FORMER members of a youth club are being encouraged to attend a reunion in Oxford — more than 40 years after the club shut its doors.

Pensioner Bob Light, 66, of Green Road, Headington, is searching for childhood friends who used to meet at Plum Brown’s Barton Youth Club in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

In May last year, Mr Light held a similar reunion at the Royal British Legion Club in Edgecombe Road after the Oxford Mail ran a series of retrospective articles about the community work of Harry ‘Plum’ Brown and the history of the youth club.

He said it was a success, but he was hoping for a better turnout and decided to organise a second one this year.

Mr Light, formerly of Barton Village Road, where the youth club met until it closed in the mid-1960s, said: “It was really good, everyone meeting up again — some people hadn’t seen each other for more than 40 years.

“We were expecting a few more people, but there’s only so much you can do. We’re hoping a few people who couldn’t come last year will come this year.”

The club ran a number of football and rugby teams for children on the estate, including the Barton Midgets, Barton Rovers, Barton Minors, Barton Robins and Barton Bartonians.

As well as helping set up sports teams, Mr Brown organised outings and holidays for the community and occasionally contributed cartoons to the Oxford Mail.

Mr Light said he was unsure how ‘Plum’, whose death led to the club’s closure, came by his unusual nickname, but he remembered he was a much-loved figure.

He said: “He was a tremendous guy and he did a lot of the community. The reunion is a tribute to what he did for us all — it should be good fun.”

The event is being held at the Masons Arms, in Quarry School Place, on Saturday, May 16, between 7.30pm and 11.30pm. Tickets cost £6, which includes a buffet.

Singer Tony Casper, who grew up in Barton, will entertain guests.

To book, call Mr Light on 01865 308177 or fellow organiser Pete Dillon on 01869 242193.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk