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Bampton Community Archive Morris Dancing
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Obituaries for Colin Harold Bathe and David John Titchener

  • BCA - 2020.2368
  • Item
  • 2011

Colin Harold Bathe died on May 8th 2011 at the age of seventy three. His close friend David John Titchener, widely known as Curly, preceded him by just a few months dying at the age of seventy six on January 20th 2011. Both were well known in the area around their home town of Swindon for numerous activities relating to sports and motorised vehicles, but it is their involvement with traditional music, Morris dancing and song for which they will be remembered by Bampton people.

The article gives you far more information about these two men.

Bampton Community Archive

May Bank Holiday Morris Dancing 1997

  • BCA - 2020.2406
  • Item
  • May 1997

The photographs were all taken by Bob West who carried the cake for the Morris for very many years. They are all of the May Bank Holiday 1997 Morris Dancing

Bampton Community Archive

Group photo, Bampton Tradition Morris Men, 1997

  • BCA - 2020.2382
  • Item
  • 1997

Over the last 10 to 20 years, a group photograph of the Bampton Traditional Morris men has been taken at Grey Barn in Queen Street and this one was taken in 1997. The dancers, fool and cake carrier are

  1. Francis Shergold – squire
  2. Peter Mathias
  3. John Grout
  4. Martin Landray
  5. Billy Main
  6. Peter Peterson
  7. Jamie Wheeler
  8. David Townsend
  9. Liam Main
  10. Rod Stradling
  11. Jason Blackwell
  12. Martin Ferguson
  13. Craig Godwin
  14. John Shuker
  15. Tony Daniels
  16. Paul Townsend
  17. Jasper Walsh
  18. Bob West – cake and collecting box
  19. Cyril Smith
  20. Terry Rouse – fool
  21. Ray Borrett
  22. Frank Godwin

Bampton Community Archive

Covid-19 diminished Morris Dancing & Garlands Spring Bank Holiday 2020

  • BCA - 2020.2383
  • Item
  • May 25th 2020

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."

Bampton Community Archive

Bertie Clark on fiddle for Bampton Morris

  • BCA - 2020.2375
  • Item
  • some time between 1926 and 1938

Between 1926 and 1938 Bertie Clark, although not a Bampton man, played for the Bampton Morris Men and he can be seen here on the left. The dancers are on the South side of the Market Square in front of Folly View semi-detached houses.

Bampton Community Archive

Bampton Traditional Morris, May Bank Holiday Monday 1980

  • BCA - 2020.2381
  • Item
  • 1980

Dave Rose is seen dancing outside the Talbot on May Bank Holiday Monday in 1980. Roy Shergold is fooling and a young
Shaun Mullis can be seen resting on a car.

Bampton Community Archive

Bampton Traditional Morris Men's Party 1996

  • BCA - 2020.2376
  • Item
  • 1996

Each year, usually in November, the Bampton Traditional Morris Men had a party with singing and dancing and a lovely buffet. Swindon Folk Club members were invited along with a few other special friends associated with the side. These pictures were all take at their 1996 party in the Village Hall, Market Square

Bampton Community Archive

Bampton Traditional Morris Men dance at Tickhill in 1995

  • BCA - 2020.2380
  • Item
  • 1995

Another much enjoyed visit by the Bampton Traditional Morris Men to Tickhill where music sessions were enjoyed as much as the dancing. Photographs by Bob West

Bampton Community Archive

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