Dawn and Tina Mansfield in fancy dress having just passed the Elephant and Castle Inn. Note pre-decimalisation prices of the ice cream. 1d was 1 penny and 240 pennies made £1.

William Kimber, who played for Heading Quarry was a friend of Bampton Morris. His side danced at Mrs Birch's Sandfield Cottage in Headington and her son-in-law was staying.

"The crest on the lighter is that of the USAF 5th Air Force that has been based in the Pacific since 1942. Brize Norton air base was handed to the USAF in 1951 and returned to the RAF in 1965.

When American servicemen were sent over in 1942 to help with the war against the Nazis, they were issued with guidelines on how to behave and what to expect when they came to the UK. This booklet, here reproduced in hard back, is reproduced from the original typescript by the War Department, Washington DC. The purpose of the guide "... is to start getting you acquainted with the British, their country, and their ways." Headings in the booklet are:-

No time to fight old wars
British reserved, not unfriendly
Don't be a show off
The British are tough
Age instead of size
Remember there's a war on
Britain the cradle of democracy
The people - their customs and manners
The British like sports
Indoor amusements
Keep out of arguments
Britain at war - the British came through
Waste means lives
British Women at war
Some hints on British words
Weights and measures
Important Do's and Don'ts
Table of currency
It is always impolite to criticise your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticise your allies

Brian Woodward told me "The Yanks was good to us at The Signals Camp. Wanted to play darts in the pubs and always insisted on buying the beer as they had more money. Invited once a month to their Jazz club on the base and paid for everything. Invited to a concert which was held in a hanger by the then Air Force Of Note band which was the follow on from Glen Miller band. Concert due to finish at 11pm they would not let the band leave the stage and it ended at 1am. What a night. They also liked the Buckland dances as well, but that's another story.

"If I remember right the Buckland Dances was on a Monday or Wednesday. A coach from Witney carrying mainly girls from Smiths Industries picked us up at the town square about 7 o' clock. First we visited The Lamb in Buckland for lubrication and then on to the village hall. T he dances was well attended and when the Yanks found out they attended. One night a fight broke out between the Yanks and some Farringdon lads and the American Snowdrops (Military Police) was soon there to sort it out with their long batons. One shilling and sixpence, 7.1/2 pence today and a beer or two for a great night out dancing to a trio with a partner that you held and could talk to.

"We also had Camp Dances about every 3 months that was well attended. I remember John "Tazz" Winn finding Sergeant - Major Fred O Conner's wallet on the floor and Fred wanted to buy Tazz a drink. Tazz never drank, but to be sociable he asked for a Port and Lemon. 'I wont buy one of my soldiers that' so Tazz asked for a Babycham. Fred gave up. Great days."

Mummering has taken place in Bampton for at least 134 which is when Rev Giles mentions it in his book about Bampton. Don Rouse has written a far more up-to-date account which you'll find after the photographs.

In 1947 no girls were allowed in the choir at St Mary's which was quite normal in most churches at that time. In the summer of 1947 these 9 choirboys were taken on an outing to Southsea as a treat.

Don Rouse took part in the Mummers nearly every year from 1948 until 2009. He has written this wonderful account of Mummering in Bampton

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

Jingy Wells playing the fiddle with his son Bobby, holding the cake, standing behind him. 1950

Derek Dixey was one of four brothers and one sister and in this picture he is seen in military uniform at home on leave in Bampton in the 1950s