Photograph of Francis Shergold's Morris side in 1964 with the names of some of the team Francis and Roy Shergold Alec Wixey Jim Buckingham Pete Allum Arthur Hayes
Third Film by Roy Barratt showing Morris Dancers in Bampton in 1965. Some participants can be named Frank Purslow, Frances Shergold, Cyril Smith Frank Daniels Covering Photo shows Jingy Wells with the cake, George Hunt dancer and George Dafter circa1950
Photo of Abingdon Morris Men in Ock Street, Abingdon, a young Cyril Smith on left. Used as the cover for English Dance and Song publication Winter 1966
Terry Rouse began dancing in 1964 for Francis Shergold's Morris side. That year was a very wet time and Francis's side was in need of somewhere out of the rain to rehearse ready for Whit Monday and Terry invited him to use his barn at Backhouse Farm. Already a keen dancer of both ballroom and country dancing, Terry loved what he saw and asked to join the side and so began a long career both as a dancer and in the later years the Morris Fool, finally retiring in 2000.
Francis Shergold's Morris Dancing team about 1969 with names taken by Keith Chandler Roy Shergold, Bill Daniels, Reg Hall, Cyril Smith, Dave Rose, Pete Allum, Terry Rouse, Steven Govier
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.
