All 13 photographs were taken during the celebration of Francis Shergold's 80th birthday. As well as Francis other people seen in the photos include Roy Shergold, Paul Goss, Rod Stradling, Bob Davenport, Bob West, Ted Poole, Martin Landray, sister Ruth Wheeler nee Shergold, wife Ann Shergold, Danny Stradling, Reg Hall, Margaret Landray.
Francis's birthday was January 31st and he was born in 1919

These three pictures are of Ann and Francis Shergold and brother Roy Shergold at the Elephant & Castle Inn in 1999

These three pictures, taken by Bob West are of Ann and Francis Shergold and brother Roy Shergold taken inside the Elephant & Castle Inn on Bridge Street in 1999 on the occasion of Francis's 80th birthday.

Marion and Ted Lay lived in Bampton all their married life and as Jamie Wheeler says

"They were the loveliest people you could ever meet. I claim a slight family association as their daughter Marjorie married Jim Brooks. It was a second marriage for them both and Jim had previously been married to my Auntie Joyce. I always regarded him as my uncle. Ted was a Morris dancer years ago and we always did one dance outside his house on Whit Monday and for Mrs. Lay after Ted died. Mrs. Lay was sister of Harry Pocock whose name crops up on this site quite often. He died the day I was born (or so Mrs. Pocock used to tell me)"

Mrs Rogers lived in Brook House on Bridge Street where she sold sweets and newspapers. Bampton is 18 miles from Oxford and 18 from Swindon and somehow, Mrs Brooks managed to get a sugar allowance during WWII from both Swindon and Oxford which enabled her to make and sell lots of sweets.

Brook House is the one on the left of the picture, across the road.

She is on the left in this picture with Mr and Mrs Albert Townsend from across the road at Castle View Farm. They are standing just inside the wall of the farm.

Colin Harold Bathe died on May 8th 2011 at the age of seventy three. His close friend David John Titchener, widely known as Curly, preceded him by just a few months dying at the age of seventy six on January 20th 2011. Both were well known in the area around their home town of Swindon for numerous activities relating to sports and motorised vehicles, but it is their involvement with traditional music, Morris dancing and song for which they will be remembered by Bampton people.

The article gives you far more information about these two men.

Dr Alan Cole was in the practice in Bampton for many years. In this picture you can see his on-call alarm in his top pocket.

A group of five children from Bampton C of E Primary School ready to go out and sell poppies. Left to right they are

Hannah Pearce
Tom Bradley
Daniel Barratt
Louise Hampton - became Mrs Mustoe
Andrew Licence

The outbreak of Coronavirus in 2020 has caused devastation to the way of life all around the world. New restrictions and advice were being given daily by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and two specialist advisers each day at 5pm from the week beginning Monday March 16th 2020.

It was announced during this week that all schools were to close but the pupils of key workers could still go to nominated schools to allow their parent to continue with his or her essential job. Also, pupils who would normally have free school meals would be able to go in order to have at least one square meal per day.

On Friday, the list of key workers was published and this article from the on-line Witney Gazette lists those key workers.

An instruction from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York this week said there would be no services until the risk of catching coronavirus has passed. Weddings can take place with a maximum of 5 people attending but that did not say if it was the bride and groom and the clergy plus two, or those 3 plus 5. Not helpful.