JILL and David Partrick might not look like your ‘typical’ record shop entrepreneurs – both are 74 and admit they are more ‘Classic FM’ than ‘Kiss’ – but they are responsible for creating Oxford’s most diverse collection of vinyl records, and they are using their growing profits to save lives.

The pair are responsible for running the city’s biggest collection of vinyl – downstairs at Oxfam in Broad Street.

This Aladdin’s cave offers everything from folk to funk and pop to classical – along with musical instruments, CDs and sheet music.

Mrs Partrick said: “It’s funny, because although David and I love classical music, especially opera, we are not music experts. All our knowledge has come from working for Oxfam.”

That began in 1998 after the couple, from Woodcote near Reading, retired. David was a chartered marine engineer, Jill, a greeting card saleswoman.

“We got into music when we starting working at Oxfam in Henley,” she said. “Then, when the music department was started here in Broad Street, we came on board and haven’t looked back.

“You could say we are now totally obsessed by it. Our friends and family think we’re loonies.”

Mr Partrick added: “It’s a full time job, but it’s a job we love. We enjoy finding out about the music that’s donated to us and talking to our customers, whether they are collectors, or those just browsing, maybe looking for an album they owned years ago.

“One man recently visited and found a seven-inch record he’d been looking for for 25 years.

“It wasn’t particularly rare, just one he’d listened to years ago, but he was thrilled to finally find it and to pay just £4.95 for it!

“We also have a reservations service so people can tell us what they are looking for and we can look out for it. And of course knowing the money we are raising is helping people in need is very rewarding.”

People visit the Broad Street store from far and wide in search of that elusive album.

Mrs Partrick said: “Tourists come in saying they have been told they simply must visit us during their stay.”

While Oxford’s other independent record shops – such as Massive Records in Gloucester Green, and Polar Bear in Cowley Road, have died out – the Broad Street shop now makes about £40,000 a year.

Mrs Partrick said: “When we started we were very green, but we have learned a lot.”

The couple have sold many records for more than £100 each, with one (they decline to name) going for over £1,000.