THE Oxford University Press food production, flower show and sports day promised fun for all the family.

It was a popular event in the city’s summer calendar in the 1950s.

Programmes for the 1951 and 1959 shows were found by Rosemary Maud, of Hereford, among the belongings of her late mother, Agnes Jacobs.

Mrs Jacobs, a pupil at Oxford High School for Girls, worked as a nursery nurse in Oxford during the Second World War.

The shows were held on the Oxford University Press sports ground at Jordan Hill in late August.

Attractions included Punch and Judy, a baby show, children’s races, a fancy dress competition, golf putting contest, a knobbly knees competition (men only) and, intriguingly, a ladies’ ankle competition.

Many OUP employees took part in a series of inter-departmental athletics events.

There were also many sideshows, among them bowling, darts and Aunt Sally at twopence a go.

Gardeners were well catered for, too, with 56 classes for vegetables and flowers and prizes of up to 7s 6d to be won.

Among other leaflets found in Mrs Jacobs’s possessions was one from the Clarendon Press Dramatic Society, for its production of JB Priestley’s Mystery at Greenfingers.

The play was performed on a Thursday and Friday, April 5 and 6, but we are not sure which year.

The cast was Kenneth Pinder, Shirley Honey, Raymond Church, Joyce Nichols, Joan Williams, Margaret Franklin, Jean Westwood, Michael Higgs, Albert Pontin and Hilda Taylor.

Admission to the play, which was performed at the Clarendon Press Institute, in Walton Street, was two shillings.

Another programme dates from 1930 when the Oxford Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Crawford McNair, gave a concert, but we are not sure where.

Mrs Maud would be happy to pass on the programmes to anyone collecting memorabilia about these organisations.

Call her on 07588 615667.