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.
Black and white photo of Morris dancers taken in 1970 in Deanery Gardens Left to right, on extreme left Roy Shergold fool, Bill Daniels, centre of picture Frank Daniels, Terry Rouse, Dave Rose’s face just seen on the right.
3 Frames of an old film footage of the Morris Dancers possible 1930's, showing Sonny Townsend, Reg Whitlock, Bob Whitlock, Fred Pettifer. Don Rouse, Trevor Hewett and Jamie Wheeler, have commented on Morris Eight Band as follows Trevor Hewett – “The Morris Eight Band were: Colin Bathe, melodeon; Andrew Bathe, Alec Titchener, Trevor Hewett, fiddles; Curly Titchener, percussion; Francis Shergold, caller.” Don Rouse – “The Morris Eight Band that Trevor Hewett mentions was indeed the first Band that I booked for an Oxford - Leiden Barn Dance in 1974. Frank Purslow used to play for them. From them were formed the Bampton Barn Dance Band. Curly Titchener and Colin Bathe with their sons often helping out. At the same time the Beaker Folk with Ray Borrett in charge were performing. Mathew Green and Fred Cook were with the Bampton Barn Dance Band and broke away to present their own interesting style of Folk music to form the Woodpeckers. Arnold Woodley then formed a Band at this time which I cannot remember their name. Can Jamie Wheeler help me. So, during the 1970s - 80s and 90s there were five very capable bands operating from Bampton.” Jamie Wheeler - Arnolds band was the Bampton Bushmen. I played regularly with the Morris 8 from 1979 to 1983 and on an occasional basis with Beaker Folk from 1982 right up to 2015
Newspaper cutting about Morris Men of Bampton. Dated Jan 20th 1972 reporting on Arnold Woodley's team and his group of boys coming into the tradition. Photograph taken outside the George and Dragon, is of the 1971 group Robin Connaughton, Bernie Basson, Fred Scott, Colin Bathe, Andrew Carruthers, Colin Knight, Arnold Woodley, Fiddler and Squire of the team, and Frank Purslow accordion. Sonny Townsend was the fool and Ben Tanner was the cake carrier