Who remembers the Modern Music Club in Oxford?

Peter Mitchell was prompted to put pen to paper after seeing fellow member Alan Beesley in the picture of the Oxford Gas Works football team (Memory Lane, April 24).

Mr Mitchell, of Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford, worked for John Laing and Sons in London and was sent to Oxford to train as a building surveyor at its housing site at Barton West.

He met friends who shared his interest in the big swing bands and bop and jazz groups of the day, and in 1950, they formed the Modern Music Club.

They were given permission to use the YMCA hall, in Walton Street, on Wednesday evenings. Admission was 6d.

Mr Mitchell recalls: "Alan and I supplied the 78rpm records, painfully transported each week in carriers across the handlebars of our bikes from Barton and Cowley.

"The club attracted 30-40 patrons each week and with the revenue raised, we were able to subsidise trips in Crapper's coaches to London, Coventry and Reading to see the likes of Johnny Dankworth, Ted Heath and Vic Lewis.

"We also organised our own Christmas dinner-dance at the YMCA in George Street, with the Mike Scarfe Quartet providing the music."

He and Mr Beesley, the master of ceremonies, served on the committee with Jean Adams (secretary), Vic Good (treasurer), who went on to form his own Oxford dance band, Frank Morris, who became an Oxford publican, John Wheeler and Derek Brind.

Other club members included Win Taylor, Fred Fox, Sheila Brown and Tony Delnevo, who became a well-known Oxfordshire policeman.

After marrying Doreen Wight from Boswell Road, Cowley, in 1953, Mr Mitchell worked on construction sites in North Wales and Nottingham before returning to Oxford as clerk of works in the new paint shop at the Morris Motors' car factory.

By then, most of the club members had dispersed.

Mr Mitchell writes: "In its day, the club provided an affordable entertaining outlet for us, complementing the local dance scenes like the Carfax Assembly Rooms (Stan Rogers Band) and the rare visits by popular orchestras to the Town Hall.

"I am sure many fond and happy memories will be recalled by ex-members reading these reminiscences."

Any memories of the Modern Music Club?