Set of Letters and correspondence relating to the SPAJERS including from Parish Council re: plans to Celebrations for the Queens Jubilee in 1953 Asking for donations to supply Coronation Mugs, floodlighting, supper and film show provision of commemorative seat and trees and proposing the start of the Shirt race, now held annually. Mostly dated 1950’s
Letter from Balmoral to the SPAJERS from Queen’s lady in waiting, and some letters from grateful recipients of the Christmas gift supplied from the proceeds of the collection at the Shirt race.
Letters from Morland and Clinch Breweries donating ale for the race, and various invoices and correspondence from contributors to the event.
Names of the runners 1958: R. G. Adams and. Partner, Buckland. . D. Green, and Mrs. P. Gates. . J. Hunt and R. Kew. . R. Radband and Mr C. Smith. . K. Long and. F. Hudson. Bob Ody, and K. Lomas. . Phil Martin and.B. Killick. . J. Wixey and Mr. 0. Benedixt. Quentin Gray and Barrie Cripps. . Mike Radband. and Joe Buckingham. . Jack Lawrence and Mr. Ron Smith, Great Milton. . John Maclean and Mr. Tom Sallis . W. Smith and E. Jackson. J. Quick and Mr. W. Lomas. . G. Dafter and Mr. T Bradley. C. Weeks and. J. Court. . A. Radband and R. Wixey. . Son Townsend. and. Perc. Radband, . J. Townsend. and. Mansell John. . Peter Horne and R. Skittral

43 assorted photographs from Shirt Race and Donkey Derby taken over the years, showing how the people of Bampton have enjoyed these events since 1953.

Collection of SPAJERS dance tickets from 1958 and 1960 and 1970. for Shirt Race Ball held at Weald Manor and WI Hall.
Featuring Frantic Fred and his Fantastic Foursome, his Family and his Frolics. Fabulous Butch Quartz (who was Fred's son) and his Four Pintz, Profit was used to promote the Shirt Race

9 Photographs showing various events and dances hosted by the SPAJERS .
the following named as known
Neville Woodley, Dixie Deane, Don Rouse, Josie ,Frank Hudson, Paul McGarth
Jo Peck, Francis Shergold, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Jackson, Mr and Mrs Mansfield, Mrs Ellis
Jean Howell, Dor Thompson

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)

Assortment of newspaper cuttings from reporting on the Whitsuntide celebrations of Bampton. Morris Dancing .Shirt Race, Chariot Race photographs of the competitors and interesting articles about Bampton Residents The Headings are:
• “Foreigners” Defeated in Bampton Shirt Race
• Racing the Roman Way in Bampton
• Nightshirts on Wheels
• Bampton has a shirt race round its eleven inns: includes articles about Albert Chandler, saddler; and Mr Money shoemaker; John Quick founder of the SPAJERS; The Landlord and Landlady of the Elephant and Castle, Mrs and Mr Scott Norman;
• Morris Dancing-600 years of history at Bampton: mentions Arnold Woodley, Jingy Wells and Sonny Townsend
• Bampton Pram Race: Photographs of Ian Morris and Richard Elliott; Bob Rees and Pete Lawes; R Hatherell and John Edwards
• Bampton still has nightly Curfew: includes mention of Shirt Race, Morris Dancers, and photos of Francis Shergold and Mr Hughes-Owens, headmaster of Bampton School, Marjorie Pollard, hockey and cricket international. Wesley Jones, Col J J Powell. Mr John Bampton Station Master. Paul Bovington Fishmonger
• The reigning champions still unbeaten in the Bampton shirt race Robert Radband and Cyril Smith winners, George Shergold and Ted Hicks oldest competitors
• Bampton Spajers Annual Shirt Race: Group of photos
• Bampton Donkey Derby Photos of Andrew Bridgeman, Neil Tanner, Shaun Wixey Richard Taylor and Mrs Vera Elward Ann Hudson, Roger Peck, and Josephine Buckingham

Set of photographs showing committee of SPAJERS in 1980 (Standing LlR. Roger Peck, Frank Hudson, Major Colvile, Maurice Wiggins.
Seated L/R. Ruth Wheeler, Francis Shergold, Liz Rose, John Quick, Mary Cook. on the donation of a seat and some Bampton ladies sitting on the seat, seated l-r Dora Townsend, Mrs Shergold, Mrs Sweetingham, Emmie Bishop, back l- r Rosie Well, Peggy Awcutt , ?? Edie Foreshew, Also photos of Doug Reed and Paul Bovington members of SPAJERS

Funeral Prayers for John Quick,founder member of the SPAJERS

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.

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.