Article by Miranda Norris, entitled "Bampton's annual Donkey Derby is a runaway success" Children race donkeys around a field as a much-loved village tradition on bank holiday Monday. The donkey derby in Bampton is run by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing (SPAJERS), which was formed in 1953 and also runs the village's famous shirt race. Children aged eight and above and weighing under eight stone are allowed to ride the donkeys with a donkey welfare officer in attendance.There are eight races, with six donkeys in each. Each race is sponsored by a local business, and the donkeys are sponsored by villagers. All proceeds from the event go to events and trips for Bampton's senior citizens. Visitors to Sandford's Field also tried their hand at games such as crockery smashing and Splat the Rat, while children not keen on donkey racing enjoyed pinning the tail on one.
Donkey Derby 2007 organised by the SPAJERS and held in Sandfords Field on August Bank Holiday Monday each. The money raised while having fun is to make sure Bampton's pensioners have fun
This picture is of Edie Quick, mother of Fenella Gray, Jenny and Ken and wife to John.John along with Paul Bovington was a founder member of the SPAJERS.
Second short film by Roy Barratt showing Morris Dancers and flower garlands at Whitsun 1962 and 1963. Some participates in Shirt race can be named as Mikey Smith, Frank Hudson, Frank Purslow, Albert Radband and in the Flower Garlands some of the children can be named as Teresa Lock, Wendy Radband, Elaine Howell, Sylvia Barber, Philip Curtis, The cover photo shows the children's shirtrace starting from the Swan Pub in Buckland Road.
Don Rouse, probably the longest serving committee member of the SPAJERS (Society for The Preservation of Ancient Junketing) wrote this history of the society in March 2022.
Set of photographs showing committee of SPAJERS in 1980 (Standing LlR. Roger Peck, Frank Hudson, Major Colvile, Maurice Wiggins. Seated L/R. Ruth Wheeler, Francis Shergold, Liz Rose, John Quick, Mary Cook. on the donation of a seat and some Bampton ladies sitting on the seat, seated l-r Dora Townsend, Mrs Shergold, Mrs Sweetingham, Emmie Bishop, back l- r Rosie Well, Peggy Awcutt , ?? Edie Foreshew, Also photos of Doug Reed and Paul Bovington members of SPAJERS
Photo of John Quick, founder of the SPAJERS, pushing the gasworks pram in the shirt race, and a link to Short film by Roy Barratt of Life in Bampton in Oxfordshire recorded by Roy Barratt during the early 1960s. General views and events in Bampton ending with a short time on Church Green in Witney. Town Hall windows are bricked up, there are few cars about and the Elephant & Castle, Malt Shovel, Eagle and George & Dragon pubs were still open. https://youtu.be/fldMqNA41NY
Lynne Rosemary Pointer was born on 23rd April 1946 and in Bampton enjoyed helping save the local library from closure, and being involved with the SPAJERS charity whose events are fun, legendary, and unique to a village with a strongly supportive community.
