ONE of Chris Haynes’s treasured possessions is a photograph of his mother receiving a wedding present from her work colleagues.

Violet Lowe was pictured being given a radio at Morris Motors, Cowley, where she worked as a typist.

The photograph appeared in The Morris Minor, the works magazine, in September 1937.

However, Mr Haynes has only a poor quality photocopy of the picture and would dearly love a copy of the original glossy publication.

The article accompanying the picture was headed ‘Cupid at Cowley’ and was full of praise for Violet, who had worked at the factory for 10 years.

It read: “The secretary conveyed in sincere words the cordial wish of the staff for her future welfare and happiness.

“Her unfailing good temper and gentle manner made friends of all, and it was no formality to say that everyone wishes her future may be bright, and all her troubles light.”

Violet tied the knot with Harold Haynes in a ceremony at St John’s Church, New Hinksey, but sadly, their marriage was shortlived.

Harold was killed in North Africa in 1943, aged 35, while serving with the Royal Armoured Corps.

The radio served the family well for about 15 years, but then stopped working.

Son Chris, who developed his lifelong interest in electronics from an early age, took the radio apart, but failed to find out what was wrong and threw the parts in the cellar at their home in Norreys Avenue.

The radio never worked again.

Years later, a large number of rusty parts from this and other machines Chris had tampered with during his youth were recovered from the flood-prone cellar!

Chris, who lives with his wife Lorna in Arthur Evans Close, Wootton, near Abingdon, realised later what was probably wrong with the radio – dust!

If anyone has an original copy of the September 1937 edition of The Morris Minor and is willing to part with it, call Chris on 01865 735014.