Oakley, The Village c.1960

Photo ref: O65005

Hi. I lived in Oakley as a small boy - pre school age. My dad, Bob Johnstone, was a cowman and we lived in School Lane. We were a big Scottish family with 7 children. We moved around a lot due to his work but we made regular trips back to visit Oakley and The Chandos and still do. We lived there in the late 60, only for a couple of years. Dads sadly dead now but he always said it was his favourite place he lived.

I lived at no. 11 Elmwood Cottages from 1950-58 with my parents, brother and sister and have fond memories of the village. We used to collect blackberries to sell to a man with a van who parked on the triangle which is just showing in the forefront of the photo. He would weigh what we had and the money we earned would pay for us to go to Thame fair. Miss Kirby was the infant school teacher and in the ...see more

I recall as a boy living in Thame Road having to pass the church at dusk, having been in the village playing field until late. We had an old lady who had lived next to us, a Mrs Honour, who we called Gran Honour, who had died and was buried just inside the gate of the churchyard. On passing the graveyard in the dark I would call "Goodnight Gran" and run past as fast as I could for fear she might rise up and chase me.

These were Elmwood Cottages in the Worminghall Road. I was born in the far end house, and lived my first 25 years in the 8th semi along. My Mum and Dad would have had our house since new. It seems odd to think that we were probably at home when this was taken.  They were demolished in 1984 to make way for brand new houses. The lovely Elm trees that used to stand in front of the houses ...see more