Christina Ann James from Bowling Green Close in Bampton married Anthony John Shurey of Clanfield at Witney Registry Office in 1974. Best man was Richard Snook.
Miss Marjorie Pollard OBE from The Deanery in Bampton officially opened Kingsgate flats for senior citizens in Aston in 1976. Mr Richard Godbehere was warden at the flats. Marjorie and Richard called in on Miss Joan Barton to see how she liked her flat.
Properties in Mercury Close had been empty for quite some time since they were no longer used by personnel from USAF based at Fairford. Local MP Douglas Hurd came to see the vandalism to the properties.
The Great Shirt Race takes place on the Saturday before the late May Bank Holiday. The winners in this year were Anthony Collett and partner Richard Buckingham. Neither of them can be sure of the year, they won more than once but it will be 1978, 1979 or 1980.
Jason Seacole of Henry Box School in Witney was integral in England School Boys winning all their matches in the season. England beat West Germany in the final of the eight nations schoolboys' international in Dortmund in May winning 4-2. Earlier in the tournament they beat France 6-1 and Jason scored a hat trick in the match.
In 1974 Son Townsend clocked up 50 years as a Morris Dancer and later Fool in Bampton. He first danced out with the side in 1925. To mark the occasion a clock and silver salver were given to Son. The young dancers left to right behind Son are (I think?) Clive Tanner, Fred Cook, Mat Green and Malcolm Willis. The young children with their flower garlands are L-R Tim Waller, Emma Carruthers, Louise Walker and Martin Landray
In 1973 the New Inn on Bampton's High Street was re-named The Morris Clown. It was a very contentious issue because the jester in the Bampton Morris has never been called a Clown, always a Fool. That piece of history cut no mustard with the Brewery, Courage (Central) which is a pity. Now 48 years on, this perceived poorly renaming is hardly ever mentioned but there are still those who feel the name should be corrected.
Clare Dryden was invested as May Queen. Bob Harris, probably best known for presenting The Old Grey Whistle Test but at this point he was a presenter on Radio Oxford, put the sash on Clare. The ceremony took place in the WI Hall, Market Square. It is now the Village Hall.
