I suspect it was a ‘c*ck-up’ rather than a ‘conspiracy’, as you suggest. As I recall, it was one of several photos as part of an article about the Vulcan (rather than a more general article) but I can’t recall any of the content. In other words, I don’t know if the photo was intended to illustrate any particular point made in the article.

By the way, I lived in Pattingham for a few years – but quite a long time ago.