WITH balloons, hats and plenty of laughter, this was a happy occasion for the young people above.

Terry Feary, who sent in the picture, believes it was taken during an Oxford YMCA outing.

The dance and jazz group visited Hammersmith Palais in about 1951. They posed for the camera in a London park.

Apart from himself, in the front row second from the left, those in the picture include Roy Burden, Maurice Baker, Lois Ward, Vic Good, Brenda Hutchins, Frank Morris, Jean Adams and a girl he remembers as Iris.

Mr Feary, of Longwall, Little-more, remembers other good times. He writes: “We went to local dance venues such as the Town Hall for the big bands – Ted Heath, Vic Lewis, Eric Delaney and Johnny Dankworth with Cleo Laine.

“We also went to Pressed Steel, the Carfax Assembly Rooms, the Forum in High Street and the Holyoake at Headington.

“We danced to the music of Stan Rogers, Eddie Turton and Reg Crowhurst.

“Walking home after the dancing was also part of the evening’s entertainment.”

The Young Men’s Christian Association had a long and proud history of providing sport and leisure activities in Oxford.

The organisation was founded in London in 1844, with the aim of catering for the spiritual and physical needs of young people.

The Oxford branch was formed in 1847 and became active in football, cricket, boxing, table tennis, snooker and billiards.

In 1891, it enjoyed what one member described as a “red letter day” when it opened smart new premises in George Street.

Disaster struck in 1917 when the building was destroyed by fire, but six years later, restoration work was completed and the YMCA moved back in, to enjoy another successful period.

Financial problems in the 1950s forced the sale of the George Street building to Elliston & Cavell, the department store later taken over by Debenhams.

The YMCA moved to Walton Street, but plans to develop that site were abandoned and the YMCA presence in the city ended through lack of support in 2000.