Children would flock to local parks and playgrounds to enjoy themselves when the weather was good.

Oxford Mail photographers would often be there to capture images of them on swings, roundabouts and climbing frames.

Picture 1 shows youngsters having fun on an inflatable during a fun day for under-fives at Cutteslowe Park in North Oxford in 1982.

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It was organised by the Oxford branch of the Pre-School Playgroup Association.

The children, accompanied by their parents, also enjoyed pony rides, a merry-go-round and painting.

Picture 2 was taken at another of the playgroup association’s fun days at South Park at the foot of Headington Hill in 1978.

(Image: Oxford Mail) Richard Steer decided it was time to bail out the inflatable at the event, which also included donkey rides, woodwork for tots, a pets’ corner, a library and a chance for youngsters to show their artistry with dough, paint and water.

Children and their parents laid on a surprise party to say goodbye to four women who ran the Balliol afternoon creche in North Oxford.

The four – left to right in Picture 3 – were Gill Cardy, Lisbet Mason, Ann Brown and Susan Arthurs.

Seventy youngsters and 50 parents attended the farewell party at the United Reformed Church hall in Summertown in 1990.

Mrs Brown said: “It was a complete surprise. We were amazed to see so many faces.”

There was a good turnout for a picnic at Cutteslowe Park in North Oxford in 1990, as you can see in Picture 4.

It was organised by the Oxford Childminding Association, whose members looked after the children of working parents in their homes.

Yvonne Bennett, who chaired the association, said: “It is good to get together once in a while.”

Pictures 5 and 6 were taken as children battled it out at a pedal and push race at Hinksey Park off Abingdon Road, Oxford, in 1990.

The two- and three-year-olds from the Lake Street playgroup, cheered on by parents and staff, rode tricycles and pushed trolleys on a circular route around the park. After the exhausting race, some of the children cooled off in the paddling pool. Money raised at the sponsored event was to be used to buy new tricycles.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.