PUPILS at Iffley School in Oxford were in celebratory mood when this picture was taken.

The occasion was the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 when the country went wild with excitement.

The Iffley pupils assembled in the school playground for the photographer to record this shot.

The picture comes from reader Trevor Young, who appears in it with his two brothers.

He writes: “On the extreme right at the back is Morris held by Audrey Sawyer, then me held by Auntie Grace Wilkins, then Kenneth held by our mother, Doris Young.

“I was baptised and married at the church. The vicar was Mr Claringdon, the churchwarden was Walter Fern and the headteacher was Mrs Pusey.

“We played rounders and many times, the bat/stick flew up into the walnut tree, hoping to knock a few down. Memories are truly wonderful.”

Names of other pupils he remembers include Moores, Slaymaker, Grant, Wilkins, Bellinger, Webb, Sawyer and White.

The picture, featuring dozens of faces, is in contrast to later pictures we have published of the school, when only a handful of pupils were left.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, January 18), the school served the village for 123 years, from 1838 until its closure in December 1961.

On the final day, the Rev RJ Hills, vicar of Iffley and chairman of the school managers, presented bound copies of the Bible to the last 30 pupils.

He also presented cheques to the staff – headmistress Mrs VAL Harman, assistant mistress Mrs O Wilson, secretary Mrs E Ellam, cook Mrs C May and cleaner Mrs S Parker.

Mr Hills told the children: “Next term, you are going to new schools.

“They are good schools and I am sure you will be happy at them, but we don‘t want you ever to forget that you have had the privilege and honour of going to Iffley School.

“I am not going to say that Iffley School is one of the best schools in the country, but there is no school in the British Isles which is connected to a more lovely church than this.”

Former pupils at the farewell included Eleanor Hine, of Kennington, who had attended the school in 1900.

She said at the time: “I am very sad about the closure, but as long as the school is going to be used for village life, it will be something which people can look forward to.”

The school, the only one in Oxford with a thatched roof, was to be used as a church hall, for Sunday School classes and other church activities.

Before becoming a school, the building had been used as a wheelwright’s shop.