I recently typed up the minutes for Preston Road Community Centre Association after the February 2018 meeting. While at the centre I was interested to find a folder of papers from the early 1970s with TRA on the front. That was the Thames-side Residents Association. There is a draft letter detailing their activities in 1972. Some bits are crossed out and may not have made it to the final version sent to residents.
They held 14 committee meetings, and had meetings with councils and lots of other organisations, and produced six newsletters for people in the area.
Socially there was a darts match, a car treasure hunt, 2 socials, and a meeting to discuss education in the area.
The area was under-represented on local councils and they made a strong protest to the Home Office.
They produced a report showing the overcrowding at local primary schools.
They approached the GPO to ask for more phone boxes and post boxes in the area.
They asked councils for more play equipment in the area.
They also acted as a pressure group concerning the future Marina development, and further gravel extraction.
They arranged interesting visits for members. The letter above concerned a proposed visit to the sewage works in South Abingdon.
Looking to the future, the letter says that they could plan a Children’s party but need to know what people really want. The letter ends, and this part is crossed out, ‘We badly need an infusion of new committee members. We are yesterday’s men!’
