PUPILS in Kidlington had to make do with dry ski lessons in their school hall ahead of a trip to Austria to try the real thing.

In March 1967, Gosford Hill School teacher Mr T Brown took it upon himself to teach 25 students to ski - despite never having skied on snow himself.

Mr Brown's sole experience came through a series of dry ski lessons in Oxford and Crystal Palace, London.

But he was urged to take the lessons by PE teacher Miss S Moore, who arranged the trip to Austria, which took place after Easter.

Mr Brown said: "Skiing on an artificial slope is said by some people to be harder than on snow, and I am sure I am coping with the preliminary training."