'IF anyone deserved an award for services to the youth of this country, Harry 'Plum' Brown should have received a knighthood'.

That was a letter written to the Oxford Mail in 2007 about a man who did so much for youngsters living on the then new Barton estate in the early 1940s.

A decade on from the idea, calls are now being made for a street in the Barton Park development to be named 'Plum Brown' to remember the work carried out by the late community stalwart.

John Dillon, 69, told the Mail how 'Plum' helped organised activities, created football teams and started youth clubs for hundreds of children living on the estate in the years after the Second World War.

Mr Dillon, who now lives in Blackbird Leys, but grew up in Wick Close, Barton from 1947 until he left to join the army in 1964, said: "It would be absolutely fantastic [to get a street named after him].

"It would be great for his family, but also for all who remember Plum Brown and there is not many of them left.

"People who didn't know him could see the name and wish to look him up and see what he did for the estate many years ago."

So far the avenues and crescents in Barton park have been named after other community stalwarts, historic residents, a noble prize winner and a Second World War hero.

With the first phase beginning to take shape on the 885-home estate on land west of the current estate, the partnership between the city council and developers, Barton LLP, revealed a shortlist which was selected by members of the community.

The main road running through Barton Park has been named Barton Fields Road, which was picked due to the ‘strong connection’ with the existing area of Barton, according to Oxford City Council.

And on the shortlist for the remaining roads is former Vice President of the Barton Community Association Barry Holden, former BCA treasurer Cliff Harris and Gerard McClean who was involved with Barton United Football Club.

They are joined by Elizabeth Maud Smith, a resident of Barton for 57 years, Richard Jewell, a lollipop man for the primary school during the 1980s and John Boyce, the first known occupier of Barton Manor, and a former mayor of Oxford.

Nominee Mr Brown also occasionally contributed cartoons to the Oxford Mail.

His youth club, which ran football teams Barton Midgets and Barton Rovers and rugby side Barton Bartonians, was at the heart of the community for decades, and where the youth club met before closing in the mid 1960s.

Mr Dillon recalled how 'Plum' would organise seaside trips and other activities during time when there were no youth clubs.

He added: "He was always organising football matches and kept the community together."