DONALD Murray and Allan Webb became lifelong friends after attending the Oxford Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce.

Their paths first crossed in 1940 when they sat next to each other in an engineering class at the school in Church Street, St Ebbe’s.

They left to become apprentices at the Morris Radiators’ factory in North Oxford, which produced parts for many vehicles, including those built at Cowley.

Mr Murray, of Launton, near Bicester, whose wife, Isobel, also worked at the Radiators, stayed at the plant for his entire working life.

Mr Webb, of Redditch, Worcestershire, worked there until 1950 when he moved to Cowley. In 1962, he transferred to the car factory at Longbridge, Birmingham.

Mr Webb said: “We have kept in touch ever since.”

The Oxford Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce later grew into the Oxford College of Technology, Oxford Polytechnic and now Oxford Brookes University.

Students who studied at these and allied institutions, such as Lady Spencer-Churchill College and Westminster College, are invited to a 150th anniversary celebration on Friday, September 11.

It will take place at the John Henry Brookes Building on the Headington campus from 2.30pm.

To register for this event, fill in the online registration form at: brookesalumni.co.uk/events