Hospital staff wear colourful carnival costumes in the heat

The theme in 1986 was ‘Woodstock through the Ages’ and the hospital’s intensive care group, seen above, and others, from under-fives to 80-year-olds, were splendidly decked out.

Sweltering weather brought out the crowds and the town centre was packed for the event, which raised more than £4,000 for national and local charities, £1,000 more than the previous year.

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Members of 20 organisations took part in the carnival parade, covering three laps of the town centre. They carried buckets to collect money from the crowds.

There was a wheelchair representation of the trains which once ran to Woodstock as well as schoolchildren in Victorian dress and nurses decked in 1914 hospital outfits.

Witney MP and Home Secretary Douglas Hurd started the carnival to the accompaniment of Stonesfield Silver Band, and Kirtlington Morris Men ended it with a dancing display.

In between, there was a hectic pub-to-pub wheelbarrow race with competitors expected to drink half a pint at all eight stopping points.

The centre of the town was closed for the event. Dr Robert Edwards, one of the organisers, said: “We are very pleased with the turnout and the money raised.”

One spectator told the Oxford Mail: “It was a wonderful day. It must have taken ages and a lot of work to create all those amazing costumes. Woodstock should be very proud of organising such a great event.”