These photos taken in 1980, show members of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men who are frequently guests of Abingdon Morris on their Mayor Making Day, along with their wives and girlfriends. In years when the whole side is not invited two members with partners are always invited.
Newspaper cutting about PUMPKIN CLUB's Dwile Flunking competition. and Handwirtten account of the rules of the game. Glossary of Flunkers terms Welcome to the club’s 1982 Dwile Flunk for the Dwile Flunk Challenge Chamber Pot. In case you are new to the game here is a glossary of Flunker’s terms to help you follow the action.
GIRTERS The fielding or dancing team
DRIVELLER The Stick used by the Flunker
SWADGE Miss the Girters completely when Flunking
DWILE A towel soaked in stale ale
FLUNK Throw the Dwile from end of Driveller
A WANTON A strike with the Dwile to a Girter’s head scoring 3 points to the Flunkers’ team
A SHANKLE A strike to the Girter’s body between shoulders and waist scoring 2 points to the Flunker
A MAWTHER A strike by the Flunker between feet and waist od the Girter scoring one point
SWADGE COPER Custodian of the Driveller Teams will toss a coin to decide which team will be Girters in the first leg. Girters will form a circle holding hands. The first Flunker from the opposition will take his position in the centre of the circle holding the Driveller. At a given signal the musician will play and the Girters will dance round the Flunker. The musician will stop at any time and the Girters must freeze where they are. The Flunker lifts the Dwile from the pail of stale ale, using the driveller, and throws it at the Girters between the lines masking the flunking area. The Referees will record a Shankle Mawther, wanton or a swadge. For Shankles, Mawthers and wantons, the Girter must drink a pint straight down from a chamber pot or pour it over his own head. In the event of a Swadge the Flunker must drink or pour it over himself, The game continues until all members of both teams have flunked once. Winners will be the team with the highest points. DID YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THAT?. NEVER MIND. ENJOY IT. Pictured are Bill Govier, John Shuker, Bill Daniels and Arnold Woodley. Jimmy Wheeler and Jamie Wheeler
This Frog Prince was made by Jo Lewington. I asked her to tell me about it and she said :-
"This dates from my sculptor phase in the ‘80s. I made 3 or 4 of these. One was sent to the head of a fashion house in California ( I remember it as Mr Gucci , but that can’t be right, but he was famous). I think the one in the picture went to another rich American. I can’t remember what happened to the rest but there is one somewhere in the Cotswolds. I made postcards and a leaflet and distributed them around Chelsea Garden Show, but at that time I was off to India for a year and my career as a sculptor ended."
In September, C1980, the West Oxfordshire Arts Ass. held a syndicate exhibition. Some of the members exhibiting includedSusan Carruthers, water colouristAnn Manly, water colouristCaroline Elkington, figure paintingLin Sproule
Newspaper cutting showing Bill Govier , who was the Secretary at the time, pulling a a catapult for a Catapult competition organised by the Pumpkin Club to raise money for the senior citizens of Bampton. It was held in The Morris Clown Pub.