Sam Bennett. He moved to Warwickshire but walked to Bampton to fiddle for the Morris at Whitsun. He would arrive at Mr & Mrs Townsend's Castle Farm on Bridge St and announce 'I be 'ere'. To earn his keep, he'd stay on for a few weeks doing farm work for Mr Townsend.

"The war took away many of the young men, and for the first time in recorded history the Whit Monday performances were suspended during 1917 and 1918. However, Wells had recently taught the dances to a group of men at Alvescot, and on the Whit Monday 1919 two of these stepped into the reformed Bampton set. One stayed only that year, but the older, William Flux, had married a daughter of long-time lead dancer Thomas Tanner, and became the organiser of the team.

This brought him into conflict with Wells - Flux wanted them to dance more at Pubs, Wells at the private houses - and this reached crisis point in 1925. The following year Wells refused to play for them, so both Bertie Clark from Alvescot and Sam Bennett from Ilmington were drafted in to provide music.

In 1927, for the first time in recorded history, two teams appeared on the streets: the old side under Tanner and Flux, and a young side recently raised by Wells. They continued in relatively peaceful co-existence for some years, but by the mid 1930s performances by the Tanner side were more sporadic, with only Wells fielding a team most Whit Mondays.

The final appearance by the Tanner team was in 1941, and it was left to Wells to keep it going during the war, and beyond." Keith Chandler

This is the Service program for the Thanksgiving Service for Victory held in 1945. As the service sheet was printed in London it was probably a standard service to be held across the UK

A PDF document of 9 pages detailing the sale of Calais Farm in 1984 by Moore, Allen and Innocent for Mr Bryan Stevens. About 185 acres freehold with vacant possession for sale by private treaty as a whole or in six lots

1950 Morris dancing in front of the Elephant and Castle on Bridge Street

The Bampton Beam used to be produced three times a year. This issue is from August 1997 and the topics covered and the advertisers are :-

ARTICLES AND NOTICES
Fire Station Threatened? Bampton Fire Station could close if more recruits cannot be found. Sub-Officer Brian Kew explains it all.
Millennium – what Millennium?
Bampton Village Hall
Bampton Gardening Club by Chairwoman Lin Edgar
Bampton Bill – cartoon
Bampton Parish Council News, traffic calming measures, proposed development in Station Road, Mercury Close/Pembroke Place playgrounds, Sports Pavilion, Use Them or Lose Them Campaign, Pavement areas, Police Liaison Meeting, War Memorial, Charge for Road Closures and Parish Council Minutes
District Council News, County Council Budget, West Oxfordshire Plan to 2001, The Future Management of West Oxfordshire District Council, Neighbourhood Notification, Oxfordshire Village Shops Association
The Recreation Ground
Bampton Boys’ FC by Linden Burley
Bampton in the Bush Cricket Club
Bampton Tennis Club
Archery
Progress for Bampton Recreation Ground by District Councillor, Jonathan Phillips
Witney and District Carers Club
Oxford Brookes University Survey
Foxbury Farm Open Day
What Next? The Vicar’s Story – The Reverend Lloyd talks to Linda Mills
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bampton – forthcoming events
Society for the Protection of Bampton
Letters to the Editor
Wedding notices – Bill Redpath and Susie Fifoot and Linda Amos and Karl Scarff
Bampton Youth Club
West Oxfordshire Drug Reference Group
Bampton Environmental Watch Group
100 years old on 9 July 1997, Mrs Nellie Brooks
Notice Board
Bampton Bridge Club
The Bampton Bush Centre
The Children’s Society
The Victoria County History
Bampton Welfare Trust
Used Cards Wanted to help ‘The Vine’ a centre for unemployed, depressed, homeless and unhappy people
Bampton Methodist Church
Yoga in Bampton
Bridge Classes at The Bush Centre
Bampton Youth Centre
Bampton Women’s Institute
Bampton Gardening Club
Amnesty International
Step-Out – group to help increase self-confidence
Bampton Exhibition Foundation
Bampton British Legion
West Oxfordshire Conservative Association
Bampton School, articles produced by Year 5 (Mrs Newman’s class)
Friends of Bampton School
Morris Dancer of the Year – Luke Fowler
The Bampton Playgroup
Architecture around Bampton, written and drawn by Gilbert Marsh – new houses in Pembroke Place
The Beam’s Pet Choice, ‘Puddin’ by Louise Gray
Macmillan Cancer Relief, Bampton, Faringdon and Carterton Committee
What’s Been and What’s to Come? Elderly people sign, April Fool joke, Easter Bonnet Parade, Pumpkin Club’s Annual Street Fair, The Shirt Race, The Donkey Derby, May Garlands, The Morris Dancers
Gardening Life by Jo Lewington
The Cotswold Wardens
Letters to Auntie Beam
Don’t Suffer in Silence – domestic violence help
Oxfords Women’s Aid
Victim Support
Housing Rights Centre
Citizens Advice Bureau
Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Samaritans
Rat of the Month – the person who pinched a full bottle of coins that belonged to The Pumpkin Club from the Romany bar and replaced with an empty one
West Oxfordshire Arts Association New and Events
Feathers in Bampton’s Artistic Hat by Margaret Bruce-Mitford
Fiddlers and Feet Workshop
Young Calligraphers
The Food Page by Gilly French
Crossword
The Morris Clown Pub Saved by Jonathan Phillips
Pumpkin Club Bingo
Diary of Forthcoming Events
Support Bampton Facilities – Use Them or Lose Them Campaign

LIST OF ADVERTIZERS
G A J Soame & Associates, planning consultancy, architectural and property services
Andrew Bowman, Master Thatcher
Chennells, hairdressers
Grey Gables Garage
Farmington Stone
Community Care
Edby Vines, producers of English Wines and Vine Suppliers
Market Square Garage
N Woodley, building maintenance
The Appliance Doctor
Philippa Rayne, osteopath, Lesley Mellin, reflexologist/aromatherapist, Fional Geary, physiotherapist
E Taylor & Son, funeral directors
Adrian Dunsby, carpenter
J Temple, hardware, DIY, Fancy Goods and Toys
Curtain Choice
Bampton Fax Bureau at Emmie’s Newsagents
R Cooper, builders, carpenters, joinery, painters, general repairs and dry stone walling
The Pitstop and Oxford Carb Services
Bubbles dog grooming
Danetree veterinary surgeons
Londis community shop
The Romany Inn
A Simmonds, the old fashioned village store
Electric Vehicles Ltd
Abbey Properties, estate agents

The Malt Shovel Inn was in Lavender Square and sold Belcher and Habgood's noted Ales & Stout. They also kept pigs and sold sausages and bacon and also vinegar from a barrel. Still called the Malt Shovel it is now a private dwelling with great care taken to make sure the frontage is a delight to see in all seasons.

The Malt Shovel had a malthouse probably by the mid 18th century when it was owned by the maltster John Minchin, and passed later to John Ward, maltster, and to Ward's son-in-law Richard Hambidge, maltster and spirit merchant, before becoming a public house in the 1870s. (from Victoria County History)

These are photographs of Major Robert Colvile starting with one when he was about 3 years old

The photo shows 3 Dr Landrays:

• Robert Landray (GP in Bampton)
• Margaret Landray (worked under maiden name of Dr Bray, anaesthetist at Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon)
• Martin Landray (consultant physician, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; and Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology at University of Oxford).

All 3 went to the Medical School at University of Birmingham (but I was a bit later than the other two!). All 3 still live in Bampton.

All written by Martin

The Bampton Beam used to be produced three times a year. This issue is from April 2004 and the topics covered and advertisers include:-

ARTICLES AND NOTICES
Bampton Fire and Rescue Station Needs You!
Photo of firefighters Mark Lloyd, Steve License, Mark Carrington and Gary Pitts
Bampton Village Hall
The Final Push to Ensure the Future of St Mary’s Church
Bampton ‘250’ Club list of recent winners
Bampton Market Square Phase 2 Improvements
Bampton Parish Council News by David Hawkins, Chairman
100 New Houses now unlikely
Survey for Affordable Housing
Traffic Calming
State of Roads
Poor Drainage outside Surgery
Bid for Parking Bays
Market Square Improvements
New Councillor – Anna Pitt
Revamp of Play Parks
Parish Rates 2004/2005
Future of RAF Bampton Castle
Broadband in Bampton
Firework Display Profit
Pieces ‘No Man’s Land’ Finds Owner – OCC Highways
Use of Pavilion
Parish Press Briefing January 2004, Oxfordshire Playbus
Parish Maps
Grants for Children in Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Children’s Fund
Floods booklet reminder for Oxfordshire
Free Starter Pack on How to start up a Waste Action Group
Maggie’s Cancer Information Centre
District Council Report by Jonathan Phillips
Recycling
District Council Housing Needs Survey
Parish Council, Affordable Housing Needs Survey by Ralph Norman, Parish Council
Things Never Change Do They! An article our of ‘News Chronicle’ 1935. Cottages at 3/- a week
Police Report for 2003
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council Membership Scheme
Gigantic Garage Sale – Farmhouse Restaurant Clearance
Society for the Protection of Bampton
Letters and Emails to the Editor
The Lock by Frank Egerton – What critics said about The Lock
Bampton School News by Richard Pitt – Parent Governor
The Bampton Directory
Bampton Welfare Trust
Bampton Youth Centre by Colin Allport
Lost Cat – Can You Help?
WRVS – Home Choice Meals
The Post Office – What’s Happening Down at the Post Office by Martin and Carole Barrett
Reasons to use the Post Office
What’s on in May?
The Great Annual Shirt Race
The May Garlands by Ruth Wheeler
How to make a Garland
The Craft Fair
The Morris Dancers
Notice Board
The Laura Knight Appeal Update
The Bampton We Have Lost – by Mr Hughes-Owen
Small Producers Market
St Mary’s Ladies Lunch
Christian Aid Week
Bampton Exhibition Foundation
The Bush Club
Bampton Bridge Club
Old Birthday Cards
The Red Cross
Bampton Ladies Group
Cancer research Bampton Branch
West Oxfordshire Conservative Association
Charity Shop Thanks
Useful Telephone Numbers
The Bush Club Needs You!
Bampton Traffic by Sue Helm, Residents for Action on Traffic
Bampton Library
Traffic Questionnaire
Road and Traffic Issues by Fred Gray, Bampton Parish Council
Speeding, HGVs, Pedestrian Crossings, Car Parking and Transport Study
Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 21 April 2004, Village Hall 7.30 pm
The Gardening Club Annual Summer Show Saturday 26 June 2004
52nd SPAJERS Bampton Shirt Race
Rosebank Care Home – a personal view by Richard Wilkins (Activities Coordinator) with photos
Bampton Museum – Forthcoming Events
Bampton Recreation Ground
The Tennis Club
Easter Holiday Programme
Bampton-in-the-Bush Cricket Club
Short Mat Bowls
Bampton Archery Club
The Horseshoe Football Club
Bampton Youth Football
Bampton Gun Club
Bampton Weightlifting Club
Bampton Badminton Club
The Pavilion
Protective Clothing
Insurance Liabilities
The Gardening Page by Edie Bindweed
Gardening Club Forthcoming Events
Bampton Environmental Watch Group by Ralph Norman, Chairman
The Cookery Corner by Emma Deacon
Hi-Fi Opera by Gilly French – with photos
Bampton Classical Opera presents Haydn’s La Vera Costanza
Age Concern Oxfordshire
W I Markets, Witney
Out of Work Farmer Turned Agricultural Correspondent by Don Rouse
SPAJER’s News by Don Rouse
West Ox Arts – various exhibitions
Welcome to West Ox Arts
Robert Vesey Room
WOA needs voluntary sitters
The Great WOA Stair Lift Appeal Fund
West Oxon Decorative and Fine Arts Society
Gallery Life Drawing Classes
Crossword
Town Hall Bookings
Calendar of Events
WODC Easter Holiday Refuse and Recycling Collection Timetable

LIST OF ADVERTIZERS
Roger F J Kerswill Photography
Pellmans, solicitors, Eynsham
Witney Lakes Resort
N J Woodley, building maintenance
Temples, DIY, Ironmongery, Paint, Wood, Cement, Sand, Gravel, Toys, Gifts and Candles
A Simmonds, The Old-Fashioned Village Store
Andrew Bowman, Master Thatcher
Tony Hughes, scissor sharpening
Abbey Properties Estate Agents
The Romany Inn
Electric Vehicles Ltd
Domino Menswear, Witney
R Cooper, Builders, Painters, Decorators, Carpentry, Joinery, Dry Stone Walling
The Standlake Garage
Bojangles Hairdressers
Bodytalk, remedial sports massage
Oxford Double Glazing, Summertown, Oxford
Grey Gables Garage
Londis, community shop
A Bonner, Carpenter/Handyman
Grange Photographic
The Post Office
The Cotton Club
The Horseshoe Inn
Patrick Strainge, Butchers
Bampton Cars
The Morris Clown
Cotswold Bed & Breakfast
The Appliance Doctor
Bampton Fax Bureau at Emmies Newsagents
Philippa Rayne, osteopath, Fiona Farmer physiotherapist and Lesley Mellin, reflexologist and aromatherapist
E Taylor & Son, Funeral Directors, Carterton
Curtain Choice
The Pitstop and Oxford Carb Services
The Robert and Doris Watts Residential & Nursing Home, Carterton
W I Markets, Masonic Hall, Witney
Danetree, veterinary surgeons, Faringdon
N Nurden Motor Body Repairs
Christopher Brooks Photography
Matthew Shaw – Handyman
S J Cooper, general builders
Systems & Solutions – computer shop

This report on the Survey & Plan of Bampton was done under the guidance of M W Robinson FRICS MTPI in October 1966. It makes very interesting reading and the conclusions are as relevant today as they were then. The topics covered are 1. Population 2. Situation 3. Character 4. The people 5. Shopping 6. Principal road connections 7. Schools 8. Open spaces 9. Social facilities, Public Services etc 10. Surface water drainage 11. Sewage disposal 12. Water supply and much more. It makes a very interesting read particularly in the light of all the dwellings that have been built here since October 1966, all those being built now (Jan 2017) and those being proposed when considering the access into Bampton has not been improved yet in 1966 one of the conclusions states was that Bampton could not take further development, a by-pass was not possible and no further space for parking other than possibly in Church Street could be made. Houses have since been built on the land in Church Street