He was certainly a popular man among the ladies!

Coach proprietor Merlyn Blunsdon got a well-deserved pat on the back from members of Eynsham Women’s Institute after getting them home from snowbound Bournemouth.

The 26 WI drama group members were stranded in their Bournemouth hotel after freak weather hit the South Coast.

READ MORE: Heavy rain causes severe flooding

They left home on a Friday in February 1978 to spend two days at the Anglo-Swiss Hotel.

But when the time came to return home on Sunday, Mr Blunsdon, of Bladon, rang to say police were not letting traffic into the town because conditions were so bad.

Some of the women had young children and had to make frantic telephone calls to let their families know what was happening.

Christine Ward, of Back Lane, Eynsham, who organised the trip, said after finally arriving home: “There were snowdrifts on the beach and cars in the streets were covered. We could not have got back by rail as no trains were running.”

June Pettet, of Robsart Place, Cumnor, said: “We were very relieved to get back. We were miserable when we found we were having to stay another night, but cheered up when the coach arrived.”

Mr Blunsdon said: “There were no problems on the return journey. The thaw seemed to be setting in.”

READ MORE: Corner shop has poor food hygiene rating 

In 1915, the Women’s Institute set out to give women a voice and to be a force for good in the community.

Since then, its members and its ambitions alike have grown tremendously.

The Women’s Institute website says: “Today, we are the largest women’s organisation in the UK and we pride ourselves on being a trusted place for all women of all generations, to share experiences and learn from each other.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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