PUPILS gave up part of their summer holiday to make sure the move to their new school went smoothly.

The Secondary Technical School in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, was transformed into Cheney School at Headington during the summer of 1954.

It was all hands to the pump to make sure everything was in place for the new term.

One pupil later wrote in the school magazine: “Our first trip to the new school with the furniture and apparatus was very exciting.

“There were eight of us crammed into the back of a very large lorry. We had a bumpy but joyful ride!”

Other pupils volunteered to get the library at the school in shape.

One of those who helped, Linda Forward, later wrote: “Crates of books arrived and trolleys were trundled over planks to mount the many steps. A mountain of books was piled in the store room and the crates were returned to St Ebbe’s to be reloaded.

“The boys from the technology department smoothed down and wax polished the shelves, and put up display racks.

“The art department kindly supplied the library with pictures, and the commerce department lent us typewriters and were most efficient typists.

“After all the work we have done, we hope the library will run smoothly next term – or some audacious people might put the blame on us!”

These extracts come from the first edition of the Cheney School Magazine, a copy of which has been sent to Memory Lane by Phil Spurrett, of Brasenose Road, Didcot.

Look out for more extracts from the magazine soon.