THESE young men were happy to pose for the camera in their smart uniforms.

But who are they, and what organisation do they represent?

The picture comes from Rita and Michael Stockford, of Bishop Kirk Place, North Oxford.

They recognise only one person in the picture – Mrs Stockford’s father, Percy Wickens.

He is second from the left in the second row.

He lived in Bridge Street, Osney, and spent all his working life at Oxford University Press.

He was responsible for a machine which printed gold lettering and when he retired, the machine retired too.

He was born in 1905 and Mr and Mrs Stockford believe he would have been 16 or 17 when the picture above was taken, putting it at about 1921 or 1922.

It is believed the group above were attached to St Frideswide Church in Botley Road. One possibility is that they were members of the Church Lads’ Brigade.

Judging from earlier photographs we have published, the two boys at the front with the white bands and hats slightly askew could be wearing brigade uniforms.

Perhaps the military-style uniforms worn by the others was for older boys in the movement.

We don’t know quite what to make of the boy with the ‘tea cosy’ hat in the front!

The drums in the picture suggest they formed a band.

The Church Lads’ Brigade was founded in 1891 as a Christian group to encourage boys to enjoy fun, faith and fellowship and make them better equipped to deal with the challenges of life.

Its statement of intent reads: “The brigade creates a caring and safe environment in which friendship between young people and children and adults can be established; and helps young people and children to grow in confidence, develop their skills and abilities, to work together and show care and concern for others.”

Its sister organisation, the Church Nursing and Ambulance Brigade for Young Women and Girls, later the Church Girls’ Brigade, was founded in 1901.

The two brigades amalgamated in 1978 to form The Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade.

We are not certain if the brigade is represented in Oxfordshire now.

But did it have members at St Frideswide Church in the 1920s? And can anyone identify any of the other young men in the picture?