Oxford Mail readers reflect on favourite Christmas memories

Answers centred around transport were a common theme among the comments sent in. 

READ MORE: Historic 150-year-old tree at The Plain in Oxford axed

One reader, David Foster, said: “Driving into Oxford on Christmas Day to see my mother in the old John Radcliffe. Every traffic light was green.”

Sledging in the Oxford snow. (Image: Photo: Oxford Mail)

Reader Jean Lomas also responded to the post, which asked for ‘favourite memories of spending Christmas in Oxford’.

She said: “My goodness well I was a little girl and in the Oxford Eye Hospital.

"A few nurses took some of us to the New Theatre just before Christmas.

"Once I was discharged I was invited to a party at the Eye Hospital. There were goodies galore and a gift with my name on.

"It was a huge box of paints and it was magic. I even got to go on Rocky the rocking horse. Thanks to all the hard work the NHS staff did for us children.”

Others reminisced about changes they had observed in the city.

Reader Andria Hook commented: “Walking in the Covered Market. All the pheasants and turkeys hanging up. The big Christmas tree in the middle.

"It was such a wonderful atmosphere. I used to love it as a kid. Now it’s all gone to pot. Shame really.”

The historic Covered Market in Oxford was opened officially on November 1 1774 and since then some of its permanent stalls have served as festive beacons for the city in the month of December.

Santa Clause also visited Oxford this year. (Image: Westgate)

Reader David Thompson added: “All the different colours lighting up the streets, and the smell of chestnuts being cooked, by the stall holders, and baking from the bread shop and all the happiness around.”

A few council-led initiatives aimed to help Oxford mark the festive season this year.

Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival is a three-day event intended to celebrate the time of year through arts, community and culture and has taken place in the city since 2009.

This year, the tradition continued with the help of a striking ‘Tree Cathedral’ display at Florence Park in east Oxford.

The annual Florence Park event ran as part of the Oxford Christmas Lights Festival. (Image: Noor Qurashi)

The Oxford Christmas Market also returned to Broad Street on December 1 and ran until December 18.

All of this took place in the context of a Christmas Lights switch on in the city centre.

One reader Lin Das said: “Oxford really needs a better Christmas Market.”

Organisation of the market this year had transferred to company LSD Promotions which the council described as having “a strong track record with markets in Oxford".