BOYS at Southfield Grammar School in Oxford were under pressure not only to do well in their studies but to join the Old Boys’ Association.

And to make sure no-one escaped the net, they were persuaded to part regularly with small sums of money as their ‘joining fee’ while they were still at school.

History master and deputy head Jack Brashour was the teacher who suggested (or probably demanded) that pupils pay – and most didn’t argue with him!

The idea was also adopted at the City of Oxford High School for Boys. In 1958, the Old Oxford Citizens’ Society complained too few former pupils were supporting it.

Mr FCA Jones told the annual meeting there were many old boys whose support extended only as far as wearing the old boys’ tie or scarf. He said: “It is not good enough and we should make every effort to get them to back up the society.”

Memory Lane this week

Oxford High School was at the corner of George Street and New Inn Hall Street, while Southfield was off Glanville Road, East Oxford.

The schools combined in 1966 to form Oxford School on the Southfield site.

It is now Oxford Spires Academy.