One photograph of 21-year-old Robert Leece of Isleworth titled 'Cooper in need of a clean up'. Leece is standing in a 54-gallon cask after being rolled in the barrel with a mixture of soot, ash, water, as part of his initiation as a full-fledged cooper.

A photograph entitled 'Cooper initiated in soot, ash, water and a barrel', taken in December 1955 by an unknown photographer for the Daily Herald.

The photograph shows Robert Leece, a cooper, standing in a 54 gallon barrel he has made himself, whilst covered in soot, ash and water. He is taking part in a time honoured initiation ceremony dating back to the days of Queen Elizabeth I, to mark his graduation from apprentice to fully-fledged cooper at the Stag Brewery, Pimlico, London. He is pictured holding an oversized comb and a brush in a staged attempt to improve his appearance after his initiation.