Living in former wooden Army huts may not appeal to everyone, but for many families in post-war Oxford, it was like heaven.
Over the years, Memory Lane readers have spoken and written about how they enjoyed living at what became known as the Slade Camp at Headington.
Now members of the Shotover Preservation Society want to appeal to them to come forward with pictures or memories of life at the camp, and invite them to join a walk round the site on Friday, March 22.]
READ MORE: Happy days living at Slade Camp
Chairman Jim Woods said: “We are exploring how we can reveal some of the foundations of the buildings, put up signage and generate more memories.
“Slade Camp played an important role in helping people who were in difficult circumstances following the end of the war to put their lives back together. It was in important launchpad for many people.”
As we have recalled, the former military barracks off Horspath Driftway and The Slade provided much-needed housing for dozens of families after the Second World War.
One reader, Patrick Cummins, moved with his family - mum Bridie, dad Paddy, sister Josephine (known as Josie) and brother Billy - to 80 Ninth Avenue in 1948 when the Army was still there renovating the huts.
He recalled: “There was a ramp for the Army tanks we used to climb, we would go scrumping for pears and apples, and soldiers would lock us in the guard house for an hour as a joke when they caught us sneaking through the fence to collect conkers.
“We would dig through the soil to find live shells and use a nail and hammer to get them to fire. It was a miracle we never got killed, but I loved it there – it was the best time of my life.”
Another reader, Jean Jeffs, wrote: “My mother, father, sister and I lived there for 18 months.
“I remember entering the camp opposite the Corner House pub, then walking up the concrete roads called avenues.
“We enjoyed many walks to Shotover.
“My mother always said how lovely it was living there.”
He recalled: “Our hut was 80ft long, a single room with no water, one light and a small fire stove which did not heat the room well.”
The family spent three years there before moving to a new home on the Northway estate at Headington.
READ MORE: Army huts became family huts
The huts stood around a parade ground and were part of the Army’s Infantry Training Centre No 16 during the war. A large part of the site was what we now know as Brasenose Wood.
Although the huts have long gone, four of the nine numbered avenues (first, fourth, eighth and ninth) still exist.
Readers with pictures or memories of Slade Camp should send them to sps@shotoverpreservation.uk and say whether they would like to join the walk at 10am on Friday, March 22.
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Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
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