AN OXFORD man is calling on childhood friends to take a step down memory lane.

Bob Light, 65, from Headington, has organised a reunion for former members of Plum Brown's Barton Youth Club, which closed in the mid-1960s.

The club, which ran football teams Barton Midgets and Barton Rovers and rugby side Barton Bartonians, was the heart and soul of the community for decades, according to Mr Light, who lived in Barton Village Road, where the youth club met for more than 50 years.

He said he became determined to organise the reunion after reading an article by an old friend last year praising the community work of 'Plum' Brown.

"It spurred me into action," he said.

"It should be done, because Plum was a wonderful man. There was nothing for anybody to do after the war and he got the kids off the streets.

"He deserved a knighthood and I think in this day and age he would have an MBE."

Mr Light is unsure how the youth club founder, whose death led to the club's closure, came by his nickname, although he remembers Mr Brown occasionally contributed cartoons to the Oxford Mail.

He also proudly recalls playing alongside long-serving Oxford City footballer John Woodley for the Barton Midgets when they were boys.

He added: "It will be more than 60 years for a lot of the youth club members, so the reunion will be a great thing.

"I see one or two people from the club around the area but there are lots of people who live all around Oxford now. There were so many people who went through the club."

Mr Light plans to put posters advertising the event around the city and hopes for a big turn-out.

The reunion is at the Barton Royal British Legion Club, in Edgecombe Road, on Saturday, May 31, from 8pm to 11.30pm.

Tickets cost £5, with a buffet and raffle.

To book, call Mr Light on 01865 308177 on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, between 7pm and 9pm.