On her 103rd Birthday, 26th Feb 2025, Joyce Anderson donated this small red book to the Bampton Community Archive. The book is entitled "Oxfordshire" written by F.G. Brabant, M.A. Illustrated by Edmund H. New. First published May 1906. This is the third edition – published 1919. These pdfs are excerpts about Bampton in the book, and the book itself is available in our locked cupboard at the Archive should anyone want to view for reference.
Together with Paul Bovington, John Quick founded SPAJERS in 1953 as a 'one-off event ' to celebrate the Queen's coronation. Following the passing of John, a flowering cherry tree was planted in his memory in the grounds of the War Memorial. In the photos can be seen Edie, John's widow, together with his son Kenny. Also representing the SPAJERS are Don Rouse and Frank Hudson.
On August 16th 1940 RAF Brize Norton was bombed by 2 German aircraft. Nos 1 and 3 C-type hangars plus 46 aircraft were destroyed or written off. Possibly the most spectacular attack on any British airfield during WWII. One civilian, Frederick Harden from Witney aged 61 was killed. On the same day 6 Irish civilian workmen were killed in the raid on RAF Stanton Harcourt which was under construction.
Leslie grew up in Bampton where his father , Jack Harrison , was a butcher for many years. His first butcher's shop was in Pear Tree Cottage in the High Street and he moved from there to run his shop in the right hand side of what became Adrian Simmond's shop, on the Market Square.
Photos of the Shirt Race in 2024, Copy of programme and 34 photographs showing the amazing fancy dress and the crowds enjoying the event, which happens every year on Whit Saturday and is organised by the SPAJERS.
Photograph of The wedding of Rose Sollis to Arthur Gerring. Arthur farmed land on the lower east side of Mount Owen Road, on the south side of Aston Road and on both sides of Buckland Road.
6 Pages article about Francis Shergold written by Keith Chandler Francis Shergold resigned as Squire of the Bampton Morris in November 1995, after an astonishing 60 years as dancer with the side - 45 of those as Squire. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the EFDSS in 1996 as had the former Squire, 'Jinky' Wells, some 38 years before. With the rebirth of MT, it seemed an appropriate time to commission an article on Francis, as he assumed the mantle of Honorary President of the side. At 79, he continued to participate in all the side's activities, including the dancing at times, Keith Chandler's article follows Francis' career through to the 1980s,
