Frank Purslow was not only an excellent melodeon player, he taught many local people as well. He also had a wonderful catalogue of music gathered throughout his life. It was shocking to see it all put outside the gate of his house after his death for the bin men to pick up. A little was rescued but the vast majority was thrown away. The letter from Frank shown here was a follow-on from one sent the week before and the text will explain all.
These photographs are very likely to have been taken in 1913. The fiddler dancing a jig to his own playing is William Nathan Wells, better known as Jingy.
This is a list of Bampton Traditional Morris Men c1981 plus people who regularly had a connection with the side. It is hand written by Dave Rose for Francis Shergold but does not have Francis's details on it
The Bampton Traditional Morris Men dancing in the morning of May 25th 2015 as far as Ham Court. I didn't follow them beyond this venue so was not able to record the remainder of the day.
These newspaper cuttings are all from 1980 and the topics covered include Morris dancingOur Youth Club members who took part in a 24 hour table tennis marathon Bampton's first junior May Queen Tanya NewlandBampton Fair
All these pictures of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men were taken on May Bank Holiday 2003. Dancers include John Shuker, David Townsend, Martin Landray, Cyril Smith, Billy Main, fool Ray Borrett and musician Reg Hall.
These two sketches were done by Alan Beers in 1990 and given to Bob West, who has kindly allowed the Archive to scan them. They are of Cyril Smith and Francis Shergold.
On Spring Bank Holiday Monday 2003 Jamie Wheeler and Craig Godwin received their tankard for 25 years dancing and playing for the Bampton Traditional Morris Men.
This was Gala Day at Tickhill in Yorkshire. Bampton Traditional Morris Men, Squire Francis Shergold were three of the dance sides invited to take part along with Yorkshire Ladies side