It would probably be banned now under health and safety laws, writes Jean-Michel Lavest.

But in 1965, barrel racing through the streets was an acceptable form of enter- tainment.

This event took place at Wood Farm in Oxford. The picture shows members of the Crown and Thistle Light Specials football team in triumph after winning the barrel-rolling race.

Five other teams took part in the race and afterwards joined the winners in the bar of the Crown and Thistle to share their prize - appropriately, a barrel of beer.

The Oxford Mail was there to record the event - but sadly, gave few details.

However, this wasn't the first time the community came together to create a major public spectacle.

Chris McDowell, our librarian at Newspaper House, has found pictures not only of the 1965 barrel race, but of a 2-mile pram race through the streets of the estate the previous year.

On that occasion, there were seven teams of two, paying two shillings to enter.

They ran from Atkyns Road to the Crown and Thistle, where they drank half a pint of beer and changed places, then ran to the Masons Arms, where the process was repeated.

After two short stages to the Six Bells and The Chequers, they embarked on the last long lap back to the Crown and Thistle.

The race, which was started by Jacko the Clown, from Bertram Mills Circus, was won by Bobby Woodward, 18, from Barton, and David Renshaw, 19, from Wood Farm, in a time of 16 minutes. Their prize?

A vacuum flask each