It didn't take long for readers to identify four of the five musicians in our mystery picture (Memory Lane, January 5).
The photograph appeared in the Oxford Mail in 1963 alongside an article highlighting the problems facing Oxford youth clubs, but group was not named.
The group was called Chaingang, but at some stage, also appears to have been known as the Hannington Skiffle Group. Some of the members belonged to the Hannington Rowing Club.
The group members in the back row are, from left, Terry Mason (banjo), David Wintersgill (bass) and John Lee (guitar), all of whom lived in Ouseley Close, Marston.
In front, left, is Danny Wilkinson (guitar). We don’t know the name of the drummer on the right, but both he and Danny lived at Cowley.
John Lee, now retired, lives in Devon with his wife Maggie.
His sister, Mary Avery, of Summerfields, Abingdon, tells me: “The group used to practise in my dad’s garden shed at the bottom of our garden in Ouseley Close.
“The photograph was taken at a charity event.
“There was another group from the Upper Heyford base playing, but John says people preferred their group, as they played mostly Lonnie Donegan tunes.“ Their music, however, apparently didn’t appeal to everyone, including Mrs Avery.
She writes: “I preferred going to town with my friends to dances at the Tornado and Hurricane Club, in Alfred Street. We also went to Carfax Assembly Rooms and the Town Hall, in the days before discos.”
David Wintersgill, of Rowel Drive, Begbroke, believes the picture was taken at Cowley Workers’ Social Club in 1958 or 1959. He writes: “We were influenced at the time by the Chris Barber Jazz Band – Lonnie Donegan was a member.”
Can anyone name the drummer?
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