Advertisement detailing celebrations in the Village for the 70th Jubilee of the Queen. June 2nd - June 5th. Included the Shirt Race and Morris Dancing which usually took place on May Bank Holiday weekend. Organised by Parish Council

The pandemic of covid-19 affected every aspect of the lives of people all around the world and the fun over the whole Bank Holiday weekend in Bampton should have started with the Shirt Race on Saturday May 23rd which had to be cancelled and the day of Morris Dancing on Monday May 25th, which, as you will see below, just managed to maintain an unbroken tradition of 102 years. There would normally have been many spontaneous music sessions in our pubs as well but the pubs are closed because of the virus. There would also have been a competition to see which group of children could make the best flower garland and one family made sure there was a garland to be seen and it was place in the west porch of St Mary's church, because the church is locked because of the virus.

The last time there was no Morris Dancing at all at Whitsun in Bampton was 1918. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in May, following a trial period of this arrangement from 1965 to 1970.

Here in Bampton our dancers were determined not to have another year like 1918 and so three different pairs of dancers from squire Craig Godwin's side danced a jig, one in New Road, another outside Churchgate and the third one outside their headquarters of The Romany. A pair from Laurence Adams side danced outside the Church gates also. No times were published so a crowd did not gather.

Keith Chandler took the photographs and Jamie Wheeler posted the following on Memories of Bampton.

"In 1960 Bampton Morris didn't have a musician. Reg Hall came to the rescue. In 2020, 60 (yes 60!!) years later Bampton Morris didn't have a musician (albeit for very different reasons). Reg Hall came to the rescue. Let no-one ever doubt the debt we owe to Reg (and don't forget Rod Stradling either). Reg would, of course, be the first to admit that it is a double edged sword and that he has gained plenty from it too in the form of fun and friendship. Roy Shergold once said to me that he (Roy) had taken more out of the Morris than he had ever put in. I don't think that was particularly true of Roy. It certainly isn't of Reg. Thank you!!"

When Keith Chandler sent me these photographs he wrote the following:-

"There was some morris dancing today, and you could see it as long as you knew the when and where in advance. Two-man jigs only. Matthew Green didn't turn a set out at all. Craig Godwin's side did three stands, two dancers at the first (New Road), a different pair at second (Church Gates) and third (outside The Romany). Lawrence Adams' side did one stand only (Church Gates), himself and his son Jonathan. So, a handful of jigs as a token gesture to maintain continuity. The last time there was no public performance was 1918. Hopefully, things will be back to normal next year."

Audio interview of 42m 52s from tape A1 about morris dancing, bells ringing and garlands.

Image is Francis Shergold by Alan Beers.

Second short film by Roy Barratt showing Morris Dancers and flower garlands at Whitsun 1962 and 1963. Some participates in Shirt race can be named as Mikey Smith, Frank Hudson, Frank Purslow, Albert Radband and in the Flower Garlands some of the children can be named as Teresa Lock, Wendy Radband, Elaine Howell, Sylvia Barber, Philip Curtis, The cover photo shows the children's shirtrace starting from the Swan Pub in Buckland Road.

Programme of village events planned for the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002 from 31st May to 4th June
Includes Bell ringing in the Church, the SPAJERS 50th Shirt Race, Flower Festival, Art Exhibition, Garlands, Sports Day and Plant Sale. Commemorative Mugs and a Barn Dance in the Market Square

This photograph shows 'Old Smith' and Maston cutting grass at the Grange in 1890.

Witney Gazette article by Miranda Norris dated 28th July 2021 about Opera held in the Deanery gardens by Bampton Classical Opera.
Paride de Elena by Gluck translated in to English by Gilly French. Featuring Lucy Anderson, Ella Taylor, Lauren Lodge-Campbell and Lisa Howarth.

Two Photographs of children with Garlands about 1966
Andrew Scholes & Grand children on Betty Lock

This plot of land is by Cheyne Lane on left just before reaching the brook having gone down from by the butcher's shop. It was worked as allotments for a few yeas but then that all stopped.

Photographs of Morris Dancing outside the Jubilee and the Market Square about 1989/90. supplied by Andrew Hilditch
Showing Mathew Green's side, Visiting Dancers - Seven Champions Molly Dancers,
Garstang Morris 1990, Sherbourne Morris, Earls of Essex,, Children's Garlands