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.
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.
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
44 Page Booklet on the Technique of Fiddling. Front Cover shows Arnold Woodley, Morris Dancer, who contributed to the book . Photography was by Roy Barratt Audrey Smith edited the book, and the English Folk and Song Society provided information
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
These photos taken in 1980, show members of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men who are frequently guests of Abingdon Morris on their Mayor Making Day, along with their wives and girlfriends. In years when the whole side is not invited two members with partners are always invited.
