The first picture shows the dancers of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men who were out dancing on May 28th 2018. Two dancers were unable to dance that day, Martin Landray who broke his ankle two days earlier when taking part in the Shirt Race and Guy Wiseman. The remaining pictures were taken at many places during the day.
These photographs, all taken by Bob West are of the Tony Daniels' morris side in 2004. People in the pictures include Craig Godwin - who became squire after Tony Margaret Barnes Liz Rose Marian Rouse Bob West Andrew West Brian Rouse Roger West Toby Perry Martin Landray Ted Poole Ivy Poole
These pictures all taken by Bob West, were taken in 2004. Many are taken in the garden of the Horse Shoe. Some of the people in the pictures include Bob West Ted Poole Billy Main Mary Cook & brother Tommy Tanner Tony Daniels Dave Rose Ann & Francis Shergold Clare Hall Maurice New Jasper Walsh Reg Hall Jim Buckingham Heather David (at Tickhill) Eric Stott Ivy Poole Carole New Liz Rose Roger West
The photographs were all taken by Bob West who carried the cake for the Morris for very many years. They are all of the May Bank Holiday 1997 Morris Dancing
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.
In 1974 Son Townsend clocked up 50 years as a Morris Dancer and later Fool in Bampton. He first danced out with the side in 1925. To mark the occasion a clock and silver salver were given to Son. The young dancers left to right behind Son are (I think?) Clive Tanner, Fred Cook, Mat Green and Malcolm Willis. The young children with their flower garlands are L-R Tim Waller, Emma Carruthers, Louise Walker and Martin Landray
Bampton always has a weekend filled with fun and laughter over the late May Bank Holiday. These cuttings talk about the Shirt Race and the Morris Dancing. In one of the cuttings you can also read about
An exhibition of Arts and Crafts in the Town Hall
Cancer Research Bampton branch raising funds
The Community Fete organised by the Royal British Legion in the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday
The Pumpkin Club which held a Tramps' Supper in the Cotswold Hotel on the Saturday night after the Shirt Race
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.
William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells danced, fooled and played the fiddle for Bampton Morris from the late nineteenth century and well into the twentieth. In this picture he is seen with his fiddle. The hat, waistcoat, trousers and socks (odd socks) are still cared for by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men.