Each year, usually in November, the Bampton Traditional Morris Men had a party with singing and dancing and a lovely buffet. Swindon Folk Club members were invited along with a few other special friends associated with the side. These pictures were all take at their 1996 party in the Village Hall, Market Square

The Bampton Traditional Morris Men danced at Tickhill many times, invited by Bob West who took these photographs. This was their visit in 1985.

The Bampton Traditional Morris Men nearly always held their annual Morris Party in the Village Hall. These are pictures of their party and a session in the Horse Shoe. Photos by Bob West

Another of several visits by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men to dance at Tickhill, this time in 1993. Photographs by Bob West

Another much enjoyed visit by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men to Tickhill where music sessions were enjoyed as much as the dancing. Photographs by Bob West

Dave Rose is seen dancing outside the Talbot on May Bank Holiday Monday in 1980. Roy Shergold is fooling and a young
Shaun Mullis can be seen resting on a car.

Over the last 10 to 20 years, a group photograph of the Bampton Traditional Morris men has been taken at Grey Barn in Queen Street and this one was taken in 1997. The dancers, fool and cake carrier are

1. Francis Shergold – squire
2. Peter Mathias
3. John Grout
4. Martin Landray
5. Billy Main
6. Peter Peterson
7. Jamie Wheeler
8. David Townsend
9. Liam Main
10. Rod Stradling
11. Jason Blackwell
12. Martin Ferguson
13. Craig Godwin
14. John Shuker
15. Tony Daniels
16. Paul Townsend
17. Jasper Walsh
18. Bob West – cake and collecting box
19. Cyril Smith
20. Terry Rouse – fool
21. Ray Borrett
22. Frank Godwin

The pandemic of covid-19 affected every aspect of the lives of people all around the world and the fun over the whole Bank Holiday weekend in Bampton should have started with the Shirt Race on Saturday May 23rd which had to be cancelled and the day of Morris Dancing on Monday May 25th, which, as you will see below, just managed to maintain an unbroken tradition of 102 years. There would normally have been many spontaneous music sessions in our pubs as well but the pubs are closed because of the virus. There would also have been a competition to see which group of children could make the best flower garland and one family made sure there was a garland to be seen and it was place in the west porch of St Mary's church, because the church is locked because of the virus.

The last time there was no Morris Dancing at all at Whitsun in Bampton was 1918. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in May, following a trial period of this arrangement from 1965 to 1970.

Here in Bampton our dancers were determined not to have another year like 1918 and so three different pairs of dancers from squire Craig Godwin's side danced a jig, one in New Road, another outside Churchgate and the third one outside their headquarters of The Romany. A pair from Laurence Adams side danced outside the Church gates also. No times were published so a crowd did not gather.

Keith Chandler took the photographs and Jamie Wheeler posted the following on Memories of Bampton.

"In 1960 Bampton Morris didn't have a musician. Reg Hall came to the rescue. In 2020, 60 (yes 60!!) years later Bampton Morris didn't have a musician (albeit for very different reasons). Reg Hall came to the rescue. Let no-one ever doubt the debt we owe to Reg (and don't forget Rod Stradling either). Reg would, of course, be the first to admit that it is a double edged sword and that he has gained plenty from it too in the form of fun and friendship. Roy Shergold once said to me that he (Roy) had taken more out of the Morris than he had ever put in. I don't think that was particularly true of Roy. It certainly isn't of Reg. Thank you!!"

When Keith Chandler sent me these photographs he wrote the following:-

"There was some morris dancing today, and you could see it as long as you knew the when and where in advance. Two-man jigs only. Matthew Green didn't turn a set out at all. Craig Godwin's side did three stands, two dancers at the first (New Road), a different pair at second (Church Gates) and third (outside The Romany). Lawrence Adams' side did one stand only (Church Gates), himself and his son Jonathan. So, a handful of jigs as a token gesture to maintain continuity. The last time there was no public performance was 1918. Hopefully, things will be back to normal next year."

2012 was very much the early days of Downton Abbey having an effect in Bampton. The prediction of coachloads of American tourists coming was absolutely correct. By 2018 approximately 30,000 visitors went into the Vesey room housed in the building used as the Cottage Hospital in the drama to see the exhibition and memorabilia on sale. The Archive committee to the decision to have quality products only for sale because it is not an exhibition that attracts young children, space is very limited and the people who were coming clearly wanted quality memorabilia.

In January 2019 filming for the Downton Abbey scenes in Bampton took place.