Another glimpse into Bicester's history

Sid Hedges first published Bicester Wuz a Little Town in 1968 and it has been reprinted twice since, in 1974 and 1991.

Now a third reprint has been undertaken by Nigel French, proprietor of Cole’s Book Store, in Crown Walk, Bicester.

Mr French said: “Over the past two years many people have been asking us if the book was still obtainable. We were pleased to arrange this reprint. It is obviously a book people in Bicester know about and want to buy.”

He contacted Sid Hedges’s son, Anthony, who backed the idea of returning the book to the book shelves.

Mr French added: “With all the changes that have taken place in Bicester, and the changes that are to come, we thought this was the right time to give people a bit of retrospection.”

Since the book was first published, a number of other historical works on the town and its social past have been published.

“We have always done well with books on local history and this one will complement those,” said Mr French.

Mr Hedges’s son, Anthony, said: “I am absolutely delighted the book has come back into print. It will be of interest to newcomers as it contains many anecdotes about people in the town in the past and it is a piece of Bicester’s social history”

The book was the 126th Sid Hedges published before he died in 1974, aged 77.

He had begun his writing career with short adventure stories for Boy's Own Magazine and went on to publish several novels.

Mr Hedge Snr, who also wrote many books on activities for young people, was often known as S G – after his Christian names Sidney George. He was a notable figure in the town and a leading light in Bicester Methodist Church.

He was one of three sons of George William Hedges (1882-1936) and Mary Ann McKay, who were married at the then Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

The family business was a drapers, milliners and outfitters. The shop was part of what was popularly known as the Hedges Block, which straddled Market Hill – now part of Market Square – opposite what is now an estate agents on one end and a fish and chip shop on the other.

Traffic had to squeeze round the side of the building, known as The Narrows, to reach Sheep Street from London Road. The block also included the Covent Garden greengrocery and a cafe.

The block was demolished in 1963 to make way for traffic improvements, giving vehicles a straight run from London Road into Sheep Street. The route was then part of the A41 Aylesbury-Bicester-Banbury route.

Hedges had been associated with Bicester since John Hedges arrived from Headington, in about 1857.

At first he was a baker in Church Terrace, close to St Edburg’s parish church, but he later moved to Market Square giving his name to the building. The first recorded entry of the draper’s business was in a trade directory of 1907.

For many years the family lived over the shop and Anthony recalled that his father used to play the violin from an open window to his future wife, Mary Dixon, who listened from another window of the neighbouring Hilton’s boot and shoe shop, where her father was manager.

Apart from his books for young people. Sid founded the Red Rhythmics Harmonica Band for young members of the Methodist Church.

Anthony Hedges played the accordion for the band, which gave a concert in the Royal Albert Hall, London, and broadcast for BBC radio.

Following his studies at Keble College, Oxford, Anthony became Reader in Composition at Hull University from 1962 until his retirement in 1985. He became chairman of the Composers’ Guild of Great Britain in 1972 and now lives in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Many of his compositions have been recorded on CDs of British light music on the Naxos and White Line/ASV labels.

Bicester Wuz a Little Town, by Sid Hedges, is now published by Cole’s Press in paperback, priced £10.