May Day used to be interpreted quite broadly, and was celebrated for several weeks in Keighley schools. These nursery-rhyme characters formed a feature of the National School's festivities towards the middle of the month in 1923. They were described as 'prettily attired in picturesque and effective costumes made by members of the teaching staff' and included Tom the Piper's Son, Jack Horner, Mary Quite Contrary, the Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe, Miss Muffit, Bo-Peep, Jack and Jill, Little Boy Blue and Humpty-Dumpty, though not all seem readily identifiable.

Perhaps the children were over-awed by the camera, as they scarcely appear to be enjoying the occasion, to which parents and friends had been invited to watch the previous year's May Queen, Edna Lister, place a crown of flowers on the head of her successor, Alice Scatchard. After a programme of songs and maypole dances the Rector addressed the children.

The photograph was supplied by Mr David Balmer, of Jennings Close, Silsden, who stands second from the right at the back. He names the others as, on the back row, Jack Pearson, Lena Shuttleworth, Alan Sunderland and John Henry Newton; and front row Harry Metcalfe, Mary Shackleton, Charles Sotheran, Mary Slater, Muriel Britten and Jack Baker.