A remarkable set of photographs has offered a fascinating snapshot of school life more than half a century ago, capturing pupils on a memorable trip to France and in a whole prep school photograph from 1966.

The images were recently rediscovered by former pupil Ian Braybrook (GH, HH, 65-71) while searching through old slides in response to a request from a friend's wife, who was gathering photographs for a 70th birthday celebration. Hidden away in an attic for almost 50 years, the slides had been taken on a simple Agfa Instamatic camera but have survived remarkably well, providing a rare glimpse into school life and travel in the mid-1960s.

Ian recalls:

"These popped out of the slide magazine and despite having been taken on a very cheap Agfa Instamatic and languished in an attic for 50 years I thought they might be of interest."

The photographs relate to a Prep School visit to Paris and Thonon-les-Bains in 1966, led by the much-remembered and adventurous French teacher, Mr Parker. During their time in Paris, the boys stayed at a boarding school near the Boulevard Saint-Michel and were encouraged to explore independently.

"We were sent off in small groups to learn how to navigate the metro as well as visiting the well-known sights."

The group then travelled overnight by train to the lakeside town of Thonon-les-Bains, close to the French-Swiss border.

Looking back, Ian reflects on how much has changed:

"I am sure current pupils would be amazed at how normal we all looked given how very long ago it all took place."

One particularly memorable detail from the trip highlights how close the Second World War still felt in 1966.

"Both the times that we went to a cinema we were given free seats and ice cream as a thank you for help in the war!"

Among the names Ian recalls from the trip are: Norrie, Swanzy, Child, Gray, Avery, West, Soper, Hull and Linsell. As was customary at the time, boys were generally known by their surnames.

Grimwade - Whole Prep School Photograph, 1966

The above school photograph includes the following identified pupils and staff members:

Left Side (marked up)

(9) Mark Avery (GH, SUH, 64-72)

(10) Philip Soper (GH, SHa, 63-70)

(11) Jonathan West (GH, SH, 64-72)

(12) Mr Parker

Right Side (marked up)

(1) Alan Norrie (GH,64-69)

(2) Ian Braybrook (GH, HH, 65-71)

(3) Martin Swanzy (GH, HH, 63-71)

(4) Bruce Child (GH, HH, 65-71)

(6) James Dorrington (GH, SUH, 64-70)

(7) Tim Gray (GH, 63-68)

(8) John Linsell (GH, 63-67)

(13) Tony Hull (GH, SUH, 65-70)

These rediscovered images provide a wonderful record of school life and overseas travel during the 1960s, preserving memories of friendships, adventure and educational experiences that helped shape a generation of pupils. We are grateful to Ian Braybrook for sharing both the photographs and his recollections, and we hope they bring back happy memories for fellow OS contemporaries.

Photographs: Prep School trip to Paris and Thonon-les-Bains, 1966, and whole school photograph. Courtesy of Ian Braybrook (GH, HH, 1965-71).