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.
Lynne Rosemary Pointer was born on 23rd April 1946 and in Bampton enjoyed helping save the local library from closure, and being involved with the SPAJERS charity whose events are fun, legendary, and unique to a village with a strongly supportive community.
Display Boards used to exhibit the restoration of the Old Grammar School. These boards explain the restoration of the Old Grammar School built in the mid 1650s with a legacy of Robert Vesey, as a school to educate the children of Bampton. The Old Grammar School has been in some kind of trust for the village for 370 years. The current trust called the Bampton Exhibition Foundation (“BEF”), was set up in 1906 after the school had officially passed into the hands of the Government Education Department. Bampton Community Archive wanted to secure the future of the building for another 300 years, and give a formal home for the foreseeable future and continue the job of creating and maintaining an historical record of Bampton and surrounding villages. Thanks to lots of hard work and generous support from the landlords (Bampton Exhibition Foundation), WODC, OCC, all our visitors and the benefit of the ‘Downton Abbey’ connection helped to raise sufficient funds to undertake the long-planned improvements to the interior of the Old Grammar School. The building reopened in May 2022. Downstairs Library and Vesey Room with its exhibition space and shop and upstairs a spectacular space which had not been accessible since 1961.
Flyer advertising the opening of the New Community Hub and inviting the village to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. This was held on 9th July, 2022 at the newly refurbished Old Grammar School which is now the Bampton Community Centre and Bampton Library. Robin Shuckburgh welcomed a large audience of Bampton residents. There was free wine and a new exhibition of Birding in the Bush. A copy of the Chairman's report from the AGM held on 26th October 2022 by Robin Shuckburgh the outgoing Chairman. Jennifer Dixon Clegg has taken over as the Chairman.
Jill Tweed Sculptor, one time member of West Oxfordshire Arts. She was a winner of many public sculpture commissions . This brochure lists her awards and shows photos of some of her work.
Photographs of the boards on display at the opening of the Lewington Room in The Old Grammar School on June 29th 2022. Text listing the planned and proposed events and exhibitions to be arranged in the near future. Lists of books and gifts available in the shop and a Description on "How it all started"
