THESE children celebrated their harvest festival later than usual, but it didn’t matter – the message was just the same.

The picture was taken at Wood Farm Junior School at Headington, Oxford, in early October 1965.

The major feature of the school’s celebration that year was a large piece of bread designed in the shape of a sheaf of corn.

Made by Ann Whitton and her fellow members of the school canteen staff, it took pride of place in the school hall, where children assembled for a service of thanksgiving.

Surrounded by flowers and other harvest gifts, they are seen in full voice singing the well-known harvest hymns.

No doubt those wonderful harvest hymns, We plough the fields and scatter, and Come, ye thankful people, come, were among them.

We’re not sure what happened to all the harvest gifts the children brought to school.

But in many schools, pupils would pack them in food parcels and deliver them to the elderly and needy in the neighbourhood – a gesture that was always much appreciated by those who received them.

Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient.

In England, we have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times.

In the United States and Canada, the festival is celebrated with a national holiday.

Here, many churches celebrate the day with hymns, prayers and displays of fruit, vegetables and other food.

Harvest festivals are traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the harvest moon.

This is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox which happens on about September 23.

In two years out of three, the harvest moon comes in September, but in some years, it occurs in October.

Perhaps that is why Wood Farm celebrated the occasion late in 1965.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in the picture? Write and let us know.