It is a good opportunity to get rid of the things you don’t want and buy cheaply the things you do want.

With Christmas approaching, the local bazaar was an excellent way of achieving both.

It won’t be the same this year because of coronavirus, but as these pictures show, bazaars have been money spinners for many charities and organisations in the past.

Father Christmas in Picture 1 put in an early appearance at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre at Headington, Oxford, familiarly known by its former name, the Wingfield, in 1979.

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The Oxford Mail reported: “With no snow on the ground, Santa had to leave his reindeer and sledge behind. The nearest thing he could find was this phaeton pulled by an Irish pony called Holton Christmas Rose driven by former patient Harriet Howard.”

Proceeds from the bazaar went to help equip a new outpatients’ clinic at the hospital.

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The big attraction at the Centre for the Deaf in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, in 1960 was a competition for a trip to Paris for two.

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Vera Barratt and sister Sabina

Vera Barratt, seven, and her sister Sabina, six, are seen in Picture 2 admiring a doll.

The bazaar was opened by actress Janet Brown, who was appearing in a play at the New Theatre.

Candle and painting competitions were among the highlights at Florence Park community centre at Cowley in 1963, in Picture 3 below.

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Jean Wrenn, 16, in Picture 4, was one of the bargain hunters at the Red Cross bazaar at Witney Corn Exchange in 1987. She left with her arms full of Christmas gifts.

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Jean Wrenn

Four girls below took charge of one of the stalls at Wantage church bazaar in 1997 – left to right, Eleanor Jestico, 11, Annie Berrett, nine, Elizabeth Berrett, 12, and Naomi Ryland, 12, in Picture 5, reported brisk trade. Father Christmas brought his own competition to Wallingford United Charities bazaar in 1988 – he asked children to name his reindeer.

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Wantage church bazaar

Members of Didcot and Wallingford Craft Group are seen in Picture 6 manning their stall – left to right, Jill Ritchie, Ethel Thompson, Lilian Nichol and Cicely Peisley.

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