This Packer picture comes from my railway collection. It shows a group of pupils at Chipping Norton Station returning from a trip to Switzerland. They have just arrived on the branch service from Kingham. The loco has uncoupled and run round its two-coach train while Mr Packer set up his camera; in a minute it will propel the coaches (Great Western built, now in BR livery) into the tunnel and then haul them back ready to depart from the Up platform.

The outward journey was on the 20th April 1960 and about eighty second and third formers, plus six teachers took part. Judith Dix once named everyone on this picture for me but stupidly I didn't write it down. Can you help? please give a brief description of the person and where they are standing if you can name anyone. Email me at john@evenlode.demon.co.uk if you can supply any information about this picture.

Identified so far - Mr Ransome the Geography teacher is standing diagonally below the gas lamp wearing a long scarf. Left of Mr Ransome is Mrs Ransome. The girls at the bottom of the steps are (left) Valerie Seymore from Enstone and (right ) Lynsay Thompson from Over Norton. The man to the right of lady in white coat is Norman Stokes. Next to Norman Stokes wearing a cap is his son Terry Stokes. The boy standing above Lindsay Thompson is Philip Tustain, next but one above him in the school cap is Patrick (Paddy) Huckin.

Elizabeth Cope (formerly Elizabeth Ransome) writes: "The picture is of pupils returning from Switzerland at Easter 1960 or 1961.

My parents were Joan and Roland Ransome both geography teachers at the school and my father took several trips to Switzerland in the 60s.  I think this one was to a lovely village called Champex Lac.  My parents are standing on the bridge stairs at the top.  I am behind my mother's head but I think I was only 11 at the time and was strictly not part of the trip. My brother who must have been 9 stands in front of my mother.  I can also recognise my Grandpa who must have come to meet us.  These trips were very popular and people saved up for ages to go.  We went from Chippy station in the train and then changed trains at Kingham and I presume went to Dover. We then went overnight through France again by train.  It was very exciting.  I am surprised that my father didn't have a nervous breakdown but he enjoyed them. He gave talks about the holiday afterwards to the parents with coloured slides!"

Terry Stokes tells us: "The Girl standing below Mrs Ransomes son is Dianne Roughton from Over Norton. The lad right at the front with the zip fronted coat looks like Algy Anderson from Stonesfield but not too sure about him. "

The photo at the top of this page has been in my collection for more than twenty years. I am very grateful to Terry Stokes who has provided two more pictures of this occasion. The above picture we now think is also of the arrival. It was thought this picture showed the departure but the platform pictured - across the footbridge - was only used for trains arriving from Kingham. More definitely, Mr S. Ransome (seen in the top picture aged nearly 10) tells us that "the lad with the sombrero did not have it on the journey out!"

Here is the group outside the hotel in Champex. Please email if you can put a name to any faces. Thanks again to Terry Stokes for this picture.

Mr. S. Ransome tells us "The seated group are The owner, Mrs Miles (wife of Leonard 'Smiler' Miles who taught maths until the end of the 1961/62 year), the owners wife and Mrs Joan Ransome. At the very back far left, I believe, is Graham Silcock, Chemistry teacher. Other members of staff on that trip were Colin Smith (English) and Mr Rogers (Metalwork- I think). "

Peter Hunt says: "I am on the far left, behind/to left of the chair of the Hotel owner; looking to left, with three buttons fastened on my coat!!  I recall being asked by Mrs Ransome to help her young son (he was 9 years old and therefore not at the School). I think I was thought of as a reliable swot!!! "