ELECTION night fever was in the air. After more than a decade in opposition, Labour were confident that when all the votes were in, Harold Wilson would be installed as Prime Minister.

Except that this wasn’t a real count. This was young members of the Rendezvous Club at Cowley, Oxford, in 1964, collating the results as they came in for their own amusement.

Good for them showing interest in a General Election, particularly as most of them would not have been able to vote – the minimum voting age at the time was 21 and was not reduced to 18 until 1970.

Former member Judy Davies, now Judy Mansfield, writes: “The photographs were taken in St James Hall in Between Towns Road, home of the club. We were members of the Rendezvous Club compiling the statistics as they came in on the night of the election in 1964.

“Many stayed up till the early hours doing it, though not me! It was just another one of the mad things we did back then.

“We were too young to vote so it must have been an academic exercise. But the picture shows the hive of activity going on that night – all it needed was the beer!”

“It was a well-regarded club which brought together young people from all walks of life (remember in those days, we had secondary and grammar schools, both boys and girls, so a mix of influences).

“The music was at the heart of the club. However, the building allowed space for other social activities too. The club was very well attended.

“It would be great to get comments from other former members and photographs too. It is so sad we cannot remember more names since we spent many happy hours in their company.”

The club leader was Ricky Wilson. Other members included Mick Berry, who worked for Blackwell’s, the Oxford booksellers, Richard Cockhead, who went on to become an Oxford policeman, Mick and Jane Philpott.

The Rendezvous Club could even claim celebrity status – the 1960s’ teenage singing sensation Helen Shapiro was its vice-president.

Committee members went to see her in her dressing room when she appeared at the New Theatre and she agreed to support them.

Mrs Mansfield, who now lives in Hampshire, recalls: “I vaguely remember having a picture taken with her.”

Any more memories and photographs of the Rendezvous Club to share with readers? Write and let me know.

  • Harold Wilson narrowly won the 1964 election with a majority of four. He called a snap election in 1966 and increased it to 96.
  • Memory Lane this week