Photographs of spectators of Morris Dancers and customers enjoying the Bampton pubs at the Whitsun weekend: Some people named as: Martin and June Hewitt. Roy Hewitt. Max Norman, Sue Wigglesworth in Romany. Dennis Merrils, Harry Walton of the Talbot, Cyril Phipps, Alan Eldret, Vic Grinsell. Taff and Babs Suggs, Dick Arnott, Martin Barber and Jimmy Smith 1980s Roy Shergold, Jean and Jeff Chance, Gordon Lorimer, Annie Grinsell, Wendy Eldrett, Stuart Howlett, Mike Watson, Ursula and Bob Booth Landlord and landlady of the Romany. Kevin Bradley, Terry Curtis, Michal Farmer outside Romany Easter Bonnet Parade
Conservative Flyer for Ted Fenton, District Council Candidate for Bampton, Clanfield and Black Bourton. This was for the West Oxfordshire District Council Election to be held on Thursday 4th May 2023.
Article in the Limited Edition Magazine of Oxfordshire in 2000 about Don Rouse having been connected with the Bampton Mummers for 50 years. Characters in the play, the script of which has been handed down through the ages by word of mouth, include The Doctor, Jack Finney, The Turkish Knight, the Royal O'Prussia King, Tom the Tinker, Father Christmas, Robin Hood and St George or King George. The Bampton Mummers are organised by The SPAJERS and they collect funds by performing at private homes and pubs on Christmas Eve every year.
2023 Donkey Derby Programme. SPAJERS are a registered charity organising day trips and Christmas presents for the senior citizens of Bampton and Lew. Headline fund raising events are the Shirt Race, Donkey Derby, Fireworks and Josie's Draw. Mention made in the programme of the loss of 3 past members of the SPAJERS committee: Dixie Dean- David Hawkins- Lynne Pointer and highlighted the time, effort & excellent work put in by David, Dixie & Lynne over the years passed on condolences to all the friends and families involved. Long time member Shirley Brooks who recently passed requested donations for SPAJERS at her funeral
Newspaper article about the cancellation of 2023 Shirt Race, which had been one of Oxfordshire’s most popular social events was cancelled in 2023 , The historic Great Shirt Race at Bampton, organised by the Spajers (the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing) - has delighted hundreds of people annually for seven decades. Cancelled because three committee members had resigned. Don Rouse, one of the organisers still in post, was Master of Ceremonies at this race since 1970. The modern version began in 1953 when village gasman John Quick, farmer Doug Read and fishmonger Paul Bevington dreamed up the idea of a pram race through the streets to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation.
Display Boards used to exhibit the restoration of the Old Grammar School. These boards explain the restoration of the Old Grammar School built in the mid 1650s with a legacy of Robert Vesey, as a school to educate the children of Bampton. The Old Grammar School has been in some kind of trust for the village for 370 years. The current trust called the Bampton Exhibition Foundation (“BEF”), was set up in 1906 after the school had officially passed into the hands of the Government Education Department. Bampton Community Archive wanted to secure the future of the building for another 300 years, and give a formal home for the foreseeable future and continue the job of creating and maintaining an historical record of Bampton and surrounding villages. Thanks to lots of hard work and generous support from the landlords (Bampton Exhibition Foundation), WODC, OCC, all our visitors and the benefit of the ‘Downton Abbey’ connection helped to raise sufficient funds to undertake the long-planned improvements to the interior of the Old Grammar School. The building reopened in May 2022. Downstairs Library and Vesey Room with its exhibition space and shop and upstairs a spectacular space which had not been accessible since 1961.
Newspaper cutting about PUMPKIN CLUB's Dwile Flunking competition. and Handwirtten account of the rules of the game. Glossary of Flunkers terms Welcome to the club’s 1982 Dwile Flunk for the Dwile Flunk Challenge Chamber Pot. In case you are new to the game here is a glossary of Flunker’s terms to help you follow the action.
GIRTERS The fielding or dancing team
DRIVELLER The Stick used by the Flunker
SWADGE Miss the Girters completely when Flunking
DWILE A towel soaked in stale ale
FLUNK Throw the Dwile from end of Driveller
A WANTON A strike with the Dwile to a Girter’s head scoring 3 points to the Flunkers’ team
A SHANKLE A strike to the Girter’s body between shoulders and waist scoring 2 points to the Flunker
A MAWTHER A strike by the Flunker between feet and waist od the Girter scoring one point
SWADGE COPER Custodian of the Driveller Teams will toss a coin to decide which team will be Girters in the first leg. Girters will form a circle holding hands. The first Flunker from the opposition will take his position in the centre of the circle holding the Driveller. At a given signal the musician will play and the Girters will dance round the Flunker. The musician will stop at any time and the Girters must freeze where they are. The Flunker lifts the Dwile from the pail of stale ale, using the driveller, and throws it at the Girters between the lines masking the flunking area. The Referees will record a Shankle Mawther, wanton or a swadge. For Shankles, Mawthers and wantons, the Girter must drink a pint straight down from a chamber pot or pour it over his own head. In the event of a Swadge the Flunker must drink or pour it over himself, The game continues until all members of both teams have flunked once. Winners will be the team with the highest points. DID YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THAT?. NEVER MIND. ENJOY IT. Pictured are Bill Govier, John Shuker, Bill Daniels and Arnold Woodley. Jimmy Wheeler and Jamie Wheeler
Newspaper announcement for the funeral of Mike Dowley to be held at South Oxfordshire Crematorium, Garford on 27 July 2023. Mike was married to Pam and was 82 years old.
