Sir, On September 10, 1928, (86 years ago), Wantage Church of England Boys’ School received its first pupils at the new school in Manor Road, Wantage, although it had been opened officially in July by Canon Archer Houblon, a former Vicar, who had contributed “a goodly sum” towards the building built on land given by Mr Edward B Ormond, who had given the land for the adjacent War Memorial Recreation Ground, venue for after-school games until it acquired its own on the slope at the rear.

I wonder whether any of the boys who moved from the cramped town centre school — now the Masonic Hall in Alfred’s Street (once Cat Street) — are still alive and, if not, who is the senior old boy still living. I knew some, like builders’ merchant John Jarvis, SEB electrician Ted Haynes and Chandler’s coach driver Ronald Coote, who made the move but are now dead. One early entrant is Robert G Goodenough (born 1932), who joined the town council when his former headmaster, Henry E. Robinson (1906-99), was its chairman, served as town mayor and recently celebrated his diamond wedding with wife, Gwendoline.

Mr Harry Gregory, who lived next to the school in the old toll house, was succeeded as headmaster by Mr Robinson, who taught for 50 years until retiring in 1978. Mr W H Townsend, Mr Rex Packer and Mr Stanley Witherall completed the staff in 1928 when the school broke up two days early and the teachers worked for 12 hours from 8.30am to transport desks, cupboards, books and other items from the old to the new premises on a handcart and Mr Jack Pates’ horse-drawn trolley.

Now an enlarged and almost unrecognisable co-ed school marks another era, but many will have mixed feelings and memories about yesteryear.

Jack Loftin Charlton Village Road Wantage