The 46th Donkey Derby took place in 2015. The afternoon's fun is organised by the SPAJERS (Society for The Preservation of Ancient Junketing) to raise funds to treat Bampton's senior citizens and at the same time provide fun for everyone

The Shirt Race run on May 28th 2016 was very well attended by both competitors and the crowd. The amount of effort the competitors went to was remarkable and the races for the youngsters and the adults was started led by The Stig.

Donkey Derby 2007 organised by the SPAJERS and held in Sandfords Field on August Bank Holiday Monday each. The money raised while having fun is to make sure Bampton's pensioners have fun

The SPAJERS once again held the Donkey Derby on August Bank Holiday Monday 2018. Many village clubs and societies have stalls in the field and there is a wonderful tea tent.

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."

These newspaper cuttings, all from local papers are from 1972. Topics covered include:

• the marriage of Richard Snook to Shirley Cranston
• reports from the badminton club, football bingo, the bowls club, SPAJER's pensioners' party
• Drew Warren hitting a cow
• another death from the Wood Green School crash (Alec White)

These three pictures show the Shirt Race over several years. The first race ever took place in 1953 to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. All the contestants wore long night shirts hence the name.
The children's race is seen by the bridge in Buckland Road. In those days the race started by The Swan Inn just beyond the bridge on the left.
In later years, the night shirts were done away with and with fewer and fewer prams available, the modes of transport have varied and the costumes are now so good there is a competition before the races to judge the best one.

49 photos of The Donkey Derby held in Sandford Field, August bank holiday 2021
Master of ceremonies was Don Rouse and village communities had various stall, the Donkeys are jockeyed by children with parental consent.
Stalls included
Bampton Belles WI Cake stall
Splat the rat
Guess my name
Shopping Village
Face painting
Jo Lewingtons garden pottery
Buckingham Christmas time
Sue Stanbridge Stamps
Needle Felt
Tombola

Programme and photographs of the 2022 Donkey Derby held in the Sandford Field August Bank Holiday This is organised by the SPAJERS and generates funds for the Senior Citizens of Bampton and Lew.
Local Companies sponsor the races and the donkeys are ridden by children There are also stalls selling local crafts and produce.

Series of 33 photographs some with names of participants of the Shirt Race over the years
Roy Hewitt, John Shuker, Martin Barber, Henry Barber, Dougie Moncrieff Ben Tan ner, Rocky, John Mattingly, Tommy Tanner, Mark Norman, Paul Mellin, Mickey Beckett Ian Gough, Lee Woodley, Danny Beckett