Bert Jackson was so proud of his four choirboy sons that he carried a picture of them in his wallet for the rest of his life.

Peter, Denys, Roland and Brian were all members of the choir at St Cross Church, Holywell, Oxford.

They were paid five shillings (25p) a quarter – and if they sang at a wedding, they earned an extra two shillings and sixpence (12½p).

The picture their father treasured of them in cassocks and surplices was taken in 1938 or 1939.

Peter, a former Oxford police officer, has happy memories of his time in the choir 70 years ago.

He writes: “The choirmaster was Leslie Pimm, a perfectionist, with the tuning fork always at the ready. He sat at the organ and beat the seat with one hand to instil timing into us.

“The vicar was the Rev Attlee, a delightful man who had patience and time for everyone. In summer, after Sunday morning service, we would go to the vicarage for refreshments and a game of bowls.

“One day, we were introduced to a man who gave us each a slip of paper with his autograph. He was, we learned later, a newly-elected Member of Parliament, the vicar’s brother, Clement Attlee, No 2 to Winston Churchill during the Second World War and the first post-war Premier.”

Other boys in the choir included Dennis Rosborough, Ted Baskerville, John Cawte, Freddie Kemp, Brian Kemp, Stafford Bull, Dennis Bull, Roger Parker, Arthur Parker (a brilliant harmonica player), Ken Kelmer and a boy called Robinson.

In the men’s section were the Tandy brothers, stalwarts of Oxford Operatic Society, who were prominent in the early years of BBC Radio Oxford.

Peter recalls: “One of the brothers was to be married at the church and Leslie Pimm put us through Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (tuning fork and beating the organ seat). We got the message and it went off to everyone’s satisfaction.

“Wednesday and Friday evenings were choir practice nights and we sang at Sunday morning and evening services.

“On Easter Sunday evening, a soloist, Nesta Truman, would perform and afterwards, she would be presented with a large Easter egg by choirboy Robinson.

“On Sunday mornings, one choirboy became Boat Boy, to accompany Mr Wilkins, the incense swinger. Mr Wilkins, with the incense burner, was a true artist in his own right.

“Thinking back, they were happy days – a good grounding for discipline and the hard years that followed.”

The brothers were among 11 children – eight boys and three girls - born to Bert Jackson and his wife Dorrie. The family lived in Spencer Crescent, Rose Hill, and later Grays Road, Headington.

Peter was a police officer for more than 20 years with Oxford City Police and later Thames Valley Police, rising to the rank of inspector. After retiring, he became a publican, running the Plasterers Arms in Marston Road, Oxford, and the Admiral Benbow at Milton, near Abingdon.

Oxford Mail:
Former church: St Cross Church is now Balliol College Historic Collections Centre

Denys, a talented athlete, was in the pub trade for more than 40 years, running the Red Lion at Tetsworth, the Queen’s Arms in Park End Street, Oxford, and the Swan at Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Both brothers started their careers in the Army, Peter with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Denys in the Welch Fusiliers.

Brian, a champion boxer, who also served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and Roland, a keen darts player, were in the motor trade for more than 30 years.

Roland and Denys have died. Peter lives in Wootton, near Abingdon, and Brian lives on the Isle of Wight.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.