How nice to hear what Debra Drewett had to say. I remember Paul Ayres by his nickname, ‘Ratty’, and we both lived in Aldrich Road on Cutteslowe estate.

He and I passed the old 11-Plus, and went to the City of Oxford High School for Boys, in George Street. He was always brilliant at mathematics, I was useless.

I wonder if that is his subject as a professor.

I also bumped into Alan at an Oxford United game last season. We were part of a gang of lads which frequented the trendiest disco in Oxford – Scamps – and watched Oxford United from the old London Road stand.

I still have a beer occasionally with Oxford United stalwarts from those heady days in the 1970s, – Chris Jennings and Keith Willans. Now they can tell a tale or two.

Ian Cummings

Gibson Close

Abingdon