Oxford Mail reporters and photographers were kept busy recording the achievements of young people.

One of the most regular assignments was to cover the presentation of honours under the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Picture 1 was taken at one such occasion when awards were presented to girls at Wesley Memorial Hall in New Inn Hall Street, Oxford.

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Sadly, we don’t know the names of any of the recipients, but some of them are seen with Mrs P Gordon-Spencer, assistant director of the award scheme.

She told the girls and their families who joined them at the ceremony in 1963 that she was impressed how many young people continued their interest after receiving their awards.

She said: “I think you will find it very difficult - I would say impossible - to find young people anywhere who have been through the award scheme and who are sitting back and saying ‘That is that’.”

Picture 2 shows the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Fred Ingram, presenting a certificate to Stephen Finch, one of five winners of the award at Iffley Mead School in 1974.

The other successful pupils were Edward Lockyer, Michael Hutt, Clifford Parrott and Michael McSweeney.

They were the first at the school to take part in the scheme and, according to headmaster Mr C Brees, had spurred other pupils to follow them.

Percy Bickerton, organiser of the Oxfordshire Association of Boys’ Clubs, is seen in Picture 3 talking to three award winners in 1962.

They were Pat John, 20, Margaret Barlow and John McIntyre, both 19, who were among 12 young people to receive gold from the Mayor of Oxford, Alderman Lionel Harrison, at a ceremony at Hill End Camp at Cumnor.

Mr Bickerton also features in Picture 4 - he is seen behind 11 young men who received their gold awards from the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace in London in 1961.

They were, back row, left to right, B J Blackwell, B Stone, R Booth, K Guy, A Giles, J Gardiner, and front, G Mackenzie, C Preston, B Garland, D Dickenson and D Smith.

Patricia Vickers, a student at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, also received gold, but missed the photo call.

Picture 5 shows three Oxford gold winners from 1975 - left to right, Lois Edmunds, of Cowley St John School, Charles Crapper, of St Edmund Campion School, and Hsina Illahi, of Oxford College of Further Education.

They were honoured at a major ceremony at Oxford Town Hall - 119 girls and 47 boys received 27 gold, 58 silver and 81 bronze awards.

They included twin sisters Annette and Linda Kuusik, and two other pairs of sisters, Karen and Marilyn Rodgers and Pippa and Wendy Bush.

The young people from Oxford in Picture 6 had the privilege of visiting Buckingham Palace to receive their gold awards in 1978.

The group included Pauline Alborough, Graham Baker, Peter Blair, Graham Clark, Christopher Plaistow, Stephen Roszezyk, Jonathan Scott, Christine Ashdown, Jean Chesman, Susan Evans, Carol Hanlon, Clare Hanlon, Karen Linford, Julia Powley, Sally Still and Deborah Strange.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.