A PRIMARY school celebrating its 80th year is looking for former pupils to help it create a book of memories.

Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Oxford Road, Cowley, was established in 1933 and is hoping to hear from pupils, past and present, to mark the occasion.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is asking for people to submit photos and memories to be put into a book, which can then go on display.

The school was run by Salesian Sisters of St John Bosco, and the first headteacher of the school, Sister Charlotte, was in place from its opening, until 1966.

Former pupil, Kathleen Pill, first went to the school aged three to attend the nursery.

Now 76, Mrs Pill said: “My mother was a supply teacher and in World War Two she was asked to come in and help and the only way to do that was for me to go to the nursery on the site. I started the school properly when I was five in 1942 and it was very different to how it is now.

“There were just four classrooms and the toilets were outside, they were freezing in the winter. We were quite lucky in Oxford during the war, but we did have to do lots of air raid drills, and practice with the gas masks.

“I remember it as being a very happy place.”

Mrs Pill, of Glebelands, Headington, went back to the school to teach music in the late 1960s.

She said: “While I was teaching there my own children attended. It was, and is, such a welcoming school.

“It played such a big part in the community.”

PTA Secretary Etain O’Carroll said: “We didn’t realise it was the 80th anniversary until a couple of weeks ago so we are thinking of what we can do to mark the occasion.

Oxford Mail:

  • The school pool in 1975

“This school has very much been a part of the community for the past 80 years and generations of families went to the school. It would be great to hear from people, hopefully someone who was one of the first pupils, to add to this book.

“We know that a lot of past students went on to work at the school in one way or another, it has such a standing in the community.”

She added: “The school used to have a swimming pool, which is so rare these days, so any details about that which people have or any other interesting items, would be great to know about.”

  • Anyone wanting to get in touch can email OurLadysPA@gmail.com or write to the school at Our Lady’s School, Cowley Road, OX4 2LF