NEWS that Whitfield Primary School will remain open for the next academic year has been welcomed across the Allen Valleys.

This week, we look back at the history of the 250-year-old school, and this picture, which was taken in the early 1960s.

A young Coun. Ian Hutchinson, the present day county councillor for Haltwhistle, is pictured second from right in the back row.

Coun. Hutchinson, who believes the photo shows the class of 1961/62, has named most of his school mates.

Can you fill in any of the blanks?

Back row (left to right): Stephen Woodward; Paul Donnelly; Kevin McConway; Henry Stoelk; John Pearson; Ian Hutchinson and Colin Davidson.

Middle row: Heather Busby; Pat Dickinson; Rhoda Smith; Margaret Smith; Helen Hutchinson; Margaret Elliot; Linda Storey; unknown and unknown. Front row: Trevor Wallace; (unknown); Richard Scott; Elaine Robinson; Paul Stoelk and Eric Maddison.