Carrying placards along the protest route, a collection of women and their offspring ensured their message came across loud and clear.

Chris Love, working as a photographer for the Oxford Mail, captured images of the audible gathering as they moved from Magdalen College in the direction of Oxford Town Hall.

Oxford city councillors welcomed the protesters during that particular assembly in the council chamber, with the demonstrators determined to voice their worries.

A document containing one thousand signatures was handed over by thirty parents, a number of whom arrived with pushchairs, demanding childcare provisions for under-fives in the Blackbird Leys neighbourhood.

Joyce Pritchard, who lives on Balfour Road and has four children, spoke to the council representing the local community. She stressed that families on the estate were seeking all-day nursery provision for every child below the age of five, irrespective of their circumstances. She also pushed for these services to be offered without charge.

Her presentation pointed out that Blackbird Leys was home to nine hundred young children yet had just a single nursery providing merely thirty places. Most youngsters were only able to attend for a half-day session during the term before commencing school.

She addressed the assembled councillors, stating that they believed free, full-day nurseries represented a fundamental entitlement for mothers, allowing them personal time.

The campaign gained support from the Oxford Women’s Action Group and women studying at the university.

Two women officers from the police force walked alongside the group as they made their way along High Street during this 1970 demonstration.

This was not the only instance where Oxford families took collective action regarding nursery services.

As previously reported, mothers, fathers and children maintained an uninterrupted presence at Grandpont nursery in South Oxford during 1978, conducting a twenty-four-hour occupation after councillors voted to close the facility.

The Oxford City Nursery Campaign organised this protest, setting up public meetings, demonstrations, petition collections, and a celebration to highlight their campaign. Wide coverage appeared across numerous media organisations.

The occupation continued for more than a fortnight, with mothers, fathers and their little ones sharing duties to sleep there overnight and watch the doors to stop anyone entering without permission.