The St Michael’s Guild and the Wythonians were two of Oxford’s most successful wartime and post-war youth clubs.

Tony Jones belonged to both and has fond memories of the activities they offered.

He writes: “St Michael’s Guild was attached to St Michael at the Northgate Church in Cornmarket Street and met in a clubroom off High Street on Saturday evenings.

“Most weekends, we would go on long rambles, trips on the river or cycle rides, and play mixed hockey matches.

“In June 1945, we had our first weekend camp at Hill End, near Eynsham (or the Blue Dragon, as we called it) and I think we were the first club to use it after the war.

“We did a great deal of clearing up and cleaned out the swimming pool and the small chapel.

“Wood for fires and the evening campfire was collected from the woods.

“As rationing was still in being, we had to apply for special rations, but we seemed to cope very well.

“Many of us were ex-Scouts and Guides.

“Some Sunday mornings, we walked through the woods to Wytham for morning service.

“Many of us also belonged to a debating society called Haranguers, which met on Sunday evenings at a hall in Osney.”

When the St Michael’s Guild closed, members started another club in May 1947 called the Wythonians, which met in the Girls’ Friendly Society hall in Woodstock Road.

Mr Jones, who now lives in Dorchester, recalls: “The club used the Blue Dragon and a camp called The Follies, run by the Association of Girls Clubs and Mixed Clubs in a field off Wytham Lane.

“I remember one weekend at the Blue Dragon when snow fell and we made sledges from old bedsteads and had a great time.

“Members also made several trips on the Trill Mill, the underground stream which ran from St Ebbe’s to St Aldate’s.”

He believes the Wythonians closed in about 1950.

He and his former colleagues are planning a reunion of former members of the two clubs.

They are already in touch with about 12 and hope Memory Lane readers will boost that figure.

You can call Mr Jones on 01865 340043 or Cynthia Hastings (nee Knight) on 01865 559423 for more details.

Any memories of the St Michael’s Guild, the Haranguers or the Wythonians?