Noke

Tommy Wiggins

Tommy Wiggins was a small-built man, he had round John Lennon NHS glasses, and had the Corner Farm in Fencott. He was a great friend of my grandfather, Charlie Hayes, and once every 2 weeks my grandfather peddled all the way from Kidlington to Uncle Tommy's to have his hair cut. I remember sitting in the chicken house whilst my grandad had his hair cut, the chickens pecking around and an old tin bath for Nell the spaniel to lay in, stuffed full of straw. I remember the big Clydesdale carthorse, and the fact that Sunday was the horse's day of rest, he was massive but a real gentle giant. I can recall when Uncle Tommy took me and my grandad into the cowshed and the cow -called, yes you have guessed it, Daisy - was in there, the second  she saw Uncle Tommy she lifted her back leg and waited for him to scratch her between her udder and back leg. He was a gentle kind man who was... Read more

Get Them in Quick

High Street And Sterling Cinema c1950
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My mother Pamela Gaskins has often spoken of her days working at the sterling cinema. She was cashier there and has told me she could get a full house in within half-hour, the cheapest being 9 old pennies, the most expensive 3 shillings. Giving change and no automative calculators, quite a feat of mental agility.

Oxford Road

I lived at 253 Oxford Road in the 1950s. Visited the old house in 2006 while visiting from Canada.

Grove Farm

in the late 1960s we moved to 32 Yarnton Road. My dad and grandad worked the land of Grove Farm before the housing development took place. During 1970s an archaeological excavation took place in the area surrounding Moat Cottage. I did my fair share of trench digging. We found a few walls, some pottery and that was about it! Hats off to Time Team, they do it in 3 days, we had months...

I Used to Live Along There

I moved to 274, Oxford Road with my family in 1959. I lived there until marrying in 1978. The school bus collected me from outside my house and took me to Begbroke. At age 14 I moved to a school in Oxford City and caught the public bus thereafter.

Magdalen College From River 1922
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This photograph is taken from the playing fields of Magdalen College School and shows the Botanical Gardens.

George Webb & Family

St Peter's in The East 1890
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Kate Maria Webb christened St Peters in the East 21 Sep 1860 (12 years of age), Abode - 85 High Street Oxford, Parents - George Webb & Elizabeth,
Trade - Gunmaker. (copy of parish registrar entry held by contributor)
George Webb & Elizabeth Sugar of 85 High Street later 36 Iffley Rd (1881 Census) died 16 Feb 1892 (89 Iffley Rd) - buried St Peters in the East (no headstones standing today) (copy of Death Cert held by contributor)
Family of George & Elizabeth - George Walter (m Amelia Lockwood), Annie Louisa (m Charles Carter), Francis Edward, Ellen Alice, Kate Maria (m John Lowe, emigrated NZ), Laura Nina (m Charles Stuart Cumberland)
Descendant of Annie Louisa is Olenka Thomas of IOW recently deceased in distressing circumstances, (commission for an independant review regarding social services re providing for Miss Thomas 2005)