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
A double page spread about the exhibition of the History of Morris Dancing put on in the Vesey room by Janet Rouse for the Bampton Community Archive June to the end of July 2014.
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
This is one of the earliest photograph of the Bampton Morris Men taken in 1897, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. The dancers are George Wells/Taylor Thomas William Tanner Joseph Rouse Robert Dixey George Dixey James Dewe Charles Henry Tanner, ragman Henry Radband, sword carrier William Nathan Wells, fool, known as Jingy Richard Decimus Butler, musician
These three photographs are of one of the visiting sides to Bampton in 1985 dancing in the Market Square outside the Village Hall in two pictures and at the West end of the Square in the third picture.
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.
A few photographs taken of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men dancing on Spring Bank Holiday in 2003. Musician Reg Hall Dancers Jonny Shuker, Toby Perry, Cyril Smith, Billy Main and Martin Landray. Ray Borrett the fool dancing the fool's jig.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend at Whitsun 1985. Ian Baker and Ivan Lomas won the fancy dress competition held prior to the Shirt Race. Reg Hall enjoyed a pint between playing on the Monday. Terry Rouse danced in as the fool outside the Horse Shoe.
Francis Shergold's side, the Bampton Traditional Morris Men on Spring Bank Holiday. Craig Godwin and Jamie Wheeler got their tankards for 25 years of dancing with the side, presented at Weald Manor. This was the last year Rod Stradling was one of the musicians with the side.
