These two pictures show the cake holder and the collection box used by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men. The inscription on the cake holder reads:-

In Memory of William Wells, 1868 - 1953. The gift of the Morris Ring to The Bampton Morris Morris Dancers. William Wells was known to all locals as Jingy.

The inscription on the collection box reads:-

Presented to The Bampton Morris Dancers 1990 by Bob West (and) Eric Stott

The lovely picture shows Frank Tanner, b1895 d1980 and his obituary written by Keith Chandler.
The young lad with Frank is Michael Hampton.

Francis Shergold began dancing with Jingy Wells side, (William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells) as a young man and eventually took over as squire of the side. In recognition of his decades of devotion to keeping the tradition alive in Bampton the EFDSS awarded Francis their Gold Badge in 1996 at a special evening in Cecil Sharp House, London. The Citation was given by Derek Schofield.
In one picture, after the presentation Francis can be seen with his sister Ruth and wife Ann and in another picture having a quiet pint with Sydney Alfred 'Nibs' Matthews.
Francis died in 2008 and this obituary was written by Keith Chandler.

The Sunday before Bank Holiday Monday the Morris sides in Bampton have their last practice. In these photos the Bampton Traditional Morris side can be seen in the garden of the Horse Shoe, their headquarters at the time. People include Reg Hall on fiddle, Joe Perry accordion, Jamie Wheeler accordion, dancers John Shuker, Ray Borrett, Tony Daniels, Craig Godwin, Jonny Shuker, Andrew Lloyd, David Townsend, Billy Main plus Francis Shergold with pint and white stick.

These are the young dancers in Francis Shergold's side 1980, the Bampton Traditional Morris Men. They include Keith Rouse, Jamie Wheeler and Craig Godwin.

May Bank Holiday 1986 the two visiting sides with Bampton Traditional Morris Men under squire Francis Shergold were Rumworth also called Manley Morris and South Downs. Most of these pictures are of Rumworth, the last two are South Downs.

This card was sent from Jan, Jasper and Andrew Walsh to Andrew West in 1986.
Francis Shergold seen on the left, Terry Rouse centre the fool, Tony Daniels behind Terry. Jamie Wheeler playing the accordion.

Manley Morris from Rumworth visit Bampton 1999

These pictures, all taken by Bob West record the November Morris party of Tony Daniels' side, held in the Village Hall.

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."