Memories of Oxford

Music and dancing at the Oxford Folk Festival

One of the many items on the Oxford "tourist trail" is a weekend long folk festival which is supported by dozens of morris dancing sides from all over England. This year Whitethorn Morris appeared for the first time and brought a huge side of 12 dancers and almost as many musicians!

The dance events take place mainly in the pedestrianised streets of the city centre and the last "spot" on Sunday afternoon was a massed stand by all the performers in the courtyard of the former prison! This was something of a surreal experience as the backdrop were rows of barred cell windows and the crowd of spectators sat on stone steps snapping away with cameras!

Whitethorn put on displays of dancing in half a dozen venues during the day but the one I remember most is standing in the middle of the Cornmarket playing my piano accordian with the Whitethorn Band surrounded by many Japanese tourists taking pictures!

It was a really enjoyable folk festival - not only for the dancers and musicians but also, I am sure, for the many tourists who had crowded around us watching and taking photographs.

Edmund not Alban

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).

George Webb & family

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)

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