THESE pupils were enjoying a grand tour of London.

The party from New Marston County Primary School are pictured with the Conservative MP for Oxford, Monty Woodhouse, in late 1963 or early 1964.

The picture comes from Barbara Howard, whose maiden name was Gould and who was at the school in Copse Lane from 1958 to 1964.

Fellow former pupil Eamonn Woodley, who has written a booklet of his memories of life at the school, tells me that the photograph was taken on one of many school trips children enjoyed.

“We had a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster. We saw both chambers, saw the Woolsack and sat in the Speaker’s chair.

“From the Houses of Parliament, we went to the Tower of London and saw the ravens and the Beefeaters.

“We also went to the Armoury, where Henry VIII’s suit of armour, complete with codpiece, was the subject of much hilarity and schoolboy humour.

“The Torture Chamber was a real hit – thumbscrews, the rack, iron maiden.

“It was a great day out."

The teacher to Mr Woodhouse’s left is deputy headmaster Norman Denniss.

Mr Woodley recalls: “Mr Denniss, like nearly all our teachers, was very strict, but he was also extremely fair-minded and caring.

“Although I had tasted his wrath, I really liked and respected him.”

The pupils in the picture are: Back row, from left, Barbara Gould, Gillian ?, John Cooper, Neal Parsons, ?, Jackie Sallis, Elizabeth White, Sheila Douglas, Roland Higgs, Sylvia Davis, Heather Shirkenbeck, Rosemary ?, Joan ?, Jane Waddup.

Front row: Eamonn Woodley, David Gibson, Stephen Neville, Ian Turley, Alan Dent, Timothy Hanks, ?, Christine Jordan, Kathryn Thorpe, Tony Ing, Ann Plaisted, Brian Carrick, ?, Susan Franklin, Melloney Haynes, Hilary Drew, ?, ?, Diane Greenaway, Linda Minns, Rachel Maliphant.

Old boys and girls are being invited to atttend the school’s summer festival, which will take place on Saturday, June 19.

Mr Woodley, who now lives near Princes Risborough, has compiled a booklet of memories about his time at the school, which we will feature in Memory Lane over the next few weeks.