Nine intriguing photos from Oxfordshire in 1992

Here we look at some photos from the Oxford Mail archive from 1992.

It was the year when a giant Scalextric set, men dressed as clowns, and brass and silver bands were considered top entertainment.

There was also a dramatic fire at Banbury Print Works.

The huge blaze engulfed the Altovar print works building in March 1992.

More than 100 firefighters tackled the inferno which at one point threatened a neighbouring petrol depot and a large tank of solvent thinner.

Oxford Mail:

A huge column of smoke and flames could be seen for miles as the blaze took hold of printing works, a former furniture store in Station Approach.

Fifteen people were evacuated amid fears that the building would collapse, but in the end no one was injured.

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One eyewitness said they saw slates on the roof “pop like gunfire” during the blaze.

The same year, Oxford Concert Brass and Kidlington Silver Band combined to form Kidlington Concert Brass.

Kidlington Silver Band was by far the oldest of the two bands, with local newspaper stories about them going back to 1840.

Oxford Concert Brass was formed in the 1970s by Harold Williams, former secretary to the Lord Mayor of Oxford, who was a passionate musician.

He had begun his musical career with the Pressed Steel band at Cowley while he was a teenager, playing the cornet.

Within a few years, he had progressed to playing the trombone, tenor horn and bass.

He joined the City of Oxford Silver Band and later became its conductor, holding the post for more than 10 years.

Oxford Concert Brass, which he formed with a group of friends, entertained at concerts for nearly 20 years before joining forces with Kidlington.

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