From dressing up as the latest big-name pop star, donning ye olde Victorian garb, to rattling your pom-poms in a short skirt: there aren’t many costumes that have been rejected by Oxfordshire citizens as being ‘too silly’. But as it’s all in a good cause, and because they are at least raising a smile as well as money for charity, we applaud the antics of those putting the ‘fun’ into fundraising over the years.

Woodstock Carnival is always a popular event and in 1990, these nurses, pictured far left, added a touch of American spice to the proceedings. The trio, left to right, Amanda Lee, Julie Curry and Bernadette Lee, were collecting money for the intensive care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Asa Kinch caused quite a stir when he turned up at school dressed as pop singer Boy George, right.

But there was no reprimand for the 12-year-old – or for any of his fellow pupils.

Youngsters at Lord Williams’s Lower School East in Thame paid 20p to charity for the chance to go to school in whatever clothes they chose, instead of school uniform, on the last day before half-term.

Left, Victorian costumes came out of the wardrobe again for a third Old Time Music Hall at Exeter Hall, Kidlington, in 1989.

Supporters of the Oxford Kidney Unit at the Churchill Hospital put on the show, which as usual attracted capacity audiences.

Getting in the Victorian mood are, back left to right, Max Hobbs, Julian Allen, Bob Ross, Marie Creed and Stuart Lewis, and front, Diana Chase and Willow Pierce.

The cash went to the NSPCC.