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
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
The first picture shows the dancers of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men who were out dancing on May 28th 2018. Two dancers were unable to dance that day, Martin Landray who broke his ankle two days earlier when taking part in the Shirt Race and Guy Wiseman. The remaining pictures were taken at many places during the day.
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.
These pictures were taken in the Elephant & Castle in 1981. Some of the people include Rocky, Steve Pearce, Dave Rose, Keith Chandler, Fred Cook, Roy Shergold, Jasper Walsh, Lionel Cook landlord, Martin Ellison, Harry Ellison, Jan Walsh, Kath Ellison playing the bones, Paul McGrath, Maurice & Carol New.
These pictures all taken by Bob West during the May Bank Holiday weekend in 1999. People in them include Francis Shergold Paul Goss Rod Stradling Bob Davenport Bob West Martin Landray Ruth Wheeler Ann Shergold Danny Stradling Reg Hall
These pictures all taken by Bob West, were taken in 2004. Many are taken in the garden of the Horse Shoe. Some of the people in the pictures include Bob West Ted Poole Billy Main Mary Cook & brother Tommy Tanner Tony Daniels Dave Rose Ann & Francis Shergold Clare Hall Maurice New Jasper Walsh Reg Hall Jim Buckingham Heather David (at Tickhill) Eric Stott Ivy Poole Carole New Liz Rose Roger West
These photographs, all taken by Bob West are of the Tony Daniels' morris side in 2004. People in the pictures include Craig Godwin - who became squire after Tony Margaret Barnes Liz Rose Marian Rouse Bob West Andrew West Brian Rouse Roger West Toby Perry Martin Landray Ted Poole Ivy Poole
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.
