The reminiscence group meet on a regular basis and share memories of a chosen topic and invite various guests who would like to contribute their memories. The topic for this Friday is Banbury United and Banbury Spencer Football Club.

The Football Club have been asked if we could provide a few supporters and past players who have memories of some of the key moments in the club’s history and are willing to share them with the group. We are likely to have a couple of past players attending, including Bob Haynes, and half a dozen supporters. We would welcome some more!

Please note the regular group will be providing their own memories, which is a key to the session, so they are only looking for supporters or past players that can help the session along with memories and we will not be expected to do all the talking.

A couple of Board Members have attended a recent reminiscence session on “Americans in Banbury” and can assure everyone that it is very relaxed. The memories are recorded and after editing will form an historical archive – the editing though will remove any uncomfortable moments so that is nothing to be concerned about!

The session is structured by the museum, obviously in this case with help from the Football Club, and you would need to be there for 1.45pm and it tends to start at 2.00pm and last until around 3.30pm when there is tea/coffee and biscuits is provided and there is chance then for unrecorded general conversations if persons in attendance stay longer. There is no set finishing time. Please go to the Education Room next to the Café on the ground floor of the museum.

Ideally the club would like supporters or players who have memories perhaps of any of the key moments in the club’s more ancient history to take part such as:
• Going down to watch the club in the Spencer Days
• The Special Train to Shrewsbury in 1961
• Stanley Matthews bringing Port Vale to the Spencer Stadium in 1966 for floodlight opening
• Hereford United game at the Spencer Stadium in 1971
• Northampton Games in 1973

But anyone who would like to attend will be welcome. We are aware that the session is in normal working hours so this may limit the ability to attend but the more elderly supporters and players who have retired would be ideal for the session.

The club wants to raise its profile in the community at every opportunity and would very much like to make this session a success but is reliant on supporters and past players to be willing to come along and share their memories – please help to make this a success if you can.

If you would like to come ideally email David Shadbolt museum@banburyunitedfc.co.uk or want to discuss further please phone David on 07944 671214. But at this stage we have no objection if you just turn up on the day. It will be interesting and not too demanding.

For more information on the Banbury Museum Reminiscence Sessions click here