Frank Purslow was not only an excellent melodeon player, he taught many local people as well. He also had a wonderful catalogue of music gathered throughout his life. It was shocking to see it all put outside the gate of his house after his death for the bin men to pick up. A little was rescued but the vast majority was thrown away. The letter from Frank shown here was a follow-on from one sent the week before and the text will explain all.
Arnold Woodley and his musicians outside the Jubilee Inn in the Market Square in 1973. Frank Purslow on melodeon, Andrew Bathe on fiddle and Arnold on fiddle playing for the Bampton Morris Men
Arnold Woodley was squire of the Bampton Morris Men and in 1974 they danced in Cecil Sharp House in London. There was something of a falling out between the squire and his men and he wrote this same letter to each when he got home.
Arnold Woodley squire of the Bampton Morris Men on the left playing the fiddle, Brendan Cassidy on fiddle in the centre and Frank Purslow on the right.
These newspaper cuttings are all from 1980 and the topics covered include Morris dancingOur Youth Club members who took part in a 24 hour table tennis marathon Bampton's first junior May Queen Tanya NewlandBampton Fair
This is a list of Bampton Traditional Morris Men c1981 plus people who regularly had a connection with the side. It is hand written by Dave Rose for Francis Shergold but does not have Francis's details on it
This newspaper cutting is about the Shirt Race and the Morris Dancing in Bampton at the late May Bank Holiday in 1983. Ian Baker 6 and Ivan Lomas 8 won the fancy dress aspect of the Junior Shirt Race.
L-R Bill Daniels, Ray Borrett, Billy Main, Tony Daniels (started dancing in 1965), Martin Ferguson, David Rose dancing outside The Talbot under squire Francis Shergold
