When her school needed money, this headmistress led from the front.

Sister Peter wasn’t going to leave it to teachers, parents and pupils to organise the fundraising.

She got on her bike and pedalled 30 miles to bring in the cash.

Sister Peter was due to leave after 14 years in charge of St Aloysius Roman Catholic First School in Woodstock Road, Oxford.

But before she left, she was determined to leave the school finances in good shape.

Read again: One of Oxford's historic pubs has closed

In 1981, she set off from the school to tour Oxford, calling at homes of pupils and staff on the way.

She raised more than £200 to help pay off debts for repairs to the school roof.

Sister Peter, who had also been Superior at Notre Dame Convent near the school for six years, said: “I am feeling on top of the world – I really enjoy cycling.”

She was preparing to move to Brixton.

Her sponsored ride coincided that weekend with another by six Oxford United fans, who set off on a two-day, 140-mile cycle jaunt to Bath and back.

Ten per cent of the money they raised went to charity and the rest to the football club, which was £175,000 in debt.

Read more: Dog lover is reunited with lost puppy

The ride was organised by David Taylor and Paul Rowe, of Kennington. Fellow riders were Mick Brown, from Kidlington, Andy Molden, from Rose Hill, Oxford, and Scott Kennedy and Andrew Bucket, of Abingdon.

St. Aloysius is a Catholic Primary School providing a rounded Catholic education for children from the age of 3-11 in a central Oxford location, a short distance from the city centre, according to the school’s website. It adds: “ Our school has a truly international dimension, with more than 20 different home languages spoken by our families.”

Prospective parents are encouraged to visit the school during the week.