Sir – The widespread closure of schools due to the recent ‘snow event’ contrasts vividly with my memories, as a primary schools adviser, of the winter of 1962/3, when heavy snow fell on Boxing Day, persisted for some time, froze for weeks, and only thawed in mid-March. There were then about 100 primaries with one or two teachers, with most heads living in adjacent school houses with staff and pupils living nearby.

Few schools closed for more than a day or two, if that, and heads and caretakers made it a point of honour to keep their schools open and warm. I remember finding Mrs Luker, head of Long Hanborough Infants, in the outside toilets, wielding a blow-lamp, in the hope that the school could reopen the next day.

Schools used the snowy environment to educational advantage, producing wonderful creative writing, poetry and art.

A telephone call to Violet Worge, head of Idbury, a village surrounded by drifts six foot high, elicited the information that she and the children were making an igloo, which she said was excellent exercise, but would provide a “mathematical opportunity”.

Sadly, I fear the dead hands of SATS and Health and Safety inhibit such initiatives in these days — but maybe the odd igloo has been built in the last week or so?

Martin Sheldon, Headington Quarry