THE long summer holiday from school is a challenge for many parents. How do you keep the children happy and occupied for six or seven long weeks?

The time drags by, particularly if the family budget won’t stretch to a holiday by the sea at home or overseas.

The answer for many was – and probably still is – to pack them off for at least part of the time to a summer playscheme, playgroup or adventure playground. And that is exactly what happened when this picture was taken in East Oxford, probably in 1987.

Every day, more than 100 children let off steam in a variety of activities at the adventure playground in Jackdaw Lane, off Iffley Road.

Then, having burned off plenty of energy, they were happy to taste the delicious food from the barbecue.

The Oxford Mail reported: “The youngsters had no trouble sinking their teeth into hundreds of sizzling sausages.

“They worked up healthy appetites for a summer barbecue after taking part in all kinds of boisterous games.”

In the picture above, children from the East Oxford adventure playground had been joined by youngsters from the Quarry adventure playground at Headington.

Playworker Mina Von Eichstorff told the Mail at the time: “The children must have consumed hundreds of fish fingers and sausage sandwiches and gallons of orange juice.

“The kids love coming here because there are no strict rules and it gets them out of their parents’ hair during the long summer break.”

The playgroup was open every day throughout the school summer holiday, from noon to 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 2 to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The children were given a variety of things to do, including painting, mask-making, games and sport. Special day trips were also arranged.