The Bampton Community Archive puts on three exhibitions each year which run for two months. In September 2018 Janet Newman put up a wonderfully researched exhibition on some of Bampton's Families. Family trees were printed out on scrolls for people to see as well as written text. In this picture, young Devon Townsend and his father David can be seen looking at one of the family trees and have found themselves on it much to young Devon's delight.
Frank Purslow was not only an excellent melodeon player, he taught many local people as well. He also had a wonderful catalogue of music gathered throughout his life. It was shocking to see it all put outside the gate of his house after his death for the bin men to pick up. A little was rescued but the vast majority was thrown away. The letter from Frank shown here was a follow-on from one sent the week before and the text will explain all.
Alternate years Bampton hosts and Open Gardens afternoon and in 2019 that was on June 16th. There are too many photographs of the lovely flowers and gardens to put them all in one entry. You will find them in 2019.2158 2019.2159 2019.2160 2019.2161 2019.2162 2019.2163 The week before had been very wet and this caused a few of the roses to look a little battered but most plants appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed their good drink.
Bampton has had a long history of playing cricket and Anna Pitt put on a wonderful, well researched exhibition on the subject in January/February 2019. The catalogue of the exhibition is still on sale. This is a double spread newspaper article about it that was in the Witney Gazette January 23rd 2019.
Admiring the work on display at the Gallery in the Town Hall are Karen Taylor aged 8, Edward Forester-Walker aged 7 and Tom Woods aged 5. Six local schools took part. Works included portraits of Mum, the local librarian and nurses as well as embroidery, bird paintings and a large collage.
The activities were organised by the local drama student Peter Phillips from the Italia Conti School and two of his friends from the London College.
Left to right are Luella Keeble and Candy Westman with Peter. 1973 Two professional theatre workers helped Peter, they were Adam Wright and Nicola Standerwick to help the children with stage make-up and costumes as well as acting, movement and singing.
This photograph was taken in Tickhill at Rock House when Bampton Traditional Morris Men went up to Yorkshire for a weekend of dancing. The date is probably 1995 but could be 96 or 97. The ladies are wives and girlfriends and daughters of the dancers and Jasper, the fool is at the centre back.
A collection of newspaper cuttings about the recital given in St Mary's by Liza Hobbs soprano and David Wright. It was presented by WOAA. Lisa was in her final year at Trinity College of Music of which David was a fellow. Music by Purcell, Schumann, Schubert and Debussy.
This is a newspaper article from the Oxford Times June 10th 1960 which talks about the fete held at Weald Manor by kind permission of Mrs A.M. Colvile and her son Major R.A. Colvile. It was to raise funds for the renewal of part of the floor inside Saint Mary The Virgin Church, specifically the parquet flooring across the front of the aisles by the pulpit and lectern. It was Whit Monday, the day of Morris Dancing in Bampton (until the government stopped Whit Monday being a Bank Holiday and fixed it at the last Monday in May with may or not be Whit Monday) and the dancers called at the Fete.
