This was one of The Friendly Societies, a National Organisation, which provided financial help to the sick. Members would pay fees into a central fund. The local branch was known as the ‘Bush Court’, which was established in 1891. It had a membership of about 100. On August 6th,1900, there was a great ceremony in which their new banner was unfurled and carried in procession. Every year, usually the last Sunday before August Bank Holiday, they would assemble at their court at the New Inn (now the Morris Clown). They would march to the church for a special service, then back to the New Inn for their annual dinner. This became known as Hospital Sunday because proceeds from a collection went to the Radcliffe Infirmary. They were instrumental (excuse the pun) in establishing the Bampton Brass Band. There were two other similar local societies, The Self-help Club, based at The Lamb Inn and the Victoria Club based at the Wheatsheaf. They would march to the church on Whit Monday, each led by a band and return to their respective “headquarters”.
After Lloyd George’s Insurance Act of 1911, these ceased to be needed.
Pumpkin Club
The club was inaugurated by Arnold Woodley, Jack Horn and Reg Absolom, in March 1969 at the Eagle Inn, Church View and was initially known as The Eagle Pumpkin Club. It had a pumpkin weigh-in to raise money to provide a cash gift (Initially £5) for pensioners at Christmas.
Apart from the weigh-ins, there were other fundraising events, e.g., raffles, jumble sales, dances, sports nights (bar billiards, Aunt Sally and darts), a Pumpkin Club Clay Pigeon-shooting with a cup awarded, Dwile Flunking, and of course, the annual street fair which started in 1979. This fair, apart from stalls and entertainment, had a May Queen. An example of the programme is shown below at left. The year is uncertain.
There was an annual contest, started before 1970, between Bampton Pumpkin Club and Cumnor Horticultural Society. The contest was usually held at the Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor, followed by the dunking of their “mayor”, in the village pond. There were some contests against other clubs from time to time. In 1970, for the George Seymour Challenge Pumpkin Pot for the heaviest six pumpkins, Bampton only came third, because one of their best pumpkins burst while being loaded and had to be replaced, but with a smaller one.
In 1988 Central Television had a feature on Bampton Pumpkin Club in the Heart of the Country programme.
The largest pumpkin recorded was 167½ lbs (approximately 76 kilograms) in about 1990/91, by Roger Glyde. Earlier in 1983, there had been an apparent winner, but on investigation it proved that it had concrete in the middle. The contestant’s name was U B Foulde, so it was obviously a hoax, concocted by Graham Taylor.
S.P.A.J.E.R.S.
The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing was formed in 1953 as part of the Coronation Celebrations. It was decided to hold a pram race to raise money, which was given to nurses for the Radcliffe Infirmary. It was so successful that it was decided to run it every year and proceeds would go to pensioners. This race was known as the Great Shirt Race and still continues annually.
In the 1950’s to 1970’s they also held Shirt Race Balls and Gala Dances to promote the race. The following three are a selection of tickets from “SPAJERS: Collection of Dance Tickets” on the Bampton Archive website and a Grand Xmas Draw ticket.
SPAJERS still organise other events such as the Donkey Derby, Josie’s Draw, Fireworks Display, quizzes, etc.
Zimbabwe Project
This is a brief outline of a piece written by Alastair Wray and Michael St. John Parker, in the accompanying book.
Bampton Zimbabwe Project was set up as a charity in June 2003 and registered as a charity in 2006, with the object of raising funds for the reduction of distress and suffering Zimbabwe. The Project’s fund-raising activities, which were designed to engage local interest as widely as possible, included an annual bring-and-buy fair, sponsored walks, quiz nights, tea parties and a twenty-four-hour vigil in the village market place, as well as a pattern of regular covenanted donation.
Two Bampton residents, Tony and Elizabeth Page, had advocated directing some of the village’s charitable activity towards a suitable external objective. Research and discussion suggested Zimbabwe. A brave Zimbabwean journalist, Cathy Buckle, who had relations in Bampton, was found to supply invaluable information.
The Project quickly acquired a strong following among Bampton residents and was served devotedly by a staunch group of committee members. The charity closed its operation in June 2024.
Quiz night, February 2019
Bampton Brass Band
They had their first public performance in May 1901 as stated in this extract, with accompanying photograph, from “Old Time Bampton People” by Lloyd Hughes-Owens. The band was formed by the Ancient Order of Foresters.
Bampton Folk Club
- Front cover of the programme for a concert held on December 17th 1902. Left
There have apparently been three incarnations of a folk club in Bampton.
Nothing is known about the first, the second, known as the Bampton Folk Song and Music Club, met at the George and Dragon.
The third started in 2017 and performed in the Village Hall. They moved to the Romany Inn and continued there until the Covid restrictions. During this time they used Zoom to continue meeting. After the restrictions eased they moved to The Horseshoe and then to the Morris Clown, where they perform in the barn, twice a month on Sundays and, occasionally, still in the Horseshoe.
After the Covid restrictions were lifted, they held a concert in conjunction with the Methodist Church, to raise money for NHS workers and the church.
Bampton Barn Dance Band
The band was casually formed in the mid 1970’s by Don Rouse but officially registered in 1979. It continued, with large success, until the turn of the century, when Don’s Last Bash was held, which raised enough money to buy two de-fibrillators for the surgery. A new band was subsequently formed called ‘Grandma’s Yo-yo’, with a different line-up.
Bampton Singers
Bampton Singers is a community choir which means there is no audition and no requirement to read music. All that is wanted is an enjoyment of singing and a sense of humour! Their repertoire is from many genres. The choir now performs several times throughout the year. There are two concerts, one in the summer, the other in December.
In March, at the Chipping Norton Music Festival they dress smartly and perform before an adjudicator, as shown in the photograph.
Full details are available in the piece written by Judy Scotcher in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
Scottish Country Dancing
This was started in 2015 by Catherine Lane. It is a group of twenty members who meet weekly in Bampton Village Hall. At present there are just two male dancers – so they are a little outnumbered!
Full details are available in the piece written by Maggie Williams in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
Above
- their part of the concert.
The band in 1908 outside the Town Hall.
The band in 1905. They are leading the Order of Foresters’ annual march.
Photograph from “Bampton Barn Dance Band”, by Don Rouse (on the BCA website
Chipping Norton Music Festival 2025
Some of the Group in the Village Hall, February 2025
“Bampton Barn Dance Band” Certificate of Registration 1979
Bampton Baby & Toddler Group Youth Club
The Baby and Toddler Group started in about 2000 in the Children’s Centre. When this closed it moved to the church for a year or so and then to the Village Hall. It has always been run by local Mums who have volunteered their time. The usual format has been children having free play with toys, an art and craft activity, snack time and finally song time!
Baby and Toddlers Group changed its name to Bush Babies and co in 2025
More detail is available in the small piece written by Justine Clifton in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
Bampton Ladies Group
Way back in 1973 there was a Bampton Young Wives Group which met monthly in the Village Hall to chat and listen to speakers. In 1996, the club was renamed Bampton Ladies, with the aim of welcoming ladies of all ages. However, it became difficult to find someone to come to the fore prepared to take the lead and make all the necessary arrangements. Hiring the hall had become itself a cost implication and it became apparent that something new was needed. After much discussion, the decision was made, in 2012, to formally disband the Club. A number of the Ladies, keen to maintain the social aspect of the club, agreed to continue to meet monthly on an informal basis as Bampton Ladies Group.
Until Covid struck it went from strength-to-strength, meeting in the third week of each month, varying the days and usually visiting a different village pub each month. The consumption of alcohol was by no means compulsory but several of us enjoyed the odd glass of wine or a gin and tonic.
During Covid lockdown we, like so many others, learned to use Zoom, and our Zoom group is still meeting every Wednesday evening allowing Ladies who moved away or who are no longer able to get out and about to keep in touch. We still have at least one meeting a month either in a pub, or in someone’s home, or if the weather co-operates, we meet in someone’s garden.
What do we do? We talk (what a surprise), discuss village events, offer advice and opinions about everything under the sun but most of all we laugh. We laugh a lot, then return home having spent an enjoyable evening in good company and sometimes making new friends. We help each other out if needed without being intrusive. We have entered teams in local quizzes (we even won once), we have meals out, which we like to keep local (not so easy now), we’ve even had short holidays - with or without family members. Ladies are encouraged to bring other ideas to the table. Prior to lockdown, many winter evenings were passed in ‘Games Evenings’ hosted by one member or another.
Basically, we are a friendship group who enjoy each other’s company and are there for each other. BLG has no formal structure, no subs, or fees. Attendance is not regulated.
The above is paraphrased from a piece written by Christine Hughes, in the accompanying book.
The Youth Club has had a chequered history, and little is known about its beginnings and subsequent circumstances, as they are unrecorded. However, there are some details of its history from 1965, in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
In 1980 they held a 24-hour table tennis marathon to raise money for the club. They were hoping that the Old School, which had closed in July, could remain in use as a community centre. Activities available were pool, table tennis, darts, indoor and outdoor football. They also had a social education programme which included lessons on drugs, alcohol and safe sex.
It continued until about 2020 when it ceased due to Covid. Unfortunately, it didn’t reopen after the restrictions were lifted.
Darby and Joan Club
The Darby and Joan clubs were set up by the Women’s Voluntary Service after the second World War, as day centres for older people.
The Bampton club was started sometime in the 1950’s as a centre for social gatherings. They met in the Old Grammar School until 1982, after which they started meeting in the WI Hall (now Village Hall). It ended in 1985 as people were beginning to think that it was old-fashioned and a new day centre was about to open. This was gifted with £1000.from their account and was later to become known as the Bush Club.
Bush Club
This club was started in 1985 to provide lunch, entertainment and socialising for anyone over the age of 65. It was held in one of the Horsa buildings to the rear of the Old School building in Church View, which had been classrooms.
In 2011 it moved into the refurbished main building of the Old School with the old Horsas demolished for new houses. It has been running there ever since.
Meetings start with coffee or tea, followed by entertainment. This can be talks, performances, music, demonstrations, etc. Lunch follows, prepared by volunteers and then usually a raffle. Annual trips are also held including outins for lunch and trips to the cinema. Bush Club will be celebrating it’s 40th Anniversry this November.
An advertisement in the Bampton Beam of November 2011 says much the same but it also referred to an annual skittles outing. This photograph of a meeting is from that advertisement
Playthings (Photograph from their Facebook entry)
Photo from Oxford Times November 1980
A promotional advert from the Bampton Beam.
Newspaper clip about fund raising for a Christmas party, October 1980.
Out on a day trip (location unknown)
30th anniversary held in the refurbished Old School
In the old Horsa building
Bampton Football Clubs
There are, or have been, different teams and clubs over the years. Details are often sketchy, but the following give a good insight into most of their history and the current situation in 2025.
Bampton Town FC
They are said to have started in 1901 and absorbed the Weald Swifts team who had been in existence for two years. They were a founder of the Witney and District Association in 1908. Not much is known about them until they reformed in 1947, after World War II.
There was a team for children of 3½ - 7 years, from 2016, called Shooting Stars, aimed at having fun but teaching the rules of football at the same time
After they re-formed they played in a succession of four different fields until finally, they moved to a field in Buckland Road, which they eventually bought. They have had various successes in the Association, over the years, as follows.
BAMPTON TOWN WINS
BAMPTON TOWN RESERVES WINS
Division 1 – 1964, 1998, 2007 N/A
Division 2 – 1933, 1956, 2006 2008
Division 3 – 2005 1965, 2007
Division 4 1985
Ted Young Senior Challenge Cup
1967, 1968, 2000 N/A
Jack Busby Memorial Cup – 1972 2001, 2007, 2008
Fred Ford Memorial Cup – 1965 N/A
The Hughes Supplementary Cup 1983
John Fathers Oxon. Junior Shield – 1971
Watts Junior Challenge Cup – 1932
Oxfordshire Charity Cup – 1972, 1973
Bampton Town FC now only have youth teams, after the older players split away and formed Bampton United. They are now in the Witney and District Youth Football League, which has Autumn and Spring seasons. They don’t always have a team in each age group in every year. They use the same logo or shield as the senior teams had, but sometimes they used the one shown here.
There was a team for children of 3½ - 7 years, from 2016, called Shooting Stars, aimed at having fun but teaching the rules of football at the same time.
The shield shown at left, has a date of 1867, but there are no apparent records available, between then and 1901. What happened in the intervening years is not known. .
Bampton United
They formed in 2012 after there was a split from Bampton Town Youth teams. They are in the Witney and District Football Association.
There are also two boy’s teams. The under 14’s who are in the Witney and District Football Association and the under 10’s who are in the Oxfordshire Youth League.
There was a Bampton Boys Football Club formed in 1992, who were known as ‘The Bees’. In 1997 they were still going strong, with the under 10’s who played on Saturday mornings and the under 12’s, under 14’s and under 15’s, who all played on Sunday afternoons.
There was also a Horseshoe Football team, which played in the Sunday League. Not much information is available about it. Other pubs also had teams from time to time.
The players, in kit, are named in this extract, to the right. The others, presumably, are coaches, managers etc.
The team in the 1919 to 1920 season.
The junior teams in 2019
Premier Division
Bampton United playing
A reunion of players was held in October 2015 as shown in this extract from the Bampton Beam of December 2015
Scouts and Guides
Both of these organisations have had chequered histories in Bampton, but the following pieces give some account.
Guides and Brownies
The Bampton Guide and Brownie packs were said to have formed in 1949, according to an article in the Bampton Beam in 1991, however letters in response to this article told about earlier groups. Details can be seen in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
There is an account about Bampton Brownies after 2001, written by Wendy-Jane Copping, also in the accompanying book.
It seems there were no guides in Bampton during this time.
Scouts Cubs and Beavers
The 1st Bampton Scouts Troop is one of the oldest in the West Oxfordshire District of the Scouting Movement. In the late 1940’s they met upstairs in the Old Grammar School
It is said that the Cubs started in about 1935 and they also met upstairs in the Old Grammar School. It was announced in 2000, that the Cubs were going to suspend their operations, as new entrants were not forthcoming.
Again, in the accompanying book there is information about Scouts, Cubs and Beavers from about 2012. Some from an article by Fiona Richmond in The Bampton Beam and some from a timeline written by Emma Dedman. There was a ‘Beaver Shout’, which went:
1,2.3
Who are we?
We are Beavers Can’t you see?
B.E.A.V.E.R.S Beavers!
It was usually followed by much rushing about.
Emma Dedman’s report contains too much information to include in this display, but suffice to say that they covered all aspects of Scouting, including camping, hiking, etc. but also sheep dissecting, robot building, trips into old mines and tree planting at the Community Orchard in Buckland Road. One memorable item was during Covid, when training was carried out over Zoom and demonstrations were given on how to make armpit fudge! (It is made by putting the required ingredients together in a small plastic bag - icing sugar, butter, cream cheese, vanilla essence and cocoa - and squeezing it all under the armpit to mix them. The full recipe is available online – on various Guides and Scouts websites)
In 2025 it was unfortunately decided to close Scouts and Cubs, however Beavers continued.
Boys Club
This was held downstairs in the Old Grammar School building in the late 1940’s, to provide recreational facilities for boys aged 13 to 18. It was run by the Rev. Bateman, vicar of Bampton, assisted by Harold Hargreaves.
There was a full-size billiard table in the big room which was for experienced players as it had, reputably, the best table in the district, and a half-size table in the middle room where beginners could learn. Both of these rooms formed what is now the library. There was also table tennis in what is now the Vesey Room. In the same room as the snooker table, they played cards and board games. Some of the older boys, in their late teens, would gamble at cards, quite seriously in some cases. They would post the younger boys in a position where they could warn of the approach of the vicar, as it was obviously frowned upon.
Bampton Guide Leaders Mrs Bullen and Mrs Ewings meeting Lady Baden-Powell in 1955 at a Guide Rally at Blenheim Palace.
Bampton Girl Guides about to go on a trip in about 1958
Bampton Brownies with Ann Cook, Camping, 1973
Bampton Brownies, unknown date
Brownies with Meg Daley on Remembrance Day 1988
The Beavers emblem from 2018
The Cubs emblem from 2018 New emblem from 2018
Old Scouts logo
Bampton Drama Group
In 1985 two ladies put their heads together and decided Bampton needed to have an am-dram offering. Although these ladies were unaware of it at this time, there had been a successful drama society before which had been run within the then very active WI. If the ladies had known this then perhaps they may have been a little more apprehensive but, in the usual fashion of the community that is Bampton, the ladies hired and paid for the Village Hall, and Bampton Drama Group was born.
BDG performances were always well attended, particularly the pantomimes. They were large productions with a children’s chorus and other extras, including a goat who caused great merriment when it donated some rather smelly ‘raisins’! Sadly, the drama group has been resting since 1999. Someday perhaps somebody will bring am-dram to Bampton again.
A fuller history and details are in the piece written by Pauline Smith, in the accompanying book.
With reference to the WI Drama Group, mentioned above, their drama society started before 1924, in which year they won the Oxford Federation Drama Cup for their production of “Much Ado about Nothing”.
They had a number of productions over the years, including The Farmer’s Wife, T he Pink Lady and School for Scandal, all in the 1930’s; Bennet’s Folly in 1937; One Hour to Dusk and Poor Mr. Shakespeare in 1966; The Stolen Prince also in 1966; The Plot Thickens and many others. They also produced pantomimes including Babes in the Wood and Jack & the Beanstalk, plus a number of revues.
Bampton Theatre Club
Liz Banham founded the Club back in 1992 and for the first few years was the driving force behind the Club. The aim of the Club is to organise visits to theatres for residents who live in Bampton and the surrounding villages and towns.
The Club is an important cultural and social benefit for members.
A fuller history and details are in the piece written by Jane Telfer, in the accompanying book.
The Club have visited many venues including the Oxford Playhouse, the New Theatre, Oxford, the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, the Malvern Theatre, the Swan, High Wycombe, the Watermill near Newbury and the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon. They have also been to visit Highgrove Gardens and
Bampton Village Cinema Club
Bampton Movies, or Movies on the Move as it was first known, originally started in 2008 through an initiative organised via Chipping Norton Theatre. Any villages within West Oxfordshire could be involved and Chipping Norton Theatre provided the films. As well as the feature film, Bampton chose to also show a short film taken from Bampton Archive, which might relate to the history of a particular Bampton event or an interview with a local farmer, resident or anything else that would be of interest to the attendant audience.
In 2012, due to a cut in funding, Chipping Norton Theatre could no longer continue with Movies on the Move, and it was decided to launch an appeal to raise sufficient money to purchase a projector, screen etc. and for Bampton residents to run the movies themselves
The name was changed to Bampton Movies.
To further encourage the potential audience, tables and chairs are arranged to give a more relaxed atmosphere and people are invited to bring wine if they so choose. Choc ices are available.
It is hoped that Bampton Movies will continue for the foreseeable future
A fuller history and details are in the piece written by Pat Smith, in the accompanying book.
West Ox Arts
The West Oxfordshire Arts Association was started in 1973 by John Birkhead of Filkins, who taught at Radley College, and his wife Margaret Ralston, herself an artist. From the first it was intended that it would be the focus of a wide range of artistic activity, encompassing literature, drama, music, film and photography as well as art. In addition, there were regular drawing and painting sessions.
Working with children played an important part. In the early years they had holiday painting classes, a children’s music workshop and an educational trip to London culminating in a visit to a children’s theatre.. In 1974 a children’s writing competition was judged by Douglas Hurd MP and Roald Dahl
West Ox Arts Gallery hosts between 10 and 12 exhibitions per year including Oxfordshire Artweeks. Most exhibitions feature two or more artists at a time, they promote the talents of artists from Oxfordshire and beyond. In addition to exhibitions, WOA also strives to offer workshops, demos and art talks led by the artists it helps promote.
A fuller history and details are in the piece written by Kay Adamson, in the accompanying book.
The 1924 cast of “Much Ado about Nothing”
Poster March 2025
Films shown have been of different genres and ages, some shown here.
Entrance to WOA at the Town Hall
50th anniversary exhibition with exhibits created by the school and based on the Bampton Morris dancers and shirt race
50th anniversary exhibition with exhibits created by the school and based on the Bampton Morris dancers and shirt race
Bampton Horticultural Society
This was established in 1860, with the first Horticultural show taking place in August. This became an annual event.
In 1865, a newspaper article said it was most successful, and it included a concert in the showground by the Appleton Band and an organ concert in the evening. In 1869 it was even more popular, with amusements, tea (for about 500) and the Bampton Brass Band, all in the grounds owned by a Mrs. Southby.
Horticultural shows ceased at the start of the First World War and restarted after the end of the Second World War, continuing in the early 1950’s.
In 1966 it changed its name to the Gardening Club, to attract a broader range of interest.
Bampton Gardening Club
This club was renamed from the old Horticultural Society in 1996. They still held shows in the Village Hall.
The shows held competitions, which in 2003 had 70 classes but this increased over the years. The categories included, flowers, vegetables, fruit, herbs, crafts, cooking (cakes, jam and wine) and a children’s section. Flower arranging and home brewing were added later.
They organised days out, some related to gardening, some not, e.g. sightseeing, the seaside, racing, etc..
They continued until the Covid pandemic in 2020, when it ceased to operate, but was revived in 2023. Some details from then onwards follow. They are extracted from a piece, written by Jo Lewington, in the accompanying book, which gives full details. Some of the old committee members got together to restart it, working with some new enthusiasts. The plan was to be educational as well as sociable – having coffee mornings and outings as well as educational talks. About 20 or 30 people come to talks.
Matthew Rice is our President and is full of great ideas and the space to make them happen. We had the first 'Tulip in a Bottle' show in April 2024. This will be an annual event, in addition there will be a dahlia show in August of each year, to be held in Ham Court. The deeply held core of the Bampton Gardening Club is that gardening is not only important for feeding the body and nurturing the soul but is also essential for our physical and mental health and we hope to keep it going as long as is possible. One venture that is new, is the creation of the Bampton Community Orchard on Parish Council land adjacent to the tennis courts. The plan is that the orchard will contain 57 fruit trees, mostly apple but including some pear, plum, damson and quince. But there are further plans for the orchard – it will be in part a haven for wild plants including many like the fritillaries and the wild orchids that used to grow in abundance in the area and are now fairly rare.
There was a Gardener’s Question Time held in Bampton (not BBC) in Autumn 2024. Matthew Rice organised it with the following guests as panellists: Anton Blackie, head gardener at Estelle Manor, Isabel Bannerman, who has worked at Highgrove and Waddesdon Manor amongst others and Becky Craven from Rollright Manor.
St Mary’s Flower Guild
They have about 15 to 20 members and provide the flower arrangements for St. Mary’s Church throughout the year and have a flower festival there every year over the last Bank Holiday in May, which is the main fundraiser for the purchase of flowers throughout the year.
Sometimes they arrange flowers for weddings. They aim to have an annual summer social event, a workshop, a demonstration or an outing.
Society schedule of 1980
Flyers advertising the two shows of 1980
Location of Community Orchard (in red outline) adjacent to recreation ground.
Volunteers at one of the plantings
Display of awards. Tulip in a bottle competition 2024
A flower arrangement by the late Lis Banham for the 2014 festival
Some of the recent events and outings organisedby the Gardening Club
Bampton Bullets Cycle Speedway
This Cycle Speedway team was founded in June 1951. Meetings were held on a track built in the field, where the Fire Station now stands. They were members of the National Amateur Cycle Speedway Association. It ended in 1954, having won the county league in 1953 and also a cup in a race against a Royal Signals team.
Bampton
Badminton
Club
It is not sure when the Badminton Club was started* but it is over 40 years ago! It uses the Village Hall. The only drawback of playing in the hall is that although it is the correct length for a court the width is a tiny bit short and we have to keep control of our rackets so we don’t hit the walls but we can still have a great game!
Numbers have fluctuated over the years with a steady core supporting it but it would be lovely to have a few more players.
More details and a little history are in the piece written by Diana O’Brien, in the accompanying book.
*Note: It had originally been formed by Mrs. Fry, the schoolmaster’s wife as part of the WI’s social activities, but it ceased at the outbreak of war. It reformed after the war as a village club but also allowed players from other villages.
Bampton Cricket Club
Playing in the village hall
Bampton Archery Club
The Archery Club was formed in 1996 and is still running.
We are a group of enthusiastic archers based at the picturesque Bampton Recreation Ground, in south west Oxfordshire. The club welcome members of all levels of skill, and all bow-styles – longbow, barebow, recurve and compound. Archery is an excellent family activity, contact us to come and have a go.
The Club meets all year round on Monday and Wednesday evenings, from 6-9pm. During the summer we shoot on the field (weather permitting) and during the winter inside the pavilion.
To join the club you will need to have completed the standard 12hr Archery beginners course.
Bampton Ladies Netball Club
Bampton Ladies Netball meet on a Tuesday night at 7.30 pm at the recreation ground in Bampton. All new members are welcome. If you’re looking to get back to netball or for a new club, we would love to see you. Our netball is for mixed abilities and ages with the focus very much on having fun whilst getting a good workout.
A few more details and a little history are in the piece written by Natalie Alcraft, in the accompanying book.
The club was founded in 2012 by Sam Constable (now Bradley) who ran it for many years. Their adverts in the Bampton Beams of 2012 and 2013 say that they completed their evenings with a drink at the Morris Clown, although not obligatory!
It is said in a single page document in ‘Album created by the Darby and Joan Club’ to have been founded as a club in 1890 by a Mr. Ravener. This document, from 1965, is shown in the accompanying book to this exhibition and has many more details. However, in the book ‘Cricket in Bampton’ by Anna Pitt it states that it was founded in 1890 by a Mr. J. P. Oates. In this book, there is a photograph of the Bampton XI dated 1881, but this was probably a team and not actually a club. They played in the Glebe field called Landells. In 1906 when the treasurer left, without paying necessary bills, it ceased for a time but was revived. It continued there for many years, except during both the wars. Further history is in Anna Pitt’s book.
The Centenary Year celebrations
Advertisement in the Bampton Beam 2012/13
Bampton Tennis Club
Bampton Tennis Club was formed before the establishment of recreational tennis courts in the village. At that time it comprised a group of keen tennis players, who organised matches on local courts. When the recreation ground was first developed in the 1990s, there was debate about whether there was sufficient demand for the new development to include tennis courts. But the club gathered evidence demonstrating the popularity of tennis within the village and the two courts seen today were incorporated into the recreation ground development plans.
Over the years Bampton Tennis Club has hosted numerous tournaments, social gatherings, club nights, and coaching events. These have appealed to all ages and we have seen children as young as 4 and adults over the age of 80 enjoying all there is to offer when people come together with a racket in hand and a tube of tennis balls. Bampton Tennis Club is committed to being inclusive and accessible, with a thriving membership and with non-members also welcome to play.
Looking ahead, the club hopes to build on its success, with plans to install lights, making the courts usable throughout the year. Written by Debbie Landray
The statement above is from their website
Some members at the SPAJERS Donkey Derby, 2017
Cover (above) and pages (left) of a fixtures book for 1952, marked F W Hudson, with results added.
In action at the track
NACSA rider’s licence
made the front page of the Bampton Beam and Witney Gazette
In action at Bampton
A young archer ceiving instruction at the club
Target practice
Club night
Windrush Valley Amateur Boxing Club
The Windrush Valley Boxing Club are based in the Old School Community Centre in Church View, Bampton. They hold a number of training sessions during the week.
The piece in the accompanying book includes two entries from their website, which are not shown here, but give a lot of their history and ethos.
The two photographs of training are extracted from their website, with the kind permission of Dan Hall, Head Coach.
Bampton Weightlifting Club
This was formed in 1956 by Don Rouse, who has written “The History of the Bampton Weightlifting Club” They continue to operate and now use the extension to the Old School in Church View, to where it moved in 2011. The club has had many successes, nationally and internationally. Some members have competed in the Olympic and Commonwealth games and world championships.
Bampton and District
Aunt Sally Association
The Association was founded in 1972. The accompanying book to this exhibition has more details and extracts from their website, showing the rules and pitch dimensions (for those not living in Oxfordshire, its home, and therefore strangers to the game) See www.bamptonauntsally.org
The association league is divided into a number of sections, Premier and sections from A to F. In 2024 the Premier section and Section A had five teams each, the remaining sections had between seven and eleven each. There are currently ten different competitions. Primary 8 a-side, Secondary 8 a-side, Tertiary 8 a-side, Pairs, Men’s singles, Sub 5 singles, Primary 4 a-side, Secondary 4 a-side, Mixed Pairs and Ladies singles. A trophy is awarded annually for each and also awarded for competitions. The game is almost exclusively played in Oxfordshire, but with some outlying teams in adjacent counties.
Bampton Bowls Club
There is little known about this club. However, bowling was in existence some time ago, as hinted by a map of 1821, which shows a Bowling Green and a road named The Bowling Green Road. This is on the same alignment, approximately, as New Road.
It is obvious from this how the side road, Bowling Green Close, got its name. In later years they played at Weald Manor.
There are three references to The Bowls Club on the Bampton Archive website. A newspaper cutting from 1950 refers to the death of a John Daniels, who had been a member for a number of years. Another newspaper cutting of 1954, shows a photograph of a Bowling Club Dinner. Yet another, dated12th July 1972, refers to a jumble sale. These give a vague hint of the club’s time span. They ceased to play in the late 1970’s.
There was an appeal in the Bampton Beam of December 1999, to join and help form an indoor bowls club at the newly built Pavilion. This appeared to come to nothing.
Old Bamptonians Hockey Club
All that is known is that Lloyd Hughes-Owens, the ex-headmaster of Bampton School, encouraged old pupils to form a team. There do not appear to be any records. There are two photographs in “Old Time Bampton People” by Lloyd Hughes-Owens, in the Bampton Archive. One is of a team, obviously of school age or slightly later, the other is of a match in play.
Bampton
Gun Club
This used to meet at Bampton Football Ground for Clay Pigeon Shooting. Little else is known except that they are named in the Bampton Directories from 1985 until 2003 (the 2006 edition says that they appear to be no longer active) and they are also named in various issues of the Bampton Beam, the last entry being in July 2005.
Chain Reaction
This had a cycling club which was raising money for the Bike Path Project (A cycle path from Bampton to Tadpole Bridge). Unfortunately, it failed to get a National Lottery grant and the money raised was not sufficient. Donations were returned and the remaining excess was presented to the Parish Council, with the proviso that it would be used for any future bike path projects.
Bampton Millenium Motorcycle Club
This was an informal club formed in 2000 by Richard “Dick” Turpin. Its object was for groups of like-minded motorcyclists to take trips to various venues or on round trips. These included Avebury, Devizes, two motorcycle museums and Mallory Park. Unfortunately, the club didn’t last long. There were small entries in the Bampton Beam in the April 2000, August 2000 and April 2001 editions, which are available to view on the BCA website, but they don’t give much more information.
Early Bampton Weightlifters in the WI Hall.
From left to right: Don Rouse, Mike Dowsett , visitor Dave Vader), Dave Headford, Mitch Fields and Nigel Chivers
Bampton Slow Living Society
This society was founded in 2003, by Ray and Sally Proctor, David Pullman, Angie Bell, Geoff Woodward and others. It was inspired by the Slow Food movement in Italy, formed in the 1980’s as an antidote to the opening of a McDonald’s in Rome. Over the years it has had many talks on a variety of food and drink topics. These include regional wines; other wines such as sherry, sparkling wine and Madeira; Persian food; a butchery demonstration; talks on cheese, chocolate, olive oil, tea and coffee, flour milling, organic vegetables, liqueurs and spirits, fruit importing, food in art, bread baking; a sausage making demonstration, a vineyard visit, etc.
The talks have been followed by a meal which was usually relevant to the subject, for example regional food for regional wines. These were prepared, more often than not, by members.
There has been a barbecue or garden party each year in various member’s gardens and once at Glebe Farm Organics, which included a talk and tour.
The membership is about eighty in number. The events are held in the Village Hall, about three or four times per year, with an attendance of about sixty at each.
During writing this, it was decided, in March 2025, to close the Society with a farewell garden party held in July.
Other Clubs and Groups
The 100 club and the 250 club, as they were known, were actually lotteries and not clubs. The first was to raise money to support the Library, the latter was to raise money for the Village Hall and the Youth Centre.
Other activities are organised by the Bampton Community Archive, St. Mary’s Church, Bampton Methodist Church and the Library. Some of these are regular events and some are one-offs.
Older church organisations were the Torchbearers, based at St. Mary’s who met in the old vicarage from 1935 to 1945, overseen by the vicar and his wife. This was for children aged 8 to 15. The boys did “chip carving” on old cigar boxes. The girls did knitting or French knitting. The products of these activities went to Overseas Missions. Another was the Christian Men’s Meeting in the 1960’s but this only lasted a year or two due to lack of interest and support. One other was the Junior Christian Endeavour, held in the old Baptist Chapel, from about 1965. It was run by Emmie Bishop and Mary Witt on Wednesday evenings. They had ‘rallies’ several times a year with other JCE’s.
There were also cadet forces. In the 1970’s there was a ‘detached’ troop of Witney Army Cadet Force, who had their own HQ in Aston Road, run by Simon Bovington. There was a detached flight of 2120 Witney Squadron of the Air Training Corps, who met in the school in Church View, with Mr. Hughes Owens as CO. They became 2267 Bampton and Burford Squadron and met in an old Nissen hut opposite to what is now the drive to Lavender Place Flats.
This was replaced by a new HQ built alongside the ACF HQ in Aston Road. This was later dismantled and re-erected at RAF Brize Norton, when it was re-designated as 2267 Brize Norton Squadron.
In addition, the local pubs have the usual mix of darts (some teams playing in local leagues), pool, music, quizzes, raffles etc. but not as clubs.
Most, if not all, of the pubs in Bampton used to have Bar Billiards teams which played in the Witney and District Bar Billiard Association and/or the Eynsham League. There is an ambition by Alistair “Fred” Cook to raise a team again in Bampton and rejoin the Association.
Bampton Community Archive
Bampton Archive was set up in 2002. It was sad to see so much of Bampton’s memorabilia disappear and to realise that valuable local knowledge and information about our local social history was being lost forever as the old Bamptonians died and no one had recorded their memories.
At first a place within the library was created to store physical items and a programme of three exhibitons a year was planned. Twenty years on the Bampton Archive is going from strength to strength. Wehave developed a comprehensive digital archive and held over 30 exhibitions. Space has been created in the building to store and catalogue physical items and we plan to use the latest technology to bring local history alive for residents and visitors alike.
Bampton Community Archive were able to raise tthe considerable funding to restore the Old Grammar School Building. The project was completed in May 2022.
Numismatic Society
Little is known about this coin collecting club, except that they used to hold their meetings at the George and Dragon, Cheapside, now a private house. There are two newspaper cuttings in the Bampton Community Archive regarding meetings, first in 1972, as at left, and secondly in 1980, as at right. By 1981 it was known as the Bampton Coin Club, as it was thought that the technical name was probably not familiar to most people, although in the Bampton Directory of 1985 it was still referred to as both,.
Two founders, Ray Proctor, right in the left photograph, and Sally Proctor in the other, both with wine producers. Slides from their presentation on the Wines of Piemonte, 2006.
Addressing the Haggis, 2015 Geoff Rayner & Anthony Hall cooking.
Garden party BBQ 2013
Olly Weaver, of Patrick Strainge, demonstrating his unusual skills
A display of fruit and vegetables from Riverford Organics
A pig roast was held in the Market Square as part of the Jubilee celebration in 2012
Royal British Legion
This organisation needs no introduction as they are known nationally. The Bampton Branch was first established in Nov 1928 and later amalgamated with the Bampton Womens Branch. It can include currently serving members, ex serving members and civilians. It was thought for a long time, that the legion was only open to people who had a military connection. days we accept membership from the whole community.
For the 70th anniversary of VE Day they re-created the parties which would have happened at the time. There was an opportunity to dress up and have a sing along and they hi-jacked the church organist to come and play the piano in the pub. A substantial amount of money was raised for both the Branch and the Poppy Appeal.
From 2016 meetings were held in the Romany and then moved to the Horseshoe on an intermittent basis. They always attend the parade for Remembrance Day and sometimes have other events. For example, in May 2025 they held another celebration for the 80th anniversary of VE day, in the Horseshoe.
A repatriation ceremony, was started in 2011 after it ceased to be held in Wootton Bassett. It is organised by the MOD and Oxfordshire County Council.
WI - Bampton Belles
The Bampton WI was established in 1921. Over the years, in addition to their regular meetings, which included demonstrations and talks they arranged children’s parties, raffles, outings, exhibitions, etc. One of their activities was in forming a drama group earlier in the 1920’s. They put on a number of plays, revues and pantomimes.
(See addition to Bampton Drama Group).
In 1923 they bought the Bell Inn, where the Village Hall now stands, for the sum of £150.00. The hall was built on its site, but was of course called the WI Hall then. In 1984 the WI decided that the hall was not viable and it was taken over by the village.
Bampton Debating Society
This was founded in 1936 by Mr. Dennis Hall. The first debate was about Women’s Suffrage. Meetings were held fortnightly in the Town Hall, with a subscription of 1/- (5p) for a session from March to October.
By 1938 membership was 150 and meetings were held monthly. The subscription had been raised to 5/- (25p). To start with, politics and religion were barred, but the strength and good behaviour of attendees later allowed it. There were well known speakers, including some from radio, television and the Oxford Union. Some MP’s had spoken at meetings in their youth. Meetings were later held in the Secondary School but when this closed it probably moved to Carterton as members came from a wide area. Nothing further is known.
The accompanying book to this exhibition has a brief update written by Steph Palk on its renaming as the Bampton Belles in 2019 after re-forming, having closed in 1999, and its current activities.
Bampton Bridge Club
At an inaugural meeting of the Bridge Club in 1987 a committee was appointed, comprising of Raynald Franks as Chairman, Ian Packer as Treasurer and Bill Brookson as Secretary, and that the first night of actual bridge would be 6th October, that year.
As the club continued to prosper it always tried to maintain a balance between the social and comparative elements of bridge. It always offered a mix of both rubber and duplicate bridge.
Most other clubs in the area only offered duplicate. When the Covid pandemic hit, all face-to-face bridge had to stop. Real Bridge, an online version, became a viable option. Online bridge presented the club with a new set of challenges. It still had members that enjoyed and wanted the social interaction of playing face-to-face, but it also meant members who had moved away from Bampton could continue to play with friends they had made at the club.
This is extracted from a piece, written by Michael Hopkins, in the accompanying book to this exhibition, which has more history and details.
Frank Hudson has also written about the club.One paragraph in his text is worth showing for interest and amusement:-
“I found a letter from the early nineties from a club member from Standlake, and I quote.
‘I am sorry to say but my partner who suffers with asthma and myself will not be coming to the Bampton Bridge Club anymore this being due to members smoking at the table then putting their cigarette in the ash tray on the table where it continues to smoulder away’. How things have changed.”
RBL on repatriation route (photograph taken from Oxford Mail website)
The Horseshoe May 2025
Smock-makers of Bampton, representing village trades at a WI rally. the Daily Mail, Sept. 1921
Original logo
Visit to Stratfield House in May 1952
WI programme of events for 1965-1966
Membership card in May 1962
Current logo
Bampton Environmental Watch Group
Bampton Environmental Watch Group was formed in 1989, as a Local Amenity Group, a voluntary, group of people who were concerned with the quality of their local built and natural environment. BEWG’s aims were to foster and encourage enjoyment and understanding of the local surroundings, to give support to proposals that would be of benefit to Bampton, and to raise awareness of proposals that could be detrimental to Bampton. They monitored planning applications affecting Bampton.
Meetings were held three times per year, in addition to the AGM. Speakers were arranged for all meetings, and past talks covered such diverse subjects as the Archaeological History of Bampton, the Planning Control Process, Wildlife, Waste Re-cycling and Morris Dancing.
BEWG ceased on 1st March 2013 and survived in a different form for 2 or 3 years, mainly concerned with ecology but was then formally disbanded.
More substantial details are in the piece written by Sally Proctor in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
One of their aims was to encourage local walking and they published local maps, initially in the Bampton Beam and then as a leaflet, shown at left. There are four maps inside, one of the village centre and three of surrounding areas.
Society for the Protection of Bampton
Bampton Environmental Watch Group was formed in 1989, as a Local Amenity Group, a voluntary, group of people who were concerned with the quality of their local built and natural environment. BEWG’s aims were to foster and encourage enjoyment and understanding of the local surroundings, to give support to proposals that would be of benefit to Bampton, and to raise awareness of proposals that could be detrimental to Bampton. They monitored planning applications affecting Bampton.
Meetings were held three times per year, in addition to the AGM. Speakers were arranged for all meetings, and past talks covered such diverse subjects as the Archaeological History of Bampton, the Planning Control Process, Wildlife, Waste Re-cycling and Morris Dancing.
BEWG ceased on 1st March 2013 and survived in a different form for 2 or 3 years, mainly concerned with ecology but was then formally disbanded.
More substantial details are in the piece written by Richard McBrien and Trevor Milne-Day, in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
One of their aims was to encourage local walking and they published local maps, initially in the Bampton Beam and then as a leaflet, shown at left. There are four maps inside, one of the village centre and three of surrounding areas.
Bampton Bellringers
Bampton has one very visibly obvious and important link to the past in the form of our big and beautiful Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Built on the site of an earlier Saxon Minster, St. Mary’s has been an important place of worship for Christian people for over 1,000 years. Our lovely church, cruciform in shape has a massive central tower dating back to Norman times. On top of this a majestic spire was added in the mid-12th century. As befits a church of this magnitude, we have a first-class peal of eight bells.
Sadly, in the last half a dozen or so years, ringers aging and/or moving away, lack of interest from youngsters in learning the art and Covid have conspired to leave Bampton currently with only three members, one of whom is still ringing. Visiting ringers can be hosted, with whom the bells are very popular, when they are on a day’s ringing outing.
With the help of ringers from other local towers, who love our bells, there is a weekly practice night on Monday evenings at St. Mary’s. Access to the Ringing Chamber is from the Lady Chapel and involves climbing a spiral staircase in a turret of Saxon and Norman origin.
This is extracted from a piece, written by Dave Rose, in the accompanying book to the exhibition. It also includes technical facts about the bells and information, with photographs, about the bell’s refurbishment.
In 1997 Graham Taylor and Terry Rouse each reached the 50th anniversary of being with the bellringers, Ted Dixey achieved this earlier in 1995. Later in 2014 David Rose and Terry Rouse reached the 40th anniversary of their roles as Tower Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. They had overseen the Bell Appeal raising £40,000 for refurbishment of the bells by 2006.
Bampton Aid Network (BAN)
Bampton Environmental Watch Group was formed in 1989, as a Local Amenity Group, a voluntary, group of people who were concerned with the quality of their local built and natural environment. BEWG’s aims were to foster and encourage enjoyment and understanding of the local surroundings, to give support to proposals that would be of benefit to Bampton, and to raise awareness of proposals that could be detrimental to Bampton. They monitored planning applications affecting Bampton.
Meetings were held three times per year, in addition to the AGM. Speakers were arranged for all meetings, and past talks covered such diverse subjects as the Archaeological History of Bampton, the Planning Control Process, Wildlife, Waste Re-cycling and Morris Dancing. BEWG ceased on 1st March 2013 and survived in a different form for 2 or 3 years, mainly concerned with ecology but was then formally disbanded.
More substantial details are in the piece written by Trevor Milne-Day, in the accompanying book to this exhibition.
One of their aims was to encourage local walking and they published local maps, initially in the Bampton Beam and then as a leaflet, shown at right. There are four maps inside, one of the village centre and three of surrounding areas.
The cover of the Lowdown magazine of October 2020, sponsored by SPB. It contains an open letter regarding planning, amongst other items.
David Rose at left and Terry Rouse, preparing to ring The Ringing Chamber
