Children in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, enjoyed at least two day trips to the sea every year.

One was organised for Sunday School members and the other by Mrs Dawson, of Paradise Square.

Rosemary Russell-Vines, who lived in Chaundy’s Place, off the square, recalls: “The sun always seemed to shine at the sea for the Sunday School outing — we always had a prayer in the rectory room before we got on the coach.”

Children could go free — providing they attended Sunday School regularly.

For her trip, Mrs Dawson would collect money each week towards the outing.

Mrs Russell-Vines recalls: “We had to leave Oxford at 6am. We would be out bright and early looking for the coach to come rolling down Castle Street.

“We had to leave the seaside by 6pm. This was before motorways made it easier to get to the sea from Oxford. We always had to stop in Winchester — I guess it was halfway there.

“I have fond and happy memories of both coach outings — it didn’t take a lot to please us children.”

These and other memories of St Ebbe’s over the past few weeks have come from Mrs Russell-Vines memoirs, Growing up in St Ebbe’s 1941-59.

She produced them earlier this year after the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies, through Memory Lane, appealed for St Ebbe’s memorabilia.

She writes: “I have thoroughly enjoyed reliving my memories of dear old St Ebbe’s, which will always be part of me.

“I can still picture the myriad of little streets and the gas lights. No, it was not all rosy, the houses were damp and draughty and there was real poverty, but it was a neighbourhood in the true sense of the word.

“It gave me a good start in life, being exposed to all that was St Ebbe’s.”

Any other memories of St Ebbe's to share with readers?

The full text of Rosemary Russell-Vines's reminiscences can be seen at the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies at the Westgate Library in Oxford — staff would welcome other memories of St Ebbe's.