Gardeners and allotment holders spent many hours sowing plants and protecting them while they were growing.

There was much delight when they put the flowers, fruit and vegetables on display at the autumn shows.

Picture 1 shows Kay Johnson, of Wolvercote, and Valerie Shakespeare, of Cowley, both 14, making friends with a St Bernard dog at the 18th annual Wolvercote Horticultural Show in 1968.

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In Picture 2, taken at the show the same year, William Vallis, right, owner of the famous Headington bakery, and David Breach, who had just finished an apprenticeship in the trade, are seen judging the cake entries.

The flower show attracted a record 1,000 entries from the highest number of exhibitors – there were so many the marquee had to be extended.

Oxford Mail:

The Oxford Mail reported: “The judges warmly commended the high standard in all the sections of the show, most of which, they said, was up to national show standard, particularly the chrysanthemums and dahlias.

“There were also some outstanding vegetables and the domestic classes had never been better supported.”

Prize winners included Mr H J Stroud, Mr J L Waine, Mr E W Williams, Mr E Cowley, Mr J Stilgoe, Mr R Beale, Mr K G Horsell and Mr W Harper.

More than 12,000 people attended the show at Port Meadow that year, despite heavy rain and a decision by British Railways to block a traditional short cut from the village across the railway line.

Two youngsters proved that it wasn’t just adults who walked off with prizes at these shows – Picture 3 shows Paul Buckle, eight, left, and classmate Robert Birkin, seven, at South Oxford Horticultural Society’s autumn show in 1984.

Oxford Mail:

Paul, of Peel Place, and Robert, of Wytham Street, won trophies after entering Christmas cards they had designed and made at New Hinksey School.

Other pupils from the school won a prize with a pot of apple and ginger jam they had made in class.

Picture 4 shows Jesse Merritt, right, receiving one of the four trophies he won at Cowley Conservative Club’s show from club president Reg Smith.

Mr Merritt won all four principal cups in 1964 – for flowers, vegetables, fruit and best in show.

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Employees at the Morris Motors’ car factory at Cowley also held an annual competition and in Picture 5, two exhibitors inspect one of the displays at the 1957 show.

They are Mr F Miles, left, of the mounting shop, and Mr A Baldwin, from the jig and template department.

Staff at Oxford University Press also exhibited their vegetables and flowers annually and in Picture 6, Mr D Gibbons arranges his displays of chrysanthemums for the 1964 show.

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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.