DOWN the years, Christmas has always been party time.

Even going back a century or more, teas would be organised for the children of the poor, who would turn up in their hundreds to receive an orange and a small gift. Whether you were in theBrownies or Scouts, the pony club or football team, the festive season meant paper hats, jelly and visits from Santa Claus.

At either day or Sunday school, an afternoon would be set aside for fun and party games and trestle tables would groan under the weight of festive fare, often brought in by the children.

Every year parties would be organised by works’ sports and social clubs, so whether your mum or dad was a weaver, postman, secretary or miner, you would join scores of other children in a hall for an afternoon of treats and Father Christmas.

This photograph shows the girls and leaders of Tockholes Guide Company at their Christmas party in the late 1940s - the young ones look a bit glum, though!