The Bampton Community Archive puts on three exhibitions each year which run for two months. In September 2018 Janet Newman put up a wonderfully researched exhibition on some of Bampton's Families. Family trees were printed out on scrolls for people to see as well as written text. In this picture, young Devon Townsend and his father David can be seen looking at one of the family trees and have found themselves on it much to young Devon's delight.
Gilly French and Jeremy Gray celebrated the 25th year of the Bampton Classical Opera in 2018. They are the founders and still work tirelessly to make every year a huge success. It is now known as one of the top venues and events of its type and people come from abroad to see it. This newspaper article gives lots of interesting information.
Bampton has had a long history of playing cricket and Anna Pitt put on a wonderful, well researched exhibition on the subject in January/February 2019. The catalogue of the exhibition is still on sale. This is a double spread newspaper article about it that was in the Witney Gazette January 23rd 2019.
The SPAJERS - The Society for The Preservation of Ancient Junketing - organised many dances as part of their fundraising events to enable them to give fun to Bampton's senior citizens while everyone had fun. There are 6 tickets here with dances from 1960 to 1970.
A carnival and fête, organised by the British Legion, held in the grounds of The Grange by kind invitation of Major and Mrs W.W.B. Scott. The event started at the Town Hall with the crowning of Carnival Queen, 16 year old Pamela Quick. Her attendants were Christine Neagle and Carole Edwards and a young Mathew Green was crown bearer. You need to read the article for a list of all the events, side shows and winners. 1965
Admiring the work on display at the Gallery in the Town Hall are Karen Taylor aged 8, Edward Forester-Walker aged 7 and Tom Woods aged 5. Six local schools took part. Works included portraits of Mum, the local librarian and nurses as well as embroidery, bird paintings and a large collage.
In December 1975 prizes were awarded in the young writers' competition organised by WOAA. In the picture, judge John Skinner is giving a prize to Liz Matthews of Eynsham who won 2nd prize in the under 14s poetry section. On the left is Catherine Hooper of Abingdon who won 1st prize.
At the Christmas craft fair in December 1975, Rosalind Green is showing how spinning used to be done with a beautiful spinning wheel made by Crowdys Wood Products, then based in Clanfield. Her daughter Hannah is standing next to her. Christmas cards from the prize winning design, from the competition a week earlier were also on sale.
WOAA organised and held a Christmas Card competition in November 1975. There were over 150 entrants. Top picture, Mrs Angela Mulliner is looking at some of the cards with Anderley Moore and Heather Manly. The lower picture shows 11 year old Tim Manly holding the winner card, which he made. His prize was £5. The cards were all exhibited in the Gallery.
The activities were organised by the local drama student Peter Phillips from the Italia Conti School and two of his friends from the London College.
Left to right are Luella Keeble and Candy Westman with Peter. 1973 Two professional theatre workers helped Peter, they were Adam Wright and Nicola Standerwick to help the children with stage make-up and costumes as well as acting, movement and singing.