Workers at Pressed Steel were well known for their long service. High wages and job security meant many stayed for years at the Cowley car body factory.

Their loyalty to the company was demonstrated annually by the large number of staff who were welcomed to the 25 Year Club.

A dinner and presentation would be held for those who had completed a quarter of a century at the plant.

The celebration at the Randolph Hotel, Oxford, on April 7, 1967, was no exception when no fewer than 128 joined the club after joining the company in 1941 and completing 25 years in 1966.

Among them was Basil King, of Cranbrook Drive, Kennington, who worked in the wages department.

He wrote in after reading about our appeal for information about JE Nelson, whose watch presented to him or her at the 1963 dinner was bought by Mike Spencer in a Norwich jewellery shop (Memory Lane, January 12).

Sadly, no-one has been able to tell us about JE Nelson, but Mr King has sent in details of the 1967 dinner – the 15th to be held – and a picture of him and the seven colleagues who joined him at his table.

The evening followed a similar pattern to previous and later events, with a musical welcome, a four-course dinner, a presentation of gold watches and 25 Year Club pins by the managing director, John Lutyens, and a 90-minute cabaret.

Guests were treated to a menu of prawn cocktail, tournedos Tyrolienne, apple strudel and cream and cheeseboard, washed down by Anjou Rose de Cabernet wine.

Throughout the meal, they were entertained with light orchestral music from the well-known Oxford group Stan Rogers and his Players.

After the presentation ceremony, the cabaret featured dancers Ray and Jackie Penn, magician Alan Shaxon and Ann, singer Shirley Gordon, comedian and compere Felix Bowness, vocal accordionist Gwenda Wilkin, and pianist Peter Williams.

The evening ended promptly at 10.50pm with the singing of God Save the Queen.