Article by Miranda Norris, entitled "Bampton's annual Donkey Derby is a runaway success" Children race donkeys around a field as a much-loved village tradition on bank holiday Monday. The donkey derby in Bampton is run by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing (SPAJERS), which was formed in 1953 and also runs the village's famous shirt race. Children aged eight and above and weighing under eight stone are allowed to ride the donkeys with a donkey welfare officer in attendance.There are eight races, with six donkeys in each. Each race is sponsored by a local business, and the donkeys are sponsored by villagers. All proceeds from the event go to events and trips for Bampton's senior citizens. Visitors to Sandford's Field also tried their hand at games such as crockery smashing and Splat the Rat, while children not keen on donkey racing enjoyed pinning the tail on one.
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.
Set of Letters and correspondence relating to the SPAJERS including from Parish Council re: plans to Celebrations for the Queens Jubilee in 1953 Asking for donations to supply Coronation Mugs, floodlighting, supper and film show provision of commemorative seat and trees and proposing the start of the Shirt race, now held annually. Mostly dated 1950’s Letter from Balmoral to the SPAJERS from Queen’s lady in waiting, and some letters from grateful recipients of the Christmas gift supplied from the proceeds of the collection at the Shirt race. Letters from Morland and Clinch Breweries donating ale for the race, and various invoices and correspondence from contributors to the event. Names of the runners 1958: R. G. Adams and. Partner, Buckland. . D. Green, and Mrs. P. Gates. . J. Hunt and R. Kew. . R. Radband and Mr C. Smith. . K. Long and. F. Hudson. Bob Ody, and K. Lomas. . Phil Martin and.B. Killick. . J. Wixey and Mr. 0. Benedixt. Quentin Gray and Barrie Cripps. . Mike Radband. and Joe Buckingham. . Jack Lawrence and Mr. Ron Smith, Great Milton. . John Maclean and Mr. Tom Sallis . W. Smith and E. Jackson. J. Quick and Mr. W. Lomas. . G. Dafter and Mr. T Bradley. C. Weeks and. J. Court. . A. Radband and R. Wixey. . Son Townsend. and. Perc. Radband, . J. Townsend. and. Mansell John. . Peter Horne and R. Skittral
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
Newspaper article about the cancellation of 2023 Shirt Race, which had been one of Oxfordshire’s most popular social events was cancelled in 2023 , The historic Great Shirt Race at Bampton, organised by the Spajers (the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing) - has delighted hundreds of people annually for seven decades. Cancelled because three committee members had resigned. Don Rouse, one of the organisers still in post, was Master of Ceremonies at this race since 1970. The modern version began in 1953 when village gasman John Quick, farmer Doug Read and fishmonger Paul Bevington dreamed up the idea of a pram race through the streets to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation.
49 photos of The Donkey Derby held in Sandford Field, August bank holiday 2021 Master of ceremonies was Don Rouse and village communities had various stall, the Donkeys are jockeyed by children with parental consent. Stalls included Bampton Belles WI Cake stall Splat the rat Guess my name Shopping Village Face painting Jo Lewingtons garden pottery Buckingham Christmas time Sue Stanbridge Stamps Needle Felt Tombola
The SPAJERS once again held the Donkey Derby on August Bank Holiday Monday 2018. Many village clubs and societies have stalls in the field and there is a wonderful tea tent.
