Tom Smith was the son of a gypsy Queen and for 1969, the number of people and cars who came to his funeral was a very memorable affair. To this day, locals call the bend just outside Bampton on the Bampton to Brize Norton Road 'Hoppy's Corner.' It's on the right leaving Bampton just after passing the allotments.
This picture was taken in the late 1950s or very early 1960s. The names of the people are all printed on the photograph and include Tony Allam John Marston Vernon Cannons Ted Harding Geoff Wilson Jim Sweetingham Jim Barton George Dafter Chris Timms Fred Mildenhall Pete Allam Harry Green Cyril Smith Micky Brooks, George Dafter’s nephew
Airman, Reg Smith, married Albert Radband's sister, Beryl Joan Radband. He was the brother of twins Peggy and Dolly. Godfather of Jamie Wheeler. Marion Paintin said "Joan and Reg had two children Linda and Michael who married my sister Susan and they live at Brading on the Isle of Wight." Lyn Dunsby said "Linda lives in Lowestoft. She keeps in touch with my mum (Ruth Wheeler.) Joan was my mum's friend but we always called her Aunty Beryl as that was her other name."
This letter, dated November 1st 1944 was send by Stan Smith's commanding officer to Stan's father informing him that Stan was missing but may be a POW. He was a POW and near the end of the was became one of the POWs who took part in the what became known as the Long March. They were marched from East Germany keeping ahead of the advancing Russians. Stan walked almost 1,000 miles. He survived.
These are brothers Jim and Dick Daniels. Jim is the older brother standing in the front in a scout's uniform. Dick is in the background. A few years later Jim joined the Air Scouts and did circuits and bumps and enjoyed it despite not liking heights. Their had a sister called Freda who became Mrs Freda Bradley and she wrote a lovely book about life in Bampton she recalled during her life.
William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells danced, fooled and played the fiddle for Bampton Morris from the late nineteenth century and well into the twentieth. In this picture he is seen with his fiddle. The hat, waistcoat, trousers and socks (odd socks) are still cared for by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men.
