Families in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, had an array of local shops supplying all their needs within walking distance of their homes.

Today, we think of the area being dominated by the Westgate Centre, car parks and major roads.

But before redevelopment in the 1960s, it was a community of terrace houses and narrow streets full of life.

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In his memoirs, former resident David Brown recalls shops such as the Co-op in New Street, where his mum shopped every week, Weller’s, on the corner of Wood Street and Friars Street, “a tiny shop full to the brim with groceries, fruit and vegetables”, and grocer George Bubb, who sold broken biscuits at twopence a bag.

Other popular shopkeepers were John Clapton in Cambridge Terrace - “often a lifesaver as he opened until late evening and all-day Sunday” – ‘Governor’ Willis, who sold sweets and fizzy drinks, and barber Mr Conway.

Stan Rogers was also well known – he ran a general store on the corner of Friars Street and Commercial Road and led the Blue Star Players, a popular dance band.

Other businesses included a scrap merchant called Warburton’s in Bridge Street, where families brought “all types of rags, bones and metal”, and Wigmore’s milk bottling plant in Speedwell Street.

Mr Brown recalls: “One day, I was passing and was amazed to see Percy Lewis, the Oxford boxer, working there. I watched in awe as he lifted three full milk crates at a time on to his lorry.”

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After leaving South Oxford School, the young David Brown started work as a Post Office telegram boy on his 15th birthday.

“I was so lucky to join a workforce who were so friendly. I remember going home to Norfolk Street for lunch on my first day wearing a GPO armband which gave me such pride.

“At the age of 16, to be taught to ride a BSA Bantam 125cc motor bike and get paid for it was a dream come true.”

David Brown with cat Skip

David Brown with cat Skip

The family’s move from Norfolk Street, St Ebbe’s, to their new home in Nicholson Road, New Marston, was not without drama – pet cat Skip needed one of his nine lives to survive. Mr Brown writes: “I had a new Norman B4 Sports motorcycle and tied a laundry-type basket to the seat. I lifted Skip in the basket and left the leather buckle loose so that I could remove the cat quickly. I had to stop at the Carfax traffic lights and heard the cat meow. The lights changed and I sped off. I reached our new home and opened the basket only to find the cat was missing. My mum returned to 19 Norfolk Street every Wednesday after visiting Oxpens market.

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“On the third visit, there, to her amazement, was Skip who had found his way home from Carfax, even though the ground was covered in snow.”