Young and old show off their best Easter bonnets

These are just some of the hundreds that have featured in the Oxford Mail pages over the years.

Meg Collins, four, and Timothy Coles, three, in Picture 1, were among 12 boys and six girls sporting imaginative headgear at Cowley Community Centre playgroup in Oxford in 1982.

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The winner of the girls’ section was three-year-old Louise Patey, while Michael Harrigan, four, won the boys’ section.

Both had bonnets shaped like Easter eggs.

Prizes for the children were given by the community centre’s Senior Residents’ Club.

Parents and friends were invited to join in the fun at the village playgroup’s celebrations at Clifton Hampden, near Abingdon, in 1980.

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The 40 youngsters, some seen in Picture 2, paraded around the village hall in their bonnets or soldiers’ hats, then entertained with songs and nursery rhymes.

Four-year-old Geraldene East, in a white bunny suit, gave a solo version of Run Rabbit Run. All the children left the party with an Easter egg.

Seven and eight-year-olds at Queens Dyke Primary School, Witney, are in Picture 3.

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They turned plenty of heads with bonnets of all shapes, sizes and colours in 1987.

Teacher Sylvia Everett said: “There were some amazing concoctions, enormous chickens coming out of eggs, rabbits and flowery bonnets.”

The main prizewinners were Susie Buckingham, Gary Buckingham and Katrina Common.

A colourful display of headgear was also on show at Kidlington in 1982 when members of the Evergreen Club, in Picture 4, held their annual parade.

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They posed for the Oxford Mail photographer outside Exeter Hall after Freda Anthony, who ran Elizabeth, a dress shop in High Street, judged the competition.

There was another wonderful show of bonnets, in Picture 5, at Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, in 1987.

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Twelve children from the under-fives’ playgroup paraded through the streets, much to the delight of villagers.

Playgroup supervisor Jan Tustian said: “The mothers had put a lot of work into making the bonnets. With the sun shining, the children looked very nice.

They enjoy these little outings and they like showing off their hats.”

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Tyrone Brackett, Kerry Godin and Carl Preedy, in Picture 6, were among 48 three- to five-year-olds who joined the Easter fun at Our Lady’s nursery in Oxford Road, Cowley, in 1990.

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Carl, three, and Emma Goddard, four, each won an Easter egg after they were judged to have the prettiest headgear.

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Children at Tiddington, near Thame, in 1983 wore bonnets decorated with flowers from their gardens.

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Among them was three-year-old Jodie Adams, in Picture 7.