Photograph of Bill Hudson with others on a course in 1947. He was Frank Hudson’s father. His wife, one of Dora Townsend’s sisters died when Frank was 7 weeks old and Frank was raised by his grandparents on Castle View farm so Bill could go out to work but Bill lived in Broad Street so saw Frank all the time. At one time Bill worked in Central Garage in the Market Square. In this picture he is seen with people from other outlets for Ferguson Tractors, at the Fifteenth product course on April 29th 1947 where he represented Bathford of Swindon.

Written on the back of the photo are the names of the others
Lenfield Engineering (Kent) - A.C. Jacobs
Cortlett Sons and Cowley Ltd Isle of Man - Mr H Corkhill
Tractors Swindon Ltd Bathfield Mr W Hudson
Avon Valley Tractors Ltd Evesham - W.R. Frost
Burgess Motors Stafford - E.W. Beard

Albert Chambers talks about how he was evacuated from London to Bampton in 1939

Brigadier Rupert Crowdy talks about his life in the Indian army on the North Western Frontier in the 1930s

Les and Stella King owned a department store Kings of Bampton in the High Street. selling, haberdashery, toys, shoes and all manner of household items. Baby clothes, underwear, ladies and gent's clothes and made to measure garments.

Newspaper Announcement of Sylvia Lewis (nee Dewe) death

Bill Hudson MM was Frank Hudson’s father. His wife, one of Dora Townsend’s sisters died when Frank was 7 weeks old and Frank was raised by his grandparents on Castle View farm so Bill could go out to work; but Bill lived in Broad Street so saw Frank all the time. At one time Bill worked in Central Garage in the Market Square. In this picture he is seen with people from other outlets for Ferguson Tractors at the Fifteenth product course on April 29th 1947 where he represented Bathford of Swindon.
Frank never knew his father had been awarded the MM medal until he found it when clearing Bill’s house after he died.

Eulogy for Margaret Alice Snook

Eulogy by Rev David Battersby for Tim Tomlins

3 Frames of an old film footage of the Morris Dancers possible 1930's, showing Sonny Townsend, Reg Whitlock, Bob Whitlock, Fred Pettifer.
Don Rouse, Trevor Hewett and Jamie Wheeler, have commented on Morris Eight Band as follows
Trevor Hewett – “The Morris Eight Band were: Colin Bathe, melodeon; Andrew Bathe, Alec Titchener, Trevor Hewett, fiddles; Curly Titchener, percussion; Francis Shergold, caller.”
Don Rouse – “The Morris Eight Band that Trevor Hewett mentions was indeed the first Band that I booked for an Oxford - Leiden Barn Dance in 1974. Frank Purslow used to play for them. From them were formed the Bampton Barn Dance Band. Curly Titchener and Colin Bathe with their sons often helping out. At the same time the Beaker Folk with Ray Borrett in charge were performing. Mathew Green and Fred Cook were with the Bampton Barn Dance Band and broke away to present their own interesting style of Folk music to form the Woodpeckers. Arnold Woodley then formed a Band at this time which I cannot remember their name. Can Jamie Wheeler help me. So, during the 1970s - 80s and 90s there were five very capable bands operating from Bampton.”
Jamie Wheeler - Arnolds band was the Bampton Bushmen. I played regularly with the Morris 8 from 1979 to 1983 and on an occasional basis with Beaker Folk from 1982 right up to 2015