THESE women had a job on their hands – to feed more than 100 hungry children.

They were mums and volunteers who had offered to lend a hand with culinary duties when pupils from New Marston First School in Oxford spent a week at Hill End Camp, near Wytham.

Headmaster Jim Cox and his staff looked after the children during their daily work at the nature study centre, but help was needed in the kitchen to make sure that meals were ready on time.

So step forward this hard-working group who, despite the mammoth task they faced, still managed plenty of smiles.

A total of 95 pupils from the school in Copse Lane worked, slept and enjoyed themselves at the 62-acre centre that week, with another group of older pupils spending just the day there.

The following week, the whole operation was repeated with different sets of pupils.

The weather during the first week was not particularly good and some outdoor activities had to be curtailed, but Mr Cox said the main purpose had been achieved – for children to learn to live together. To get them thinking, the children were asked to list their likes and dislikes about the camp.

Dislikes included rowdy doves, messy cows and pillow fights, while among the ‘likes’ were swimming, meals, rest, getting up early, tuck shop, ghost stories and Bruno, the camp’s mild-mannered mastiff.

The most popular foods were bread and ice cream – “large penny cornets vanished by the gallon”, according to Mr Cox.

The idea of creating a nature camp at Hill End, off the Oxford-Eynsham road, was devised in the 1930s by a local philanthropist, Colonel Raymond ffennell. Oxford City Council rejected the colonel’s offer of land in 1931, so he set about developing the site himself, building a dormitory and a swimming pool.

He gave the land to Oxford University in 1943. In 1958 it was leased to the city education committee for youth activities.

The centre has staved off the threat of closure many times in the past but continues to serve schools, community groups, businesses and the public.

  • Any memories of visits to Hill End to share with readers? Write and let me know.