The Oxfordshire care homes have been taking part in the hospice’s ’50 for 50′ campaign, which encourages the community to support Sobell House with fundraising and events marking its half-century of care.

At Marston Court, a choir of 50 people performed songs of friendship and care, followed by an afternoon tea.

Sharon Fenn, home manager at Marston Court, said: “We were absolutely blown away by the incredible turnout for the 50 for 50 celebrations, marking 50 fantastic years of Sobell House.

“We decided to bring together a 50-strong choir to sing some much-loved classics, including You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman and Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.

“What better way to combine our passion for singing with supporting such a wonderful cause.

“Thank you to everyone who attended, and a very special thank you to the Oxford City Singers for helping make the day so memorable.”

At Westgate House, residents created a ’50’-shaped mural decorated with handmade oven-clay flowers.

Daniela Midwinter, home manager at Westgate House, said: “Our residents wanted to create something truly special to celebrate 50 years of Sobell House.

“So they made a ‘50’ mural decorated with hand-crafted flowers made from oven clay.

“Flowers represent care, compassion, and remembrance, which felt a fitting way to mark such an important milestone.”

Beth Marsh, director of fundraising at Sobell House, visited both care homes to see the efforts involving residents, families, and teams.

Children would spend weeks collecting the tiny coins – worth a quarter of an old penny – and hand them over to benefit other children at the ‘Whitsun Farthings’ ceremony.

After the farthing ceased to be legal tender in 1961, other coins were accepted at the Whit Tuesday gift service.

Afterwards, the children would take part in a procession out of the cathedral, many holding colourful banners of their school, church or parish.

Whitsun is the name for the holy day of Pentecost. It falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter and marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

Picture 1 from 1974 shows the Bishop, the Right Rev Kenneth Woollcombe, after he had received £1,000 to equip a school in Bangladesh.

More than 1,000 children attended a service at the cathedral, with two children from every school or church handing over money.

As you can see, the Bishop was being greeted like a leading footballer – everyone anxious to get his signature!

The children in Picture 2 were among 800 who presented money to the Right Rev Patrick Rodger for local youngsters with speech difficulties in 1979.

Children in Picture 2 were among 800 who presented money to the Right Rev Patrick Rodger for local youngsters with speech difficulties in 1979. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Folk singer and songwriter Maria Barton in Picture 3 performed at the 1981 gift service.

More than 800 children, parents and teachers attended that year, presenting money to support the Children’s Society which ran children’s homes and nurseries and was celebrating its centenary.

Folk singer and songwriter Maria Barton in Picture 3 performed at the 1981 gift service. (Image: Oxford Mail)

The money was to be used to support the society’s activities and to contribute towards holidays for deprived children.

The service in 1965 attracted 900 children, some of them in Picture 4, who gave Dr Harry Carpenter contributions towards new church buildings.

The service in 1965 attracted 900 children, some of them in Picture 4, who gave Dr Harry Carpenter contributions towards new church buildings. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Dr Carpenter was also in charge in 1969 when more than 1,000 children and their parents attended, some of them in Picture 5. The Children’s Society was the beneficiary that year.

Dr Carpenter was also in charge in 1969 when more than 1,000 children and their parents attended, some of them in Picture 5. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Picture 6 dates from 1976 when money went towards buying a £2,200 minibus for students at a theological college in New Guinea.

Picture 6 dates from 1976 when money went towards buying a £2,200 minibus for students at a theological college in New Guinea. Dr Woollcombe is seen with Jane Enticott, from Abingdon. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Dr Woollcombe is seen with Jane Enticott, from Abingdon.

The alleged “inappropriate” incident is said to have happened at the racing event in Berkshire in 2002, The Sunday Times reported.

Royal Ascot is a cornerstone of the royal family’s summer calendar, and Queen Elizabeth II was also at the event in 2002, the year of her Golden Jubilee.

The Sunday Times said it is not clear whether the claim about alleged inappropriate behaviour by Andrew was reported to officers at the time or more recently.

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A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We cannot go into specifics of the investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of inquiry.”

The force, which covers Windsor and Ascot in Berkshire, is continuing its investigation into the former duke and on Friday it was confirmed they will consider allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office.

Detectives at TVP are understood to be concerned that the public believes they are only focused on accusations that Andrew shared information while a trade envoy, when in fact the legal terms of the offence under investigation are much broader.

The former prince served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender.

TVP’s major investigation is expected to be lengthy, and will face obstacles including trying to prove whether Andrew held a public office at the time of the allegations, something that is not clearly legally defined.

However, it is understood that if this were found not to be the case, the force would continue investigating any evidence of other, separate offences.

Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19 and interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.

Searches were also carried out at his former homes in Windsor and Norfolk.

Detectives are understood to be working through evidence recovered during the operation.

They have also made a formal request to the United States Department of Justice for the original versions of the Epstein files, but have not yet received any information.