THE Oxford Horse Show lasted so long thanks largely to the efforts of two men.

Show chairman Dennis Organ and secretary Jim Cox were the stalwarts who kept the event alive for more than 20 years.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, November 9), the annual show attracted thousands of competitors and spectators to the Iffley Road rugby and athletics grounds.

But in later years, it was beset with financial problems and there were increasing doubts about whether it would survive.

The partnership of Mr Organ and Mr Cox proved crucial.

Mr Organ, a city councillor, was head of one of Oxford’s leading car dealers, having taken over the family firm from his father.

He always had a love of horses and dogs.

“They are my life, motor cars are my business,” he would say.

He opened the Lawn School of Equitation to train horseriders in 1945 and travelled the country judging at dog shows.

Mr Cox trained as a teacher and taught in East Oxford before becoming the first headmaster of New Marston Primary School, in Copse Lane, when it opened in 1949.

Apart from his work with the horse show, rugby was a favourite pastime, and he was also secretary of the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association, promoting the establishment of many play areas in the county.

The first horse show was organised during the Second World War by a group of sportsmen to raise money for local prisoners of war.

It was traditionally held on the first Bank Holiday weekend in August, and became one of the best known shows in the South of England.

The last show was held in 1965, when the Government abolished the early August Bank Holiday and Mr Cox announced his retirement as secretary after 15 years.