These smiling folk are enjoying, or are about to enjoy, a summer outing.

But who are they, and where were they going?

The picture comes from Michael Clarke, of Lewell Avenue, Old Marston, Oxford, who sent in the picture taken in the 1950s of a group of British Legion members at New Marston Church of England School, now St Michael’s School (Memory Lane, January 5).

He believes this photograph may also be of a British Legion event.

He recognises some people, but has no idea of the group‘s destination or where the picture was taken.

One clue is the livery on the bus, which suggests that Marston Coaches, then based in Mill Lane, Old Marston, may have supplied the transport.

More that 70 people joined the trip – some are out of this picture – suggesting that they would have needed more than one coach.

The daytrippers were clearly expecting fine weather. Many wore summer clothes and hats to protect them from the sun, while some of the men have open-neck shirts and sleeves rolled up.

As we recalled, Mr Clarke’s family were prominent in the Marston branch of the British Legion.

His grandfather, Fred Chaulk, was the standard bearer from the late 1940s into the 1950s, and his mother, Dorothy Clarke, carried the standard for the ladies’ section.

He recalls: “My dad was branch secretary for several years and they held meetings in our front room.

“We were in bed then and could hear their voices when they arrived and the clinking of the beer bottles.

“In the morning, when we got up, it reeked of fags and beer.“ The branch organised annual day trips to the seaside, which were always very popular.

Demand for seats was so high that sometimes, three or four coaches would have to be booked.

To sustain them on the journey there and back, the coaches would be packed with beer, lemonade, sandwiches, crisps and jars of pickled onions.

The branch, originally based in Oxford Road, Old Marston, moved to a new building on its present site in Hadow Road, off Crotch Crescent, New Marston, in 1958.

Member and former professional footballer Danny Maskell, of Gordon Close, Old Marston, is currently compiling photograph alb-ums to provide a permanent record of the branch’s long history.

Do you recognise anyone in the picture, or know their destination?