AT THIS time of year, youngsters turned their thoughts to guys, bonfires and fireworks.

These pictures, from the Oxford Mail archives, show how some of them celebrated Guy Fawkes’ Night in the past.

One of the biggest bonfires in Oxford in 1971 was on St Thomas’s recreation ground.

When the Oxford Mail photographer turned up on October 28, a week before it was due to be lit, it was already more than 12ft high – and growing.

One lad was pictured sitting precariously on the pile of wood and other debris near the top.

The Oxford Mail reported: “Around this time of year, combustible rubbish has a habit of being mysteriously spirited away by the youngsters instead of finding its way into the dustbin.”

Four children sat in the street in St Clement’s, Oxford, in 1970 hoping to collect enough money from passers-by to buy fireworks.

However, as they moved to a new pitch, below, the expression on the guy’s face suggested they hadn’t done very well.

The children – left to right, Gary Hutt, 11, Ian Nicklin, 12, John Thompson, seven, and Joy Nicklin, nine – were hoping their luck would change. The picture above shows crowds looking skywards at the fireworks display at South Park, Headington, in 1978.

The Oxford Mail reported: “Sparks flew over South Park as Oxford Round Table hatched its own Gunpowder Plot – for charity.

“Thousands flocked to the 15th spectacular fireworks display which turned the night sky into a riot of colour for more than half an hour as £900 worth of entertaining explosives went up in smoke.”

Among the guests were the Sheriff of Oxford, Harry Bowdery, and his wife, Evelyn.

Profits from that year’s show went to the WRVS Meals on Wheels service and other local charities.