A newspaper cutting about the Easter Bonnet competition held in Bampton in the forecourt of the Jubilee Inn. The judges were Jean Judge from Radio Oxford and Don Bradbury of the Horse Shoe. Debra Bradbury won first prize. The Pumpkin Club organised the competition. Ruth Wheeler won the adult section.
The annual weigh-in for the Pumpkin Club, October 14th 1983. John Buckingham aged 21 had the heaviest pumpkin at 142 lbs. John Simpson and Ron Bateman both from Radio Oxford were weigh-masters. One pumpkin was found to have concrete in the middle and was obviously disqualified but there were roars of laughter when the owner was said to be Mr U B Foulde aka Graham Taylor who had created it for fun. The junior section was won by Gerry Lea Markey. The marrow section was won by 13 year old Dale Stevens. Produce donated by locals was auctioned off after the weigh-in and was expected to raise about £300 for Bampton's elderly which would be distributed at Christmas.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend at Whitsun 1985. Ian Baker and Ivan Lomas won the fancy dress competition held prior to the Shirt Race. Reg Hall enjoyed a pint between playing on the Monday. Terry Rouse danced in as the fool outside the Horse Shoe.
This picture shows the spire of St Mary The Virgin Church in Bampton seen across Sandford field. It was taken early in the twentieth century. Today, a hedge obscures the view of the houses in the foreground but not all still exist.
This article is about the AGM of the Bampton with Clanfield and Aston, Lew and Shifford church AGM. The vicar was Rev. Andrew Scott and this was his first year here. Alan Keef was elected secretary. Hilda Pickard was electoral roll keeper, Tim Bryce was treasurer and reported a 40% increase in parish share. A report of the diocesan synod was given by Ruby Riches and of the Mothers' Union by Mrs Betty Cooper. Churchwardens elected were Aston - Mr P Hook and Mr A Keef Bampton - Mrs Hilda Pickard and Mr Norman Gregory Clanfield - Mr P Horne and Mr Fred Farmer Lew - Mr Charles Radclyffe and Mrs Olive Gush Shifford - Mrs Betty Cooper and Mr Tim Bryce.
This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy. The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.
A bird was found to have made its nest inside the letterbox at Bampton and Brize Norton Railway station by Mrs Emmie Papworth who along with Mr F G Cannons was a post lady in Bampton about 1960. It was thought to be a member of the tit family and was disturbed only once while the eggs were being hatched.
The Friends of St Mary's have recently been arranging a series of 3 talks, one in Feb, March and April to raise funds for the church. This poster was for the Feb 2018 talk entitled "The Graveyard Shift: surgery and body snatching at Guy's Hospital in the 19th century." The talk was given by Professor Roger Jones.
William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells danced, fooled and played the fiddle for Bampton Morris from the late nineteenth century and well into the twentieth. In this picture he is seen with his fiddle. The hat, waistcoat, trousers and socks (odd socks) are still cared for by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men.
