IN the outermost extremities of the Echo's archive are strange piles of pictures which have accumulated over the decades.

One pile is from the early 1980s and seems to consist solely of photographs taken in or around schools in the north of County Durham. Our eye was drawn to it because of the fabulous picture on the top showing a policeman bending his knees and saying “evenin’ all” in the way only a policeman can, while a line of schoolchildren imitates him with varying degrees of success.

Fortunately, someone with foresight stuck the appropriate newspaper article to the rear of the pictures so, 40 years on, we have a few clues as to what is going on. However, if you can tell us anything more, we’d love to hear from you. Please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk

The Northern Echo: Ebchester Junior School marked the end of caretaker Louisa Robinson's 18 years at the school in July 1983 by presenting her with a bunch of flowers

Ebchester Junior School marked the end of caretaker Louisa Robinson's 18 years at the school in July 1983 by presenting her with a bunch of flowers

The Northern Echo: PC Martin Harrington, of Lanchester, who was one of nine Durham police officers assigned to schools in the county. Here, he is visiting All Saints' School in Lanchester. "PC Harrington, 48, who has been in the police force for 22 years, is well

PC Martin Harrington, of Lanchester, who was one of nine Durham police officers assigned to schools in the county. Here, he is visiting All Saints' School in Lanchester. "PC Harrington, 48, who has been in the police force for 22 years, is well used to coping with youngsters," said the Durham Advertiser in September 1983. "He has seven children of his own!"

The Northern Echo: Children in Lanchester in 1981 protesting about a proposed closure of their secondary school. "Schools are for people not bureaucrats" reads one of their posters

Children in Lanchester in 1981 protesting about a proposed closure of their secondary school. "Schools are for people not bureaucrats" reads one of their posters 

The Northern Echo: Miller's drapery store in South Moor asked children from Greenland school to provide Easter decorations for their shop window in April 1983, and here we see Janet Ruddy, 11, and Karen Lawson, 10, with their award-winning hen

Miller's drapery store in South Moor asked children from Greenland school to provide Easter decorations for their shop window in April 1983, and here we see Janet Ruddy, 11, and Karen Lawson, 10, with their award-winning hen

These two pictures of school mealtimes appear not to have been published and so we don't know which secondary school from the north of the county they show - but they bring back so many school dinner memories, of ice cream scoops of mashed potatoes:

The Northern Echo: These two pictures of school mealtimes appear not to have been published and so we don't know which secondary school from the north of the county they show - but they bring back so many school dinner memories, of ice cream scoops of mashed potatoes

The Northern Echo: Children scurry to school across a Consett road in 1983

Children scurry to school across a Consett road in 1983

The Northern Echo: There was a dirty protest in East Stanley in 1983 as parents complained that children had to cross a "quagmire" to reach school. "They say youngsters arrive at school and come home caked in mud because Derwentside council has not put a

There was a dirty protest in East Stanley in 1983 as parents complained that children had to cross a "quagmire" to reach school. "They say youngsters arrive at school and come home caked in mud because Derwentside council has not put a path through wasteland near their homes on Broom Close Estate," said the Advertiser. Jill Harrison, seven, Craig Wattam, ten, and Emma Raisbeck, eight, posed amid the mud for a photographer