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
Photograph of 1980 Spajers Committee outside Lavender Place Flats sitting on donmated seat. L:iz Fisher. Roger Peck, Major Colvile Frank Hudson, Mary Cook, Ruth Wheeler. Francis Shergold, John Quick, Maurice Wiggins,
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
Although the caption talks about a 'Street Fayer' the picture is actually of Jim Smith and Martin Barber in fancy dress for the Shirt Race organised annually by the SPAJERS ie the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing. The society organises fun things to raise money for the senior citizens of Bampton and Lew.
One hundred pensioners were treated to a day out in Weymouth by The SPAJERS. A wonderful time was had by all. However, when the coaches were halfway home, it was realised that two passengers were missing! Mr. Don Rouse, Chairman of SPAJERS, phoned the police in Weymouth who conformed that the two ladies had reported in and then booked themselves in to an hotel. Next day, Mr. Rouse returned to Weymouth to retrieve the lost pensioners.
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.
The Bampton Community Archive came into being in 2002, the brain child of Jo(sephine) Lewington ably assisted by Tony & Lis Page. A request was sent out for old photographs, documents etc and Tony and Jo plus
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.
