A KEEN sportsman who delivered newspapers for the Oxford Mail and its sister titles for more than 40 years has been commemorated with an Aunt Sally trophy.

Roy Walton of Berinsfield, near Wallingford, died aged 77 last December after years of playing the British pub game with the Berinsfield Community Association.

On Thursday the group presented the Roy “Rocky” Walton Pairs Memorial Trophy to the winners of its winter pairs league, Dave Whitehead and Mark Johnson.

Mr Walton’s widow Sylvia, said it was a fitting tribute.

The 77-year-old, who lives in Colwell Road, Berinsfield, said: “What they have done is brilliant, I think Roy would have loved it.

“It is a great idea and a fitting tribute.”

Brian and Sandra Spurrett, of Lodden Avenue, organise the Berinsfield Aunt Sally side and arranged for the trophy to be created, which was paid for by the whole team.

Oxford Mail:

  • Roy Walton

Mr Spurrett, 57, said: “We knew Roy for years and he was an all-round good player. It’s a nice trophy and about a foot high too.”

Mrs Spurrett added: “We made Roy the cup to keep his memory alive, because he did a lot in our village.

“He played plenty of sport and was a good friend of ours.”

Roy’s time at the Oxford Mail and its associated newspapers saw him work with his father at newspaper stands in Oxford, first as an errand boy at Newspaper House, before eventually becoming a delivery driver.