AN OXFORD DJ who has marked 40 years of playing his music in the city says he has no intention of winding down his long career.

Chris Brown has been holding themed music nights in Oxford since 1974, after being inspired by old records he collected from his family.

The Wood Farm resident’s long career started in 1974 at the Plasterers Arms, in Marston Road, which closed 10 years ago.

Mr Brown said the landlord asked him to cover for the regular DJs who were on holiday, but after he proved popular they took him on full-time.

Inspired by radio DJs including Steve Wright and Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, he said: “The Plasterers was the first regular gig I’d had and people used to come from everywhere to see me play.

“By the 1980s I was hardly getting any nights off during the week – Christmas and New Year were horrendous.

“The only problem seems to be when people ask for a dance song I just don’t have – you can’t please everyone.

“I have over 20,000 vinyl records at home, but when I’m not working I do like to turn on the hard drive and listen to music from there. Usually it’s sixties or seventies music, or if I’m feeling buoyant it’s the eighties or nineties.”

The 62-year-old, who has two sons Karl and Darren from a previous marriage, admitted that over 40 years there had been changes to how he has worked.

He said: “There are fewer people collecting and playing their records now because everything is online on YouTube, which is a shame.

“Music tastes have changed. I used to play The Beatles and the Sex Pistols but now people like Beyonce and Take That more. I used to do a lot of gigs on Sundays but now hardly anyone goes out on that night any more.”

Mr Brown has also run a Wednesday night for students at North Way Youth Club, and hosted nights at The Chequers Inn in Headington.

Chairman of North Way Social Club Kevin Vickers, who also works as a DJ, said: “I’ve known Chris since I started going to his discos on weekday nights.

“Chris often comes and does gigs for us.We find that people respond to his music as well, so it’s good he’s still out there.”

To mark 40 years playing music, Mr Brown played a special nostalgic sixties night at the youth club last month for more than 200 people.

He has combined his love for rock and pop with working as a technician at building material supplier Blanchford in Headington, where he has been employed for the past 10 years.

With thousands of gigs under his belt, Mr Brown is keen to continue.

He added: “When I lose my enthusiasm for being behind the decks then the curtain will come down and I’ll pass it on to other people As long as people like the themed nights I do then I’ll be there.”