Bampton Community Archive

SPAJERS: Shirt Race and Donkey Derby Photographs

BCA - 2024.6871
Item
1953

43 assorted photographs from Shirt Race and Donkey Derby taken over the years, showing how the people of Bampton have enjoyed these events since 1953.

Janet Westman

SPAJERS: Shirt Race cancellation 2023

BCA - 2024.6902
Item
2023

Newspaper article about the cancellation of 2023 Shirt Race, which had been one of Oxfordshire’s most popular social events was cancelled in 2023 , The historic Great Shirt Race at Bampton, organised by the Spajers (the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing) - has delighted hundreds of people annually for seven decades. Cancelled because three committee members had resigned. Don Rouse, one of the organisers still in post, was Master of Ceremonies at this race since 1970.
The modern version began in 1953 when village gasman John Quick, farmer Doug Read and fishmonger Paul Bevington dreamed up the idea of a pram race through the streets to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation.

Janet Westman

Account of a 1975 Shirt Race

BCA - 2017.1094
Item
1975

The first Shirt Race in Bampton was run to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and it's been run every year on the Saturday

Bampton Community Archive

Bampton Donkey Derby 2021

BCA - 2022.3841
Item
2021

49 photos of The Donkey Derby held in Sandford Field, August bank holiday 2021
Master of ceremonies was Don Rouse and village communities had various stall, the Donkeys are jockeyed by children with parental consent.
Stalls included
Bampton Belles WI Cake stall
Splat the rat
Guess my name
Shopping Village
Face painting
Jo Lewingtons garden pottery
Buckingham Christmas time
Sue Stanbridge Stamps
Needle Felt
Tombola

Janet Westman

August Bank Holiday 2018

BCA - 2019.2178
Item
August Bank Holiday 2018

The SPAJERS once again held the Donkey Derby on August Bank Holiday Monday 2018. Many village clubs and societies have stalls in the field and there is a wonderful tea tent.

Bampton Community Archive