John Bunyan Baptist Church had one of Oxford’s most successful youth groups.

Up to 80 young people aged from 11 to 18 would flock to the hall adjoining the church in Crowell Road, Cowley, to enjoy a range of activities.

Members of the Young People’s Fellowship enjoyed social evenings, outings, bonfire nights, pancake parties, as well as entertaining elderly people.

They would meet one night in the hall and on Sunday night at a member’s home, often that of the youth leader, Gilbert Payne.

Mr Payne, who ran the club for 20 years from 1954, recalls: “It was a thriving group and met the needs of the young people in the local community at Cowley. It was an integral part of the life of the church.”

Although he now lives at Steventon, near Abingdon, Mr Payne has kept in contact with many former members by organising annual reunions.

He tells me: “Over the years, the majority have married and moved away. In 2004, I had a vision to contact as many as possible of the original number and hold a reunion.

“The first reunion took place in 2005 and we have met each year since. I managed to contact 50 former members and about 35 have met and relived the happy times we shared in the 1950s and 1960s. The fellowship is just as strong as it was in those early days.

“There may be other ‘young people’ I have not managed to find. Hopefully, through Memory Lane, we can tell them what is happening and invite them to get in touch.”

This year’s reunion will take place at the home of two former members, Diane and Mick Cusden, at Fingest, near Henley-on-Thames, on Saturday, May 5.

To book your place, call Mr Payne on 01235 831522, email gillorn@btinternet.com or write to him at 15 Stonebridge Road, Steventon, Oxon OX13 6AS.