The Beckett family had a magnificent record of service with the Oxford Steam Plough Company.

Seven members worked for many years for the firm, which provided vital equipment for the farming industry.

Traditionally, farmers relied on oxen and horses for ploughing and other tasks.

But in the 19th century, they were helped by a new device - the steam plough.

One of the leading firms in the market was the Oxford Steam Plough Company, based on what is today the John Allen Centre in Between Towns Road, Cowley.

The firm started in 1868 under the managing director, Major John Allen, and orders for the new invention came in thick and fast.

The Beckett family's remarkable link with the firm was uncovered by Andrew Scurr, of Tackley, while researching his family history.

His great great grandfather, Alfred Beckett, was the first to join the company as a cook boy at the age of 12 in about 1873.

Known as Brusher Beckett', he rose to ploughman, then foreman, then departmental manager.

When he died in 1927, aged 66, he had completed 50 years.

He drove a Bullnose Morris company car, and made headlines when he was involved in a crash with a cyclist in Browns Lane, Woodstock.

The gold pocket watch he received to mark his half-century is in Mr Scurr's possession.

All six of Alfred's sons - Harry, Arthur, Alfred jnr, Frederick, Edwin and Albert - worked for the firm as foremen.

Harry also joined as a cook boy, in 1901, retiring in 1956 at the age of 70.

Edwin (Ted) died in 1956, aged 61, after 47 years with the company, while Arthur died in 1920 aged just 30, leaving a widow and four children.

In addition to six sons, Alfred and his wife Fanny had one daughter, also called Fanny, who married Thomas Broadis.

Thomas and Fanny had three children - the eldest was Edward Percy' Broadis, who became an expert gardener and was a regular contributor to BBC Radio Oxford.

The Oxford Steam Plough Company later became John Allen and Sons, which developed a profitable business making agricultural and horticultural machinery, including the famous Allen scythe powered by a small petrol engine.

Later it merged with other firms to concentrate on making cranes for the building industry.

The works closed in the early 1980s and the land was developed as a retail park.

It was named the John Allen Centre, maintaining the historic link with the past.