RICHARD Sharp is another pupil who remembers walking miles between lessons at school.

As we have recalled, the Oxford Secondary Technical School based in Church Street, St Ebbe’s, operated on 19 sites around the city.

The cost in time and footwear as pupils made their way from one lesson to another must have been huge.

Mr Sharp, an engineering student from 1950 to 1953, writes: “Pupils carried books and kit with them almost continuously.

“The engineers used a workshop in St Mary‘s Road, off Cowley Road. Gym was held in the university gym in Alfred Street or in Christ Church Meadow.

“The Wednesday sports afternoon was in a field at Manor Road, off Longwall Street, and was constantly flooded. The alternative was a run around the University Parks.

“We had a classroom over a garage in Brewer Street, where we each had a locker.

“We attended assembly only once a week at Church Street because the hall would not hold all 300 pupils.

“Lunch was provided behind Rowell’s, the jewellers in High Street, which doubled as a classroom and always had a smell of cooked cabbage.

“When one lesson ended, we made a dash to the next location.”

Apart from academic work, the school put great emphasis on sport and physical ability, leading to success in sport against other schools.

Four or five boys would represent Oxford in national football competitions, among them Mike Higgins, Pat Quartermain, David Pritchard, Peter James and one named Cook.

Mr Sharp, who lives in Warwick, recalls that discipline was rigorously enforced. He and fellow classmates received an hour’s detention for failing to turn up for “voluntary” dancing lessons on Friday evenings.

If staff gave up their spare time, pupils were expected to do the same. One hour’s detention was also imposed on anyone late by two minutes twice in a week.

Apart from engineering, the school also taught art, commerce and building.

Mr Sharp writes: “The School of Art was separated from the Secondary School by an internal wall, with a glass window painted over.

“One morning, the headmaster, Mr Wainwright, caught two boys scratching the paint off to see the nudes being drawn next door.

“He sent them to John Brookes, the principal, with instructions they should be shown whatever interested them.

“As they re-entered the school yard, where we were taking our morning break, two red-faced boys were greeted with cheers from waiting boys. Even Mr Brookes seemed amused.”

Any more memories of the school to share?