This is a newspaper article from the Oxford Times June 10th 1960 which talks about the fete held at Weald Manor by kind permission of Mrs A.M. Colvile and her son Major R.A. Colvile. It was to raise funds for the renewal of part of the floor inside Saint Mary The Virgin Church, specifically the parquet flooring across the front of the aisles by the pulpit and lectern. It was Whit Monday, the day of Morris Dancing in Bampton (until the government stopped Whit Monday being a Bank Holiday and fixed it at the last Monday in May with may or not be Whit Monday) and the dancers called at the Fete.
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.
These two sketches were done by Alan Beers in 1990 and given to Bob West, who has kindly allowed the Archive to scan them. They are of Cyril Smith and Francis Shergold.
On Spring Bank Holiday Monday 2003 Jamie Wheeler and Craig Godwin received their tankard for 25 years dancing and playing for the Bampton Traditional Morris Men.
The Bampton Traditional Morris Men had their tea in the old school in Church View for many years. In the last few years, they began a tradition of doing a dance inside, away from the public to get their legs going again but it was done without music. It was lovely hearing just the bells and their feet on the floor and the men enjoyed doing it.
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
All these pictures of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men were taken on May Bank Holiday 2003. Dancers include John Shuker, David Townsend, Martin Landray, Cyril Smith, Billy Main, fool Ray Borrett and musician Reg Hall.
This picture shows 5 young dancers and a their musician at Bampton House in Bushey Row, probably in 1986. The dancers seen visually left to right are Martin Ferguson, Paul Townsend, Craig Godwin, Cyril Smith (not a youngster) and Joe Perry
