CLOWNS were a big hit at this party at West Oxford community centre in 1987, pictured.

Lord Mayor Betty Standingford joined in the fun and games at the centre in Binsey Lane.

The event was part of the city council’s entertainment for two- to eight-year-olds in the After School Clubs run by the council.

Face painting was all the rage for these youngsters, pictured, when the new Cutteslowe community centre opened in 1989.

The girls – left to right, Emma Pettifer, seven, Becky Woodward, six, and Donna Pettifer, nine – were pictured at an open day at the centre.

The £187,000 building in Wren Road replaced a tumbledown centre which had been demolished.

 

Oxford Mail:

EAST Oxford children jumped at the chance to get both sides of the camera and be producer, actor, costume designer and stage manager, above.

Fifteen children took part in 1984 in a project to film a story about a time machine which finds itself on a planet under water.

They were involved in all aspects of the production, from writing the script to filming the action.

Seen painting scenery are, left to right, Sonie Yoe, Emma Renicks and Josie Yoe.

Oxford Mail:

SNOOKER was one of many recreational activities on offer to youngsters at Blackbird Leys community centre in 1977, above.

Oxford Mail:

BUILDING sandcastles usually takes place on the beach, but on this occasion, the venue was very much inland.

Anthony Dixon, Mark Boyle and Nigel Bachmann show great concentration as they sift sand ready to start work on their creations, above.

The picture was taken at Rose Hill community centre in 1963 on the opening day of a play centre where mothers could leave their small children while they went shopping.

Oxford Mail:

How do you create art out of a large lump of clay and a big stick? That was the dilemma facing six-year-old Nicola Stark, pictured left.

She was among a group of youngsters taking part in an art workshop at the Ferry Centre in Summertown, Oxford, in 1978.

The workshop was held every Monday afternoon and was aimed at five to 18-year-olds. Children could enjoy modelling, clay work, painting and wood carving.

Oxford Mail:

THERE is nothing like a Punch and Judy show to make a party go with a swing.

These youngsters, shouting “He’s behind you,” were among more than 80 treated to a New Year tea at Barton community centre at Headington in 1981.

The children, aged from four to 14, were also treated to puppet shows, comedy magic and balloon modelling displays at the party organised by the sports and social club at A C Nielsen, the market research company.

 

Oxford Mail: IT LOOKED like winter, but it was actually summer. The snowstorm had nothing to do with the weather.

Oxford City firemen provided the ‘snow’ – it was one gallon of foam detergent – to demonstrate their fire-fighting drill to children at Blackbird Leys community centre in 1969.

There were whoops of delight as the children found they could run under the cascades coming from the fire engine.

One little boy was upset, however – he thought the foam was ice cream!