The deposition of the banner in this photo at the Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage has enabled me to find more information about the local branch of this organisation.

Toc H Is a national and international movement which had its roots in the work of the Revd P.B. Tubby Clayton in the horrors of the First World War in Flanders.

He set up a social club for soldiers of all ranks at Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium.

The house was run on egalitarian lines, a key motto being 'All rank abandon, ye who enter here'.

After the war, Tubby set up a movement called Toc H, named after the signaller’s parlance for Talbot House.

The movement was to be 'a living memorial' in that Tubby was determined that the dead should be remembered by the forging of a new, more equal society at home.

The movement is based on the four points of the compass – Friendship, Service, Fair-mindedness, and Reconciliation.

The branches work out these principles by responding to the needs of the local community, so everywhere the work of the Toc H branches is different.

Some examples include work with veterans, forming of friendship groups from toddlers to senior citizens, work in local hospitals and conservation – but always responding to local needs.

The Wantage Branch was founded in 1956 by a group of like-minded individuals including Bernard Tingley, Alfred Osterritter, Len Shepherd and George Spink.

Other members included Mr and Mrs G E Marks, Vic Brown and Christopher Naish.

Meetings were held in the Church Reading Rooms in Mill Street and later at St Andrews School. A junior branch was formed in 1960.

The Wantage TocH branch helped to organise various local and national campaigns and events.

These included helping to organise a campaign for British leprosy, a hospital egg week and having Wilfred and Mabel Pickles (the actor and radio personality) present a TV to Wantage Hospital.

In 1965, a garden fete and searchlight tattoo was held to commemorate TocH’s Golden Jubilee. It was organised on the King Alfred’s school playing fields and included a parade through Wantage with Caledonian Dancers and the Icknield Way Morris Men.

A mock battle was staged by the Royal Berks TA. The finale was a full parade with everyone taking part, followed by the TocH ceremony of light, and 'sunset' was sounded by buglers.

With time, sadly the Wantage branch of TocH faded away, however in 2016, a TocH Wessex branch was set up covering Wantage, Didcot, Newbury and Wallingford.

Activities since this branch was formed include a Question Time-style event at the Beacon in 2016; a talk on bicycles and a successful concert and play at the East Challow village hall in November 2017.

Recently the branch raised money to purchase a bench to be placed next to the bandstand at Wantage Recreation Ground.

Part of TocH’s remit to offer service to the community appropriate for a movement which owes its origins to events over 100 years ago.

For further information on Wessex TocH and its activities please contact them via their website at tochwessex.org.uk.