Either way, such forms of Christmas greetings are opportunities to portray Banbury in winter mode and incorporate the hoped-for snow cover. Much can be learnt from these cards that trigger thoughts about how we perceive the history of our town. From this point of view the part played by local photographers is crucial, especially when, like Harry Rhodes, they have a long enough association with Banbury to appreciate the best angles from which to point the camera or the most appropriate groupings of images that capture the iconic landmarks.

There are also cards produced by national companies such as Judges.
In a sense their decision-making process is simpler as the Cross often occupies the centrepiece of the card; its presence is known across the world, mainly because of the renowned nursery rhyme.

Among my crop of cards was one from the mayor and town council, who used the medium of a formal greeting to remind us that 2009 was the 150th anniversary of the present Cross. This is important because today's monument is not original. It was inspired by a desire to celebrate the wedding of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter to Prince Frederick of Prussia (later German emperor Frederick III). The town had been without a cross for 250 years.

A different approach to the task of focusing on Banbury's most distinctive features was apparent in a delightful card with images chosen by Harry Rhodes of Tudor Photography. In a card designed to be distinctive he developed a perfect combination of images. These included a view of the Horse Fair-South Bar thoroughfare with its three key points – the Cross, Fine Lady statue and St Mary's Church.

A carpet of snow has an enhancing effect, especially as this part of Banbury was the main north-south route before the motorway and has a remarkable concentration of local stone buildings whose warm brown Marlstone appearance seems to mellow with reflection from the white stuff.

St Mary's is a very appropriate symbol on local Christmas cards. This is not just because it looks so imposing in a snow setting and provides a good combination with the Cross. Internally the mid-Victorian windows include two that have been used to provide religious images.

An upper window on the north side shows the Nativity of the Holy Child in the stable. This was one of the gifts from the Rev Back, who played a major role in the internal reordering of the church. He was also responsible for the Arctic window, which contains figures of animals such as reindeer, walrus, polar bears and arctic foxes. This window is a memorial to his uncle Admiral Sir George Back who died in 1878 and whose Volume of Sketches was used as a basis for the design.

Harry's other images included the Whately Hall Hotel, the town hall and our one surviving Victorian post box in Bridge Street. He does justice to the way the hotel blends with the other buildings but selecting the Whately also reminds us that in Michael Blanchard's day it bore the proud symbol 'the sign of gracious living'. Much-loved events from his time included regular dinner dances with the distinctive beat provided by Brownie Lay and his band.

The town hall was another regular dance venue and this time it was Ken Prewer who held the baton and played his saxophone. Aspects of Banbury's 'sugar bowl' type location were and have been exemplified by several mostly single image cards.

One in particular was sent by a former Banbury Guardian photographer Andy Cox. He had selected a shot taken from Crouch Hill looking north. Snow was caught in the natural folds of the fields emphasising the ridge and furrow.

In the early part of the last century toboggoners put to the test their sense of direction towards the Broughton Road and also their control skills – the gap in the hedge was narrow.

One showing a probable Boxing Day meet of huntsmen and hounds outside the Whately Hall Hotel represented another approach to the single image card. Meets at one time were more frequent in market towns, especially at Christmas. Alternative places in Banbury linked with the hunt were the yard of the White Lion and outside the Dog and Gun in North Bar.

Some Christmas traditions rarely, if ever, feature on cards. One is Christmas street lighting. Back in the 1930s, illuminations were minor compared with today. Many houses had poles with lanterns projecting from windows. Serious attempts to decorate the streets had to wait for the 1950s and 1960s. Even then the appearance was spartan and limited overall by the S-shape of both High Street and Parsons Street.

It may not be long before local photographers and national chains start looking for the 'wow' factor in Christmas card design. Might this focus on a dramatic lighting effect in Castle Quay shopping centre?

However, charities are likely to stay with the more traditional aspects of the town both for their cards and calendars. They and many businesses need to strike an accord with receivers, a Christmas version of the 'wish you were here' post card especially for the festive season.

- My thanks to Harry Rhodes and Rosemarie Higham for kind permission to use card illustrations.