LORD Mayor of Oxford Kathleen Lower was presented with a specially-designed bouquet of flowers from firefighters at a floral exhibition at Slade Park on August 28, 1985.

A firefighter braved the 100ft high hose tower to collect the floral decoration and handed it to station officer W Foster, who gave them to the Lord Mayor.

The event marked the fourth annual exchanged to raise funds for the Fire Services National Benevolent Funds.

The 1985 event saw a record haul of £118 raised for the day, made up of 565 flower entries and 74 exhibitors of the best known gardeners in Oxfordshire.

Winners on the day included Mrs E Wright of Watlington who won the Brigade Cup for her efforts and Mr H Stroud who won the Blue Ribbon prize.