It may have closed more than half a century ago, but memories never fade.

Members of Balliol Boys’ Club in Oxford are being invited to a reunion to relive the days of their youth.

It takes place on Friday at the football club in Yarnton Road, Kidlington, from 7pm.

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With a bar and buffet on hand, it promises to be a joyful occasion.

The club survived the 1930s’ Depression and two world wars to maintain its position as the city’s first and foremost boys’ club.

It was formed in 1907 after a meeting of “young gentlemen from Balliol College” decided to start a boys’ club, to be run by undergraduates, in the deprived parish of St Ebbe’s.

An old sweet factory in Littlegate Street was acquired as a meeting place.

The club’s history book records that “a surging crowd of boys besieged the premises on the opening night”.

The formation of the club in the former Star Confectionery factory had been announced by the curate, the Rev Marks, at the Sunday afternoon service at Holy Trinity Church hall in St Ebbe’s.

One early member, Cyril Pearce, later recalled: “Afterwards, we received an invitation to go there at 8 o’clock.

“Long before this hour, Littlegate Street had not seen so many boys congregated there before, and the residents say the din was terrific.

“We eventually trooped in, were ushered into the gym, or ‘bashing room’ as it was affectionately known, made members and instructed in our do’s and don’ts.”

A notable event in its history was the opening of new premises in St Ebbe’s in February 1921.

The former sweet factory had become rundown and after the First World War, it was decided to replace it.

Oxford Mail:

The new building was called Keith Rae House, after one of the early leaders, who was killed in the war.

Doubters who had predicted that the student ‘toffs’ would lose interest in helping working-class boys and that the club would have a short existence, were proved wrong.

Under a succession of inspired leaders, it provided a range of indoor and outdoor activities, including football, cricket, boxing and drama, for generations of boys.

The club held a dinner at Balliol College to mark its golden jubilee in 1957, attended by 150 past and present members.

The Master of Balliol, Sir David Lindsay Keir, told guests: “The club is still strong, healthy and friendly, and a place such as its founders might well have been proud of.”

Although the club closed in 1971, a centenary dinner was held at the college in 2007 and this week’s reunion, to which all old members are welcome, promises to strengthen links with the past.

Founded in 1263, Balliol is one of Oxford’s oldest colleges. It’s the oldest academic institution in the English-speaking world still on its original site, and is almost certainly the oldest co-founded by a woman.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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