Every November pupils from the Colston foundation schools recieve buns and a gift of money.

THIS week’s picture, from November 1982, shows the boys from Colston School greedily tucking into their buns after the annual Charter Day service.

The sticky buns – plus a 10p coin for each pupil – were handed to the boys by the wives of the Merchant Venturers.

These so-called “dinner plates”, with eight wedge marks, are composed of a yeast dough flavoured with dried fruit, candied peel and sweet spices.

The 10p gift – or two shillings as it was in days gone by – fulfilled the wishes of two other benefactors, William Vaughan and Philip Jones.

Although the custom is thought to be derived from a similar one at Christ’s Hospital in London, the Bristol event commemorates the granting of a Royal Charter to the society by King Charles I in 1639.

Each pupil was given a cake to take home to his family plus a small bun, known as a “starver”, which could be eaten immediately to stave off any hunger.

The school, originally for 100 poor boys, was established by Bristol merchant Edward Colston in 1710, with the Merchant Venturers acting as trustees.

In 1861, it moved from the centre of Bristol to its present home in Stapleton.

Pupils from Colston Girl’s School, established in 1891, also take part in the ceremony.

Do you recognise anyone in the photo? If you do, then please write, or email, in.

Edward Colston was born in 1636 in Temple parish, the eldest of eleven children.

Moving to London with his family he became a pupil at Christ’s Hospital.

Apprenticed to a merchant by 1672 was trading on his own account with Spain, Portugal, Italy and Africa.

In 1680 Colston became a member of the Royal African Company, an organisation which held a monopoly on gold, ivory and slave trading.

Three years later he became a member of Bristol’s Society of Merchant Venturers.

But Colston never came to live in the city, carrying on his business from Mortlake in Surrey until his retirement in 1708.

In 1710 he became, for just one parliament, a Bristol MP.

As well as Colston’s school the philanthropist founded almshouses in King Street and on St. Michaels Hill and endowed Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, the City School.

He also gave money to schools in Temple and other parts of the city plus several churches and the cathedral.

He died in 1721 at his home in Surrey but his body was bought back to Bristol and buried in All Saints Church, off Corn Street.

His commemorative statue in the Centre was erected in 1895.

Do you recognise anyone in the bun picture? Please write in and tell us who they are.