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."

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

Programme of village events planned for the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002 from 31st May to 4th June
Includes Bell ringing in the Church, the SPAJERS 50th Shirt Race, Flower Festival, Art Exhibition, Garlands, Sports Day and Plant Sale. Commemorative Mugs and a Barn Dance in the Market Square

Order of Service for the funeral of Cyril Smith born on December 7th 1933. He lived in South Leigh, where his father was a farm hand. and then lived to Bampton. He played for Bampton Town Football and took part in the Shirt Race. He was one of the Bampton Traditional Morris Dancers, and worked for W J Lock & Son until they closed then continued to work as a builder until he was eighty. Married Margaret and had one son Christopher.

2 photos taken by Bill Govier of participants in Shirt Race held on Whit Saturday
Tommy Tanner and John Shuker on bicycles tied together

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

Booklet produced to commemorate 50 years of the Shirt Racer as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, with a message from Don Rouse and details of how the Shirt Race came about in 1953. The booklet was printed by Margaret Johnson of Witney, and contains advertisements of local Shops and businesses.

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

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

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.