Oxford memories

The 2010 Oxford Folk Festival

Balliol College 1922
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This view shows just one of the many venues for the 2010 Oxford Folk Festival, a weekend long festival of music, song and dancing including a grand parade through the city on Saturday morning. Thousands of residents and tourists looked on as hundreds of performers from all around the country provided the entertainment. I was there with my fellow dancers and musicians from Whitethorn Morris - a lively team of women clog dancers and their mixed band from Harrow.

Although it was early April, the sun shone brightly and crowds thronged the streets to watch as we provided jigs and polkas for the clog dancers. It was a lovely day to remember and I hope very much that the organisers of this annual event will continue.

Edmund Not Alban

St Edmund Hall 1890
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This photograph is of St Edmund Hall, affectionately known as 'Teddy Hall', which by common consent is the oldest seat of learning in the University of Oxford. Founded in the early 13th century by St Edmund of Abingdon, who lectured in the old church of St Peter in the East, which is now the college library. St Edmund later became Archbishop of Canterbury.
Scholars of St Edmund Hall are renowned for their prowess on the sports field, on the river and in the bar. Some of us can also do joined up riting.
Peter Britton (SEH 1973).

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.

Wests in Cowley

I was born and brought up in Cowley. We lived at 169 Oxford Road which now belongs to Emmaus I believe. Across the road was a large old cottage which during the war was used to house evacueee and the Post Office was next door. When I was young I belonged to the Better Britain Brigade. I have photos taken in St James Hall if anyone is interested, with Fathers Whye and Beacham. I attended church at both St James and St Luke's (where I was later married). I remember spending happy hours in the snow on the golf course. Behind our garden was the swimming pool and library which we used a great deal. My parent Phil and Gladys West owned the West Stores on the corner of Hollow Way and Crescent Road and I used to deliver groceries to Horspath when I was older. In 1964 my family and I emigrated to Australia. Evelyn Hutt (nee West)

Bridge Bungalow Cafe

Triangle Café c1960
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We lived at the BBC for many years. Near to the bridge over the River Thame, next to the garage run by Harold Thomas and Jeff Lafford. I went to Thame Grammar School on the double decker blue bus. Dad was George Allen, Mum was Alice Allen and uncle Bill and Auntie Joan lived just up the road. We used to fish in the river and sometimes the A40 used to be flooded when the river overflowd. grandad Allen was head gardener at Shotover House and Grandad Day lived in Forest Hill. Roger Allen, Melbourne, Australia. rogerstallen@msn.com.

Grandad used to drive the horse and cart along the almost deserted A40 from Shotover loaded with fruit and veg to Keenes in Iffley Road?

High Street

High Street c1965
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I worked in Wheatley village in 1963 in John Bull's butcher's shop opposite Sam's butchers with Ted! and a lady bookkeeper. After living in Waterstock on John Bull's farm during the terrible winter of 1963 we moved into his bungalow at 17 Beech Road, the building of which was delayed through the bad winter.
We are now both retired and live in Bournemouth. I remember Alan Hayday and his brother, also Dennis next door.