Phoenix Trail in May

The Phoenix Trail, a footpath/cycle track from Thame to Bledlow used to be a section of the railway from Princes Risborough to Oxford. As I walk along it today, I can't help thinking that my parents travelled past here on 6th January 1945. They were on their way to honeymoon in Oxford, staying at the Kings Arms at the end of Broad Street, having had their wedding in High Wycombe All Saints Parish Church and reception at the Oak Room of the Town Hall. They left High Wycombe at 6.30pm in a freezing cold carriage and pitch black because of the war time blackout. They had to change train at Princes Risborough and the train crawled along arriving at Oxford at 8pm. The 28 mile journey had taken one and a half hours. 11 days later, Dad was back in the Royal Navy in the war. How things have changed!