Friends egg on Nikki Simon on her typing marathon

Many girls learned shorthand and typing after leaving school and became secretaries.

But few probably matched the skill and stamina of Nikki Simon.

The 19-year-old Oxford College of Technology student broke the world record for non-stop typing in Oxford 40 years ago this week.

In February 1968, she typed for 62 hours 31 minutes - 30 minutes longer than the previous record held by a team of three girls.

The Oxford Mail reported: "When she finally slumped over the keyboard at 11.31 this morning, barely conscious of the flowers, Champagne and cheering students, Nikki said: I am absolutely shattered. My hands are sore, my wrists bandaged, my back hurts - I want to sleep and sleep."

She staged her marathon in the window of an office equipment shop in Broad Street.

Watched by a team of referees, she had to type continuously and in "intelligible English" for nearly three days and nights.

The marathon was part of the college's Rag Week, in aid of Oxfam and the Save the Children Fund.

A celebratory glass of Champagne for Nikki at the end

Nikki's friends kept her awake through the night by dictating articles from Private Eye. During the day, she typed orders for customers, at 10s an hour, with all the money going to the two charities.

She told the Mail: "I was given a mathematics thesis by a research student at Balliol. I have not done any maths since I left school."

The referees reported that she typed the thesis without a mistake!

After completing her marathon, Nikki slept for 24 hours, then went off to a friend's 21st birthday party.

She said: "Give me another week and I think I shall be able to face a typewriter again."

A year later, the Mail reported that Nikki was keen to lift her own record to 72 hours, but we have no record whether she put herself through the ordeal again.

10:25am Monday 18th February 2008

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