Here we look back at photos from the Oxford Mail archive from the 1990s.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith welcomed Princess Diana to the city, while Prince Charles arrived on a different visit to Radcliffe Square.

The U’s wore a very odd away kit, and air pollution was already a big issue.

The team promotion in 1996, there were Royal visits from Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Littlewoods was still trading on the high street.

Oxford Mail:

Read again: Picture gallery: Princess Diana in Oxfordshire

In 1992, one property developer wanted to have a little joke in their advertisements to the commuters of Oxford in 1992.

The developers behind a new site Farmoor Court decided to highlight to the many drivers on Botley Road that just two miles away they could enjoy the clean-aired village of Farmoor.

Developers installed a sign in July that year to sit alongside the daily congestion which has long plagued Botley Road.

It proudly displayed the words 'Welcome to Carbon MonOxford' as a play on words about the city's pollution and in a bid to entice house hunters.

The suggestion appeared to encourage people to take up the offer and buy a home in Farmoor away from the city's carbon monoxide gases.

Oxford Mail:

Below the sign said in small print 'Breathe fresh life into your business, relocate to Farmoor Court' and contact details.

Read more: Cowley Road Tesco is to reopen

In 1990, the Excelsior cafe was popular on the Cowley Road.

Staff served customers for decades until the owner decided to close it in 2014.

For 53 years Andreas Kuomi served the people of East Oxford everything from English breakfasts to his trademark Greek coffee.

Oxford Mail:

He closed the doors of The Excelsior for the last time after finally deciding to retire at the age of 80.

After moving to Britain from Cyprus in 1954 in the hope of a better life, Mr Kuomi moved to Oxford two years later and bought The Excelsior in 1961.

More than half a century on, he said it was time to call it a day.

He said in 2014: “I have decided that the time has come to close. I have enjoyed it but it can’t be helped. You can’t stop the march of time.

Read more: A stroll around East Oxford pubs

“Back in 1961 I decided I wanted to set up my own business so I thought I would give a cafe a go and see how it went. It must have gone pretty well because we’re still here today.

Oxford Mail:

"I will definitely miss it, I have made lots of friends here who I will miss quite a lot, but the time is right to move on.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.