Hi Barb,

Glad you enjoyed seeing those - and as for any surprises for this year, oh indeed, we'll just have to wait and see what I might have up my sleeves!

But in the meantime, here is another couple of pieces from the Witney Gazette early 1960's:

January 12th 1962

February 9th 1962

Do you remember this Barb? I wonder if that might be you second from the left in the group of 5 girls? do you recall the names of all the girls?

Shane

Hi Barb,

Aha, Kathleen's sister, I see! Yes, Kathleen was at the last Oliver Day and is hoping to come to next, it was Kathleen and Phyllis Morris (Granddaughters of Frank Oliver) who we united with their cousins Richard from the US and Margaret from Canada.

I see you made the papers yourself Barb in that 1958/1959 period for whole variety of good things:

1. Music

'Four Stonesfield children were successful in the examinations held last month by the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music held in Oxford. They were Barbara Harris, Norma Hanks and David Hanks who passed in Grade I and Caroline Griffin who passed in Grade II'

2. Handwriting

'Children of Stonesfield School recently won prizes in a national competition. They were Barbara Harris and Judy Mark (junior handwriting), Susan Barrett and Stephen Scarrott (junior art) and Michael Ogden and Rita McShane (infant art)'

3. Sports

'A party of Stonesfield School children and their parents went to Finstock on Saturday to take part in an inter-school sports arranged by the Finstock fete committee. They were Celia Godfrey, Alan Price, Christopher Mollart, John Evins, Patrick Franklin, Daphne Hanks, Sheila Hanks, Marilyn Moss, Caroline Baker, Norma Moss, Janet Moss, Stephanie Scroggs, Judy Moss, Susan Barrett and Barbara Harris'

4. Rose Queen

'A procession of children, led by the Rose Queen, Barbara Harris, walked from the school to the Manor, to the accompaniment of music from the school recorder band'

5. Competitions

'Mrs D.Baker of Woodstock Road gave the prize for a competition which was run by Miss Judith Marks and Miss Barbara Harris; the prize winner was Mrs. C Franklin'

I wonder if those bring back memories Barb!

Shane

Hi All,

I have also found a reference to a Julie Oliver in Stonesfield in the late 1950s editions of the Witney Gazette.

I don't believe I have come across Julie to date and I can't immediately place her within the family tree - I wonder if anyone recalls Julie and any other information about her i.e. parents, that might help us place her?

1. Stonesfield Dramatic Society

'Julie Oliver, the youngest member of the company, had an exacting role as the mermaid heroine but carried it with the aplomb to be expected of one who thinks nothing of swimming form London Rover to the Mediterranean'

Can anyone help?

Thanks
Shane

Shane Bywaters wrote:

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'The occasion was also marked by a presentation to Mr. J.Oliver, of Stonesfield. Mr. Oliver, who has been a good friend to Charlbury evergreens is shortly emigrating to Australia with his family'

In this previous thread (http://oliverfamilyhistory.activeboard.com/t43545712/the-folk-of-stonesfield-in-1958-a-chance-to-reminisce-perhap/) we also had a James Oliver that we couldn't place, who lived at the Tewer, could this be the same James? The newspaper mentions he emigrated with his family, perhaps there could be descendants living in Australia still? I do now actually see a James Oliver who lived in Stonesfield at this time but he appears to have died in Stonesfield in 1962, so did he and his family not travel? or is this a different James?

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The only Oxfordshire Olivers who I can find emigrating at that time are not from Stonesfield but from Combe: John Oliver (b.22/8/27), bricklayer, with his wife Barbara (b.1928) and children Mark (b.1952) and Glynis (b.1953) of 2 Square Firs, Combe, left Southampton on 4 November 1958 on the MV 'Fairsea', bound for Australia.

Is the newspaper wrong or did another Oliver family from Stonesfield go too? (or intend to go, as you said, Shane).

Re. Evergreen clubs, they seem to have been associated with the British Red Cross.  The 'Red Cross Evergreen Club' in Cirencester opened in 1947 for 'old people of 65 or over who want a friendly chat over a cup of tea or a game of whist or cribbage'.