Retired policemen and women relived old times at one of their regular reunions.

Members of the Oxford City Police Association recalled the days when they patrolled the city streets on foot, stood on point duty controlling traffic and brought the city’s villains to justice.

They were joined by their wives and partners and by civilian staff, who provided support at St Aldate’s and Cowley police stations, at a lunchtime gathering at Rover Sports and Social Club at Roman Way, Cowley.

The Oxford City police force was in charge of policing in the city for almost 100 years, having been set up by the Oxford Police Act of 1868.

Before then, power had been exercised at night by the university and during the day by the mayor, aldermen and citizens of Oxford.

The Act established one united police force for the city, managed by a police committee of six members of the university and nine members of the city.

The new force had between 25 and 30 men and was based in Kemp Hall, off High Street, under Superintendent Charles Head.

Police constables were paid 17 shillings (85p) a week on appointment, rising to £1 when fully trained, and discipline was harsh in the early days.

Retired sergeant Geoff Rose, author of a Pictorial History of the Oxford City Police, wrote: “The Oxford policeman worked very hard and his hours of duty were long, with no days off.

“Once he had left the police station on duty, he was not allowed to return, unless he had a prisoner or something to report.

“This meant he had to find his refreshment where he could and would eat it in doorways and alleys. Men were dismissed for being drunk on duty and for being found asleep on their beats.”

In 1897, Oswald Cole became Oxford’s first chief constable and by the turn of the century, the force had moved to its new headquarters in the Town Hall, with the entrance in Blue Boar Street. A second police station, in East Oxford, at the junction of St Mary’s Road and James Street, opened in 1909. Mr Cole died in 1924 and was replaced by Charles Fox, who oversaw the move to St Aldate’s in 1938. Mr Fox held the post until 1956 when he was succeeded by Oxford’s third and last chief constable, Clement Burrows.

Cowley police station opened in 1966, but by then, it was becoming clear that the days of the city force were numbered.

It ceased to exist on March 31, 1968, just nine months short of its centenary, when it amalgamated with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Reading Borough forces to form Thames Valley Police. In his book, Mr Rose recalls: “On the evening of March 31, 250 policemen and women, wives and guests gathered in the clubroom at Cowley police station at a farewell party. At St Aldate’s, there was a similar gathering.

“The gathering at Cowley formed up in front of a large badge of the Oxford city force and on the stroke of midnight, a black curtain was pulled across it and the Last Post was played on a trombone.”

Fears that the old force would be forgotten were dispelled by the formation of the Oxford City Police Association, which flourishes to this day – it held its 38th annual meeting last year.

The association is open to officers and support staff who served in the city force. It meets three times a year. Membership costs £10 a year and three newsletters a year are circulated.

Anyone wishing to get back in touch with old friends and colleagues should contact Wally Cox on 01367 860250 or email ocpa@btinternet.com