Mailbag January 13, 2014

REGARDING Richard Bryant’s appeal for memories of Bullingdon community centre in Peat Moors, Headington (Memory Lane, December 16), I worked there for many years with young people with learning difficulties.

The community centre became the focus for the Seven O’Clock Club every Wednesday.

Everyone looked forward to this evening – they were able to play any of the games available as well as taking part in music and dancing.

This was all thanks to Idris Price and his enthusiasm, but also all the local young people who volunteered to be there every Wednesday to help with refreshments and give encouragement.

This was not all – every year, a group of Seven O’Clock Club members were taken by coach to Glasbury outward bound holiday home in Wales, where they were able to try so many new experiences.

Day by day, carers and parents looked after these youngsters at Glasbury – there was rip wire riding, mountains to climb and even white water canoeing. The Seven O’Clock Club gave them freedom.

This is still happening now. In recent years, four of these young people featured in a scheme which gave them a chance to say what they wanted to do.

A lot of these people now live independently and hold down a job.

Good luck to them all!

MARY STIFF Corunna Crescent Cowley Oxford

Flagging up family members

I CAN name five of those in the picture taken at Spelsbury in 1970 when the village won the Marlborough Trophy in Oxfordshire’s Best-Kept Village competition (Memory Lane, November 22, 2013).

The little one on the steps is my daughter, Tanya Bodman, who was about 18 months old, the boy to the left of the post is my son David Bodman, and the girl behind him is Diane Shurmer.

The lady between Tanya and David is Phyllis Bodman, their grandmother.

The woman in the light hat in front is Nelly Bond, who was well known in the village.

JENNIFER BODMAN Spelsbury

Motorcyclist who got ticket for ride

WHO would have thought that a Memory Lane article relating to a police scheme in 1963 could result in a response 50 years later?

I had to smile when I read that the scheme involving visits to youth clubs to educate teenage motorcyclists to be more responsible road-users and avoid court appearances, took place courtesy of Sgt Jim Wakefield and Pc Ken Linney, of Oxford police (Memory Lane, December 23).

I still have the Oxford Mail news cutting, possibly from 1961, where 25 motorcyclists, including myself, were in court.

The article starts: “Fines totalling more than £100 were imposed on 25 motorcycle and motor scooter riders in Oxford yesterday. Most of the summonses were the results of checks on motorcycles and motor-scooters by Pc Linney.“ The article lists all those fined and the offences committed.

It includes the following: “For excessive noise with a motorcycle in Abingdon Road on February 22, David John Brown, of 19 Norfolk Street, Oxford, was fined £3.

“Pc Linney said Brown’s machine made such a noise that the noise of the other traffic could not be heard.

“Brown, who pleaded not guilty, said he was cruising in top gear and the motor-cycle was a new one with a standard exhaust. He suggested the constable had exaggerated the matter.”

The motorcycle I was riding was a Norman B4 Sports 250cc twin. I include a photograph of me with it, with the derelict houses of St Ebbe’s, where I lived, in the background.

On September 25 the following year, I was again stopped by PC Linney, in Copse Lane, Marston, on a 650cc BSA Road Rocket and again received a summons for excessive noise.

This time, I was fined only £2. I paid 30 shillings (£1.50) on the day and the outstanding 10 shillings (50p) a week later, for which I still have the original receipt.

I would enjoy reading stories and seeing photographs of other Oxford motorcyclists from that era in Memory Lane.

Happy days!

DAVID BROWN Jordan Hill Oxford

Reunion will celebrate 75th anniversary

THE annual reunion of members of the Young People’s Fellowship at John Bunyan Baptist Church at Cowley, Oxford, will be different this year.

At our reunion in May last year, above, our guest, the Rev James Grote, reminded us that the church would be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2014, and he spoke of church plans to mark the special occasion.

A programme of monthly services began in June last year and leads up to the 75th church anniversary on Easter Day. Recognising that John Bunyan Baptist Church is a very special place for all former members of the youth fellowship, we felt it important to focus our annual get-together on two anniversary services and share in them.

They take place at the church on Sunday, February 9 featuring the Rev Hedley Feast, a former youth fellowship member, who was ordained in 1968, and on Easter Sunday, April 20, when an anniversary celebration will be held.

Both services start at the church at 10.30am and will be followed by a bring and share lunch. Drinks will be provided.

If any former members of the youth fellowship would like to join us on either or both occasions, please call me on 01235 831522, email gillorn@btinternet.com or write to the address below.

GILBERT PAYNE 15 Stonebridge Road Steventon Oxon OX13 6AS