I'm in my sixties and I still miss the atmosphere and shenanigans in the Greyhound on Gloucester Green before an away match as this was an absolute shoe in for any Oxford away fan. However, as an aside I've been a veggie for nearly 40 years but still remember buying a meat hotdog from a Gloucester Green vendor in a mini pope mobile from a geezer/geezer-rette who resembled 'Joyce'? Am I dreaming this one up or am I'm in heaven?
COYY'S
Bloody hell, that brings back some memories mate!
The Greyhound was like the party, before the party, when we went away. Most of us were half pissed before we even got on a coach or train.
Yes, Joyce did work on those weird hotdog vans that were like a popemobile. They were red and white and were a converted Mini or Hillman Imp I think. But it was Fitzi's not Foley's wasn't it?
Funny story about Joyce. He was actually a bit of a hard case, behind all the drag act and overt gayness, and one day I was walking down Queen Street (how apt!!!) and Joyce came strutting down the middle of the road in hot pants, stilletoes, a chiffon scarf and full make up. He was chuntering away to anybody and nobody at the top of his voice, and it appeared he'd been in a fight. Some old dear asked him if he was alright (the old dears loved Joyce) and his reply was "Oh yes, don't worry about me, I scratched his f*****g eyes out!" And then he paused, for dramatic effect, and said "Ooh, but I think I've lost a nail!" It was pure Dick Emery/Kenny Everett camp at its best.
* For those who don't know Joyce was a middle aged camp gay man who was one of the Oxford characters of the 1970s. To give it perspective, they were very different times to today, and in retrospect he was actually way ahead of his time and very brave. I wouldn't have wanted to get in an argument with him, but I also never felt the desire to buy one of his hot dogs either!!!
