CHEERS! All the hard work is over.

That was the message from these craftsmen after they had completed restoration work at the historic St Michael at the Northgate Church in Oxford.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, August 6), the church, at the corner of Cornmarket Street and Ship Street, was severely damaged by fire which broke out on the afternoon of Thursday, October 8, 1953.

In the following months, workers spent many hours carrying out repairs.

When the work was completed, the vicar, Canon R R Martin, laid on a special celebration of beer and ham rolls.

The picture above left comes from one of the team, Mike Lester, of Bulan Road, Headington.

He writes: “Your article about the fire and the photographs brought back memories.

“I am in the middle of this picture. The beer and ham rolls were put on by Canon Martin in appreciation of all the hard work put in by everyone.

“This was one of the first jobs I was involved in after leaving Mowbrays and going to Benfield and Loxley to finish my apprenticeship as a joiner.”

Fire crews were on the scene within minutes after a passing policeman saw smoke coming from the building and raised the alarm.

People formed a human chain to carry many of the church treasures to safety.

Arson was suspected, but it was discovered later that the likely cause was an electrical fault in the organ.

The church reopened for services the following September.