Many of us will have spent Saturday afternoons at a local fete, helping to raise money for charities and good causes.

Few will probably appreciate the many hours put in beforehand by organisers, such as those who planned the annual Radio Cherwell event in Picture 1.

Brownie Syretta Kidd, of the 1st Sandhills pack, donned a clown’s face, helped by fete clown Mandy Watkins, to support the hospital broadcasting service in 1984.

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The fete that year, on the John Radcliffe site, featured performances by three dozen gymnasts from Abingdon and two inflatable Japanese wrestlers, both 12ft tall and controlled by two men strapped to their legs.

There was plenty of fun, too, at New Marston First School in Copse Lane, Headington, in 1989.

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Picture 2 shows 11-year-old Arum Dhar in the welly ‘wanging’ competition. Other attractions included a lucky dip, a fire engine, a bouncy castle and a contest for the best fancy-dressed bike.

The ‘mystery guest’, who opened the fete, turned out to be Gordon Norris, who had retired as headteacher six months earlier after 15 years at the helm.

The Sunshine Group could have wished for weather more suited to its name at its fete in South Park, Headington, in 1975 in aid of the disabled.

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It rained most of the afternoon, but at least one stall, in Picture 3, did brisk business. A sponsored walk around the park went ahead, but some events, including a children’s fancy dress parade, had to be postponed.

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A barrow race was one of the many attractions at the Oxford Salvation Army’s annual fete at Hinksey Park in Oxford in 1981.

Peter Elliston, 11, in the barrow, and Ian Hearn, 10, in Picture 4, look hot favourites for victory.

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Hundreds of people turned up to enjoy an It’s a Knockout competition, races, and a host of traditional stalls and games.

Picture 5 shows Marie Stone, seven, enjoying a drink with brothers Jason, nine, left, and Laurence, 11, at the Wingfield fete in Headington.

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Hundreds of people flocked through the gates in 1984 to visit the traditional cake and jumble stalls.

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Bola Awe, of Wilcote Road, Barton, in Picture 6, was too young to enjoy most of the activities at the estate’s fete in 1969, but aged just 17 months she enjoyed tucking into an ice cream.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF