(Oxford Vegetarians began life as the Oxford Vegetarian Society back in 1967. In an updated version of an article which first appeared in the members' newsletter in 1992, founder member and former secretary Margery Jones looks back over the early years.)
Thirty years ago Fred and Valarie Temlett from the North Oxfordshire village of Great Tew advertised in the Oxford Times for vegetarians to help found a vegetarian society in Oxford. A number of people answered the advertisement and so the Oxford Vegetarian Society was born.
Meetings in the early days were generally held in members' homes, sometimes out of doors in the Temlett's lovely garden, at other times in Oxford, Boars Hill, Cholsey and Blewbury. Speakers were sometimes invited but members would often introduce subjects of their own or read a selection of favourite poetry and quotations. Walks were organised from members' homes in Headington, Boars Hill, Cholsey, Blewbury and Great Tew followed by delicious meals courtesy of our hosts. On one occasion Derek and Joan Sherwood showed us around their organic garden.
We did not neglect the public, showing films and inviting speakers to address open meetings, and organising vegetarian cookery demonstrations at the Gas Showrooms in St Aldate's. At one of these demonstrations the late Frank Alderton showed us how he made his famous wholemeal bread, and on another occasion we hosted a demonstrator from The Vegetarian Society's headquarters near Manchester. Talks on vegetarianism were given to many of the local Women's Institutes, Town Guilds and schools. These were usually very much appreciated although an audience of policemen's wives felt that a vegetarian diet would not be substantial enough for their husbands!
Our first Christmas dinner was held in the newly-opened Vegetarian Restaurant in King Edward Street downstairs from the health food shop now owned by Holland & Barrett. The restaurant was run by George Wright and we were delighted to have a restaurant of our own in Oxford. Later we moved to The Old Bakehouse in Summertown where Frank and Dorothy Alderton provided the catering. Members of the Latto family of Reading, including the famous naturopathic doctors Douglas and Gordon, often came as guests.
In some years there was a vegetarian group at the University and we were invited to their meetings. At one time we even spawned a Youth Group which met in the garden house belonging to Edward Archer.
At about the same time as the Oxford Vegetarian Society was formed a small group of people representing six animal welfare societies (RSPCA, PDSA, BUAV, Catholic Study Circle for Animal Welfare, Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary and ourselves) founded the Oxford Federation of Animal Welfare Societies. One of its activities was to be an annual fair to publicise the work of the groups and to fundraise for them. Andrew Linzey, then a young student but now IFAW Research Fellow in Animal Welfare and Theology at Mansfield College, Oxford, became the first secretary but soon left for college whereupon I succeeded him.
The first two Oxford Animal Charities Fairs were held in the Methodist Church Hall in Jeune Street, but we then moved to the larger venue of Oxford Town Hall where the fairs were held for many years until the recent move to the Wesley Memorial Church Hall in New Inn Hall Street. The PDSA provided the catering at the very first fair, but after some student visitors pointed out the inconsistency of serving ham sandwiches at an Animal Charities Fair, our Society took over the catering in the following year in the persons of Frank and Dorothy Alderton, ably supported for many years thereafter by Suzanne Custance.
The sharp-witted students mentioned above were contacted by the novelist Brigid Brophy, and in 1971 they published the book Animals, Men and Morals which was edited by the vegan team of Stanley and Rosalind Godlovitch and John Harris. Contributors to the book included Lady Dowding of humane research fame, Ruth Harrison whose book Animal Machines first exposed the cruelty of factory farming, noted animal rights campaigner Richard Ryder and Brigid Brophy herself. In the early years of the Animal Charities Fair it was given a formal opening by such notables as the Africa expert and wildlife conservationist Dame Margery Perham, Lady Dowding, Ruth Harrison and several past Mayor(esse)s of Oxford. On two occasions Beauty Without Cruelty modelled and sold fake fur coats.
The Oxford Vegetarian Society became a branch of The Vegetarian Society of the UK, and some members attended their Annual General Meetings at which we met such renowned vegetarians as the tireless campaigner Dr Alan Long, who was the Society's Honorary Research Officer for many years, and the composer Thomas Pitfield. One year we attended his musical morality play Adam and the Creatures at St John's Church, Chester, which was sponsored by the local vegetarian group.
Writing in the programme notes, the composer identified with the 'lesser bretheren' who 'have been (mankind's) partners, or at least sharers of the Earth throughout history', and pointed out that 'the right use of power and dominion is one of the most distinguishing of human virtues, and its misuse the most devastating of man's shortcomings'. As the writer Colin Spencer so eloquently describes in his history of vegetarianism The Heretic's Feast, vegetarians through the ages, from Pythagoras to Gandhi, have often espoused and practised a philosophy of non-violence. How different our divided and war-torn world could have been if only more people had adopted this way of life.
Many of the original members still belong to what is now Oxford Vegetarians, although Fred and Valarie Temlett nowadays concentrate on running the little theatre at their home in Great Tew which includes a small vegetarian refreshment area.
Since those early days when vegetarians were thin on the ground vegetarianism has become much more popular and is now a vital force for change in our society. This is of great comfort to those of us who often felt somewhat isolated thirty years ago. Although we may not be as active as we once were, the older members of Oxford Vegetarians greatly appreciate the efforts of the present Committee and those younger members who continue the good work of their predecessors in promoting vegetarianism in Oxfordshire.
Margery Jones
Margery Jones at her 100th birthday party in October 2007 with secretary of Oxford Vegetarians Paul Appleby.
Margery Jones is one of two surviving Honorary Life Members of Oxford Vegetarians, recognised for their services to the group, the other being June Whitehouse. We regret to say that Margery's husband Arthur Jones passed away on 31 December 2007, aged 93.
For more on the history of vegetarianism, see the IVU History of Vegetarianism.
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This page created 23 June 1998 by Kate L Pugh and updated 31 December 2001, 10 November 2007 and 1 January 2008 by Paul Appleby.