THE headmistress’s room at Speedwell Infants School in 1973 was more like a zoo, with cages of rabbits and gerbils. With every classroom having some form of animal life, the school boasted 44 mammals, 21 insects and one fish. In the picture immediately below, two pupils concentrate on their work in the company of one of the pets.

A year earlier, the school held an exhibition to mark the silver wedding anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Karen Marchant, left, and Kay Lintern are seen in the middle picture looking through a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs of the Royal couple’s life.

The bottom picture dates from 1973 when Peers School held its annual presentation of certificates. Among the prize-winners were, left to right, Steven Sawaryn, Susan Eley and Paul Sargent.