ROGER Thomas remembers the carefree days when he and his childhood friends played Cowboys and Indians, marbles and conkers.

There was also much fun to be had playing football in the street or on the ‘rec’, with jumpers often acting as goalposts.

Mr Thomas has packed his memories into an 87-page book with pictures, Tales of an Oxford Lad, a Barton Childhood 1942-57.

Conkers was a particular favourite. Children would climb trees in Larkins Lane, Old Headington, to collect them, then see how long they would last before being smashed by an opponent.

Wily players, however, often had a trick up their sleeve – they would soak their conkers in vinegar overnight, then bake them in the oven for half-an-hour to make them hard and almost indestructible.

Cowboys and Indians was another popular game.

Mr Thomas recalls: “I loved dressing up as an Indian such as Geronimo or Cochise. We used to make our own bows and arrows.“ School homework would be hurried through in time for football.

“The ‘field’ was the recreation ground off Fettiplace Road. In the football season, there were goal posts, but in the summer, we put our jumpers down and carried on.

“We also played football in the street outside our houses. It was only occasionally you had to stop as a car came along.”

The Queen’s Coronation in 1953 was a particularly memorable day for families in Barton. “We watched the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Mrs Veale’s 12in black and white television next door, then had a wonderful kids’ street party.

“Tables were placed all along the street, then laden with sandwiches, jellies, cakes and biscuits prepared and served by all the mums, who kept us liberally supplied with orange squash and lemonade.

“Afterwards, we had a fancy dress competition – Little Bo Peep came first and I, a Pirate, came second.“ September was the ‘scrumping season’and one particular target was Mr Jacobs’s apple orchard in Barton Village Road. “Mr Jacobs was always making sure his fences were secure, but we always found a way in.

“Once I had loads of apples and stuffed them up my jumper.

“When I got home and dumped them on the kitchen table, mum took one look and didn’t need to ask where I had got them from. She gave me a right telling off, followed by a long lecture about stealing other people’s property – then made a most delicious pie with them!”

Tales of an Oxford Lad, a Barton Childhood 1942-57 is available at Pen to Paper, 95 London Road, Headington; the Model Shop at The Roundway, Headington; and at Barton, at the Spar shop, Barton Centre and Barton Chippy, or send a cheque for £8.95 to Roger Thomas at 29 Ripley Avenue, Minster Lovell, Witney OX29 0RP, call 01993 703474 or send an email to rog.thomas@btinternet.com More of Roger Thomas’s memories next week.