THE 41st Oxford Scout troop found a clever way to make money.

They built a children’s roundabout – or ‘roostabout’, as they called it – and it became a popular attraction at fetes and other events.

Fred Mogridge was reminded of the ingenious contraption when he spotted a brief mention of it in our Christmas picture feature (Memory Lane, December 21).

One of the pictures we published was taken at Florence Park Residents’ Association’s Christmas Fayre in Cornwallis Road, Cowley, in 1965.

We quoted the Oxford Mail report at the time: “The hall was so packed with people that it was impossible to operate the children’s roundabout, provided by the 41st Oxford Scout group.”

Mr Mogridge, of Rahere Road, Littlemore, searched his archives and found this picture, which appeared in the Oxford Mail in 1961.

The report read: “Two Susans, Susan Savage and Susan Mogridge, both aged three, try out the ‘roostabout’ built by senior Scouters and Rovers of the 41st Oxford group for their fete at Singletree House, Rose Hill, on June 3.

“Looking on are, left to right, Group Scoutmaster HW Chaplin, Cub Master RL Andrews and Senior Scout Peter Dawson.

“The roundabout is the latest piece of fairground equipment to be built by the group to raise money for the conversion of their training centre at Beauchamp Lane. The roundabout revolves on ball bearings and the motive power will come from the mums walking alongside their children.”