SCHOOLDAY memories have been brought back by a picture of Middlewich girls in the early 1950s.

The photograph shows youngsters at Middlewich Junior School, in King Edward Street, proudly modelling sun dresses they had made themselves.

It was brought in by reader Helen Powell, nee Clarke, and published in Remember When in November.

She said the 11-year-old girls sewed their summer dresses in 1953 and those who worked faster also made boleros to match their dresses.

Since the picture was featured in Remember When, the Guardian has been contacted by a number of former pupils who remember those days and can name the faces in the picture.

Jennifer Foster, who now lives in Bedfordshire, was sent a copy of the paper by her cousin.

She said: "As soon as I saw it it took me right back.

"I was one of those who made a bolero.

"Helen, who brought the picture in, was a good friend of mine but we lost touch – I had no idea she was still in the Cheshire area.

"I used to make my own dresses when I went to college – I made shift dresses, which were pretty easy to make – but I've not done it for a long time.

"From what I remember I didn't want to leave school, I never wanted to leave all the way through.

"I went on to be a teacher so I never did leave really.

"I taught at Wimboldsley Primary."

Helen had pondered what the boys had done while the girls took sewing and Jennifer thinks she remembers.

"I have a feeling they did weaving and made little mats of some kind, either that or did a bit of woodwork," she said.

Jennifer could also name Maureen Oakes, Eunice Caine and Josie Wakefield on the photograph.

Other names provided to the Guardian include Mary Arrowsmith, Edna Mary Bayman and Celia Gater.