Oxford Then and Now
19 August 1972-15 May 2025
Our Love Letter To Oxford
Oxford 'the city of dreaming spires'
‘I wonder if anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful.
One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.’ – William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Photo Corbis/ Smithsonian MAGAZINE
‘Love is the bridge between you and everything.’- Rumi
“Our own life has to be our message”- Thich Nhat Hanh
“I want to be what you see in me. I want to love you the way that you love me.”
This is the Story of Love&Marriage, Friendship&Companionship of when the young Mr. Mofid met the young Miss Clifford in Oxford. They fell in love and got married. And then, they began their life journey together.
The 19th century poet, Matthew Arnold christened Oxford 'the city of dreaming spires' and this write up, ‘Our Love Letter to Oxford’’ is a brief account of our own ‘dreaming spires’. It is also the story of who we were and who we have become. Moreover, it is our thanksgiving moment for a beautiful, fulfilling and dreamy life journey that we have had together, which started to take shape, meaning, and purpose in Oxford.
I am sure, to anyone that has ever visited Oxford, let alone living there for a number of years, one would struggle to deny the city’s timeless beauty and elegance. The limestone buildings, domes and spires, the ancient trees, lawns and meadows, the flowing river and gardens,..., all seem to sparkle with a self‑assurance of their own. And yet, I recall the wonder and beauty of my daily walks from Headington, where I was living, to the centre of Oxford, going to the Oxford College of Further Education, where I was studying English as a foreign Language, reaching the Magdalen Bridge, looking down the river, seeing the beautiful grounds of the Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and continuing my walk to Carfax, seeing the sunrise on the Carfax Tower and hearing the sacred sound of bells ringing at a distance at the Christ Church College.
,...And yet for me, the best day, the best memory of Oxford, is the day I met my future wife, Annie, and fell in love…
This story is in four parts
Part I: Arriving in Oxford on on 19 August 1972
‘I remember so clearly that very first moment when I landed at Heathrow on 19 August 1972:
The immigration officer who was so kind, acknowledging my extreme nervousness and anxiety, whilst trying to comfort me by joking about the boxes of pistachio nuts and nougats (Gaz) I was carrying on my person. ‘I recognise an Iranian from miles away, they all carry boxes of Pistachios and nougats’, he said or words to that effect.
Then, off I went on my first ever journey in England, boarding the train to Oxford, then catching the bus to Summertown, north of Oxford, searching for Five Mile Drive, and getting totally confused and lost…’: Thank you England for 50 blissful years
Part II: Celebrating the Gift and Miracle of Ageing- The Boy from Iran who became a Man in England
‘It is wonderful getting older, when we age with hope, love, gratitude, dreams, laughter and a good sense of humour, not forgetting the most important ingredients:
Sharing the journey with a loving partner, family and friends and firmly believing that Life is good, waking up every morning grateful to be alive, giving thanks that every moment is a gift…’: Celebrating the Gift and Miracle of Ageing: Giving Thanks as I Approach 70
Part III: Celebrating Our 50th Wedding Anniversary on 27 July 2024
‘Yes, it is very true: Love is life’s greatest gift. Love is all about friendship, commitment, communication, listening, caring, connection, dialogue, giving, sharing, humility, kindness, empathy, forgiveness, hopes and dreams.
And yes, it is equally true: You have all these noble values in plenty, in abundance.
Love belongs to the oneness of life, and you have so generously demonstrated what love is and what loving means. ‘It is Love that moves the Sun and Stars,’ wrote Dante, a sage of Italy. ‘Love is the bridge between you and everything.’- wrote Rumi, the Persian sage, the philosopher of love, or “Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.” — wrote another Persian sage of love, Hafez.
Looking back at my life’s journey, my darling Annie, I too would say that ‘Love’ is the meaning of life, love is the seed of all creation, and you, Annie, have enabled me and empowered me to water and nourish the seed of love I discovered first on that beautiful day in Oxford over 50 years ago. Together we have looked after that seed, we have turned it into a most beautiful tree, our tree of life, with beautiful flowers, fruits and more.
The tree has now become our anchor, our root, our hope, our dreams, helping us to rest and feel at ease in its comforting and healing shade, when we need support, coping with pain and aches of getting old, weak and frail…’: Recalling 50 Years of Treasured Memories on our Golden Wedding Anniversary: Then and Now in Words and Pictures
Part IV: Returning back to Oxford on board the nostalgic, historical and elegant restored 1920s train, the British Pullman, a Belmond Train, from Victoria Station, London to Oxford on 15 May 2025.
N.B. We wish to give our thanks and gratitude to our sons, Kevin and Paul, our daughter-in-laws, Katie and Sarah, and our beautiful princesses Robyn, Ivy, Izzy and Poppy, for this wonderful nostalgic train journey back to Oxford for our 50th Wedding Anniversary.. Their kindness has touched our hearts.
At Platform 2, Victoria Station, Boarding our Train.
In our carriage and at our dining table
We arrived at Oxford by the early afternoon and had a few hours free time to enjoy the city. Due to some mobility issues we could not go and see all the places we had so much fond memories of. But, we did our utmost to go and revisit a couple of iconic locations.
The first was The Chequers, where Annie and I had our first date and our first gin&tonic together. Then, we carried on to our favourite book store in Oxford- Blackwell’s, where Annie and I spent many happy hours together, reading and browsing. Happy days.
After spending hours reading and conversing, we always went for a drink and lunch at the historical pub next door, The White Horse. Memories, memories, we cherish them.
At The Chequers, where we had our first date
*In conclusion, We also wish to thank the British Pullman, Belmond Trains, for the excellent and caring service that we have received. From the staff at the reservation, to those on platform 2 at Victoria Station and the Pullman Lounge, and the wonderful staff on the train. They all upheld the values of Belmond Trains, excellent service, care, kindness, empathy, and true Professionalism.