly exciting discovery was a set of blueprints for a previously undocumented Abbott-bodied Bentley, found among the personal effects of a former draftsman. These drawings provided crucial missing links in the company’s design evolution and will feature prominently in Len’s upcoming book.

But Abbott of Farnham was about more than just cars; it was a community. Generations of Farnham families worked there, many developing lifelong friendships in the factory’s workshops.

Employees prided themselves on their craftsmanship, and their hand-built bodies graced some of the most prestigious cars of the era, from Rolls-Royces to Lagondas.

Another topic Len has been researching is the Farnham Sailplane. In addition to its coachbuilding work, Abbott played a key role in early British aviation.

The Farnham Sailplane, designed in the early 1930s, was one of the firm’s lesser-known but significant contributions to engineering history.

Len has tracked down detailed accounts from aviation enthusiasts and former employees who remember the production of the glider.

Of course, Len’s research has not been without challenges. Some company records were lost over the years, making certain details difficult to verify.

But through sheer determination and the kindness of contributors, he has filled many of the gaps in the Abbott story.

Len’s work has also sparked renewed local interest in Abbott’s legacy. Former employees and their families regularly gather to reminisce, and there have been discussions about a possible exhibition in Farnham to celebrate the company’s impact on the town.

As Len’s book nears completion, he remains hopeful that Peeps readers might help with the final pieces of puzzle. If anyone recognises the unidentified men in the photograph, they are encouraged to get in touch with Len directly by emailing [email protected].

Any clues, however small, could help to preserve yet another piece of Farnham’s rich industrial heritage.