St Giles Fair went ahead in September 1945, to the joy of thousands of Oxonians, after months of uncertainty.

When the Second World War ended in Europe in May, officials said it was too late to organise the fair that year.

But they hadn’t counted on the city’s traditionalists and were forced to make a U-turn.

The fair had not been held during the war. Some people were keen that it should return immediately. Others favoured a delay until 1946, while a small number appeared to want it banished from St Giles forever, mainly because of the disruption they claimed it caused.

The city council’s markets and fairs committee recommended the fair should not be held in 1945, but an amendment opposing this idea was carried at a city council meeting by 24 votes to 17. One member commented: “If there was ever a year when the fair should be held, surely this is the year?”

Some councillors had been guided by a report from Oxford’s Chief Constable, Charles Fox, who appeared to be one of those against allowing the fair in St Giles.

He argued that there was still a considerable amount of military traffic passing through the city, which would need access to the British and American military police headquarters in St Giles.

He said St Giles was used to park military vehicles at night and was obstructed by military equipment, including three large static water tanks and wardens’ posts.

He said arrangements for the fair usually started in January and, with nearly five months of the year gone, it was now too late.

But in a heated debate in the council chamber, Councillor EA Smewin said everyone knew the chief constable wanted the fair removed from St Giles. He added the military police headquarters was near Little Clarendon Street and traffic going there was very light, so “two days of diversion could easily be put up with”.

Mr Smewin added: “I cannot see why the citizens should be done out of holding their fair. It is a custom which should be restored at the earliest opportunity.”

The Sheriff, Councillor FJ Hall, said it was rubbish to say the fair could not be organised, adding: “We could get the showmen here next week if it was necessary.”

In the end, the citizens had their way and turned out in their thousands for the city’s first fair since 1938.

For the first time in its 300-year history, the fair was welcomed by the mayor. The civic party walked from the Town Hall to Martyrs’ Memorial, where a short ceremony was held.

The mayor, Councillor RP Capel, said: “There was no question of holding the fair during the war. But it takes stamina for institutions like St Giles Fair to have survived for over 300 years in a city like Oxford.

“The tradition of the fair has been too deeply rooted in the hearts of Oxonians throughout the centuries for it to be possible to suppress it for one moment longer than absolutely necessary.”

During a tour of the fair after the opening ceremony, the mayor said: “I am having the time of my life.”