A former Whitstable teacher is hoping to reunite with pupils he taught almost 70 years ago.

Doug Champ, 90, stumbled across a photograph of his very first class, taken in 1951, while browsing the internet during a computer class at Foxbridge House care home in Orpington, and immediately remembered the faces of the 39 children.

Now, the team at Doug’s care home are appealing for help to find the boys he taught at Oxford Street Boys’s School – which once occupied the site of Whitstable Junior School.

They were about eight years old in the photograph, and will now be in their 70s.

But Doug hopes some of them might still be living in the Canterbury district, and is asking the community to help identify them.

“I was excited to find the picture and can’t wait to find out if anyone remembers being taught by me,” Doug said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting up with my class again and finding out what they are doing now. I’d like to thank everyone in the community who helps us get back in touch.”

Born in 1928, Doug grew up in Fulham before he was evacuated in September 1939 at the start of the Second World War. At 18 years old, he was called for duty and joined the Royal Air Force, spending more than two years working in Egypt and Iraq.

Keen to return to education after his time in the RAF, he applied for a university grant to become a teacher. Doug started teaching in 1951 – the same year he married his wife, Joyce. He worked at a number of schools during his 38-year career, and became a headmaster before his retirement.

He has been living at Foxbridge House since May last year.

Carol McCormack, manager at the care home, said: “We were thrilled when Doug found the picture of his first class online, and enjoyed listening to his stories from his years teaching.

“He was naturally fond of this particular class as it was the first he taught after college, and we’re eager to invite the members of Mr Champ’s class to the home so they can reunite with their former teacher.”

If you can help identify any members of Doug’s class, call Foxbridge House on 01689 769229 or email customer relations manager Theresa Mead at theresa.mead@careuk.com.