Parents, teachers and pupils combined to put on a memorable 21st anniversary fete at Headington Secondary School in Oxford in 1957.

The parent-teacher association, which organised the event, was delighted with the £62 profit.

The fete was officially opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Oxford, Alderman and Mrs RF Knight, and Daphne Horton (nee Russen), who had been a pupil at the school when it opened in 1936.

One of the most popular stalls was a pottery display by Mr and Mrs Silcox, described by former pupil Florance Chambers, of Old Marston, as "outstanding teachers of pottery, art, crafts and weaving" (Memory Lane, September 11).

According to a report in Reflections, the school magazine, the stall was quickly stripped bare, with only two of the 70 pieces left unsold.

During the afternoon, Mr Silcox made a jug specially for the Mayor and Mayoress and promised that it would be fired and glazed and presented to them later as a memento.

The magazine recorded: "Miss Hornsey, Mrs Kirby and Mrs Illingworth were kept busy at their white elephant stall, while Mrs Baur and her class demonstrated the art of salesmanship at the garden produce stall.

"Mr Jackson had organised some cunningly-devised races into which many innocents were lured, Mr Bignold enjoyed the pleasure that pony rides gave to many children, and Mr Paynter, assisted by Mr Johnson, had a skittle alley."

Two features which would be frowned upon today were kittens for sale and a budgerigar in a cage as a raffle prize.

Other events included country dancing and gymnastic displays, while in the evening, there was a programme of singing, dancing and entertainment.