Donkey Joe, shown above with two of his donkeys at a funfair in The Square, came Eynsham in 1966 where he lived, until the last few years of his life, at St Michael's in Acre End Street. Whilst his day job was as a JCB/lorry driver for Kingston Minerals his life was devoted to animals. A great showman, many were entertained by his animals especially his donkeys that he took round at Eynsham Carnival and other events such as May Day. His donkeys, on which children loved to ride, included Rocky, No. 7, Nettle, Tay and Trigger who was actually a little Shetland pony. Joe died in 1995 aged 68.
Joe's house St Michael's in Acre End Street which backs on to Conduit Lane. The Sobranie Tobacco Company was evacuated there during World War II.
Thanks to Martin Harris for the story