THERE was plenty of clowning around at Eynsham Carnival in 1983.

Girl Guides chose a circus theme for their float, with jugglers, acrobats, a ringmaster, a magician and the clown pictured above.

The carnival that year featured a parade through village streets headed by the Oxford Caledonian Pipe Band and the carnival queen, Michaela Walker, 15.

During the afternoon, the organisers lined up a feast of activity, including a Wild West show, donkey derby, a display by the Bartholomew School gymnasts and music from the Boys’ Brigade band.

The carnival will be celebrating its 70th anniversary when it takes place at the Queen Elizabeth playing field in Oxford Road from noon on Saturday, July 2.

Eynsham History Society is organising a display of carnival memorabilia at St Leonard’s Church and on the carnival field to mark the anniversary.

Anyone with photographs, programmes or memories from past carnivals should contact the society’s chairman, Martin Harris, on 01865 864776 or email martin.harris321@gmail.com

In particular, organisers want to hear from anyone who remembers a lion taking part in 1981. Rumour has it that it walked in the parade with its trainer, TV personality Martin Lacey, but no-one is sure if that is true.