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.
In 1974 Son Townsend clocked up 50 years as a Morris Dancer and later Fool in Bampton. He first danced out with the side in 1925. To mark the occasion a clock and silver salver were given to Son. The young dancers left to right behind Son are (I think?) Clive Tanner, Fred Cook, Mat Green and Malcolm Willis. The young children with their flower garlands are L-R Tim Waller, Emma Carruthers, Louise Walker and Martin Landray
Although the caption talks about a 'Street Fayer' the picture is actually of Jim Smith and Martin Barber in fancy dress for the Shirt Race organised annually by the SPAJERS ie the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing. The society organises fun things to raise money for the senior citizens of Bampton and Lew.
The SPAJERS - The Society for The Preservation of Ancient Junketing - organised many dances as part of their fundraising events to enable them to give fun to Bampton's senior citizens while everyone had fun. There are 6 tickets here with dances from 1960 to 1970.
There was a very full program of events that took place throughout Bampton from Saturday June 2nd to Tuesday June 5th. This is the full list of the events.
The map is pre Inclosure and covers Clanfield, Bampton, Aston and Yelford. The note with the Yelford map says it was from a map of 1624/5. A note at the right side of the page suggests all these details were pulled together from various sources in 1833 which is post Inclosure, which for the Bampton area was 1821. I can't work out what maps were used for the non-Yelford map but it says HHH is Aston 1771.