During 1953, two residents of the Village, John Quick and Paul Bovington organised a ‘Shirt Race’ as a one-off event to celebrate the Coronation. The rules of the ’Shirt Race’ were very simple. A team of two individuals, each of whom were to be dressed in a night-shirt, and with some sort of unpowered transport, such as an old pram, were to take it in turns to push each other from hostelry to hostelry, pausing at each to down a half-pint of ale. For the race, nurses from the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford were invited to attend and collect money for the hospital. Such was the success of the event, however, that John and Paul decided to hold it annually, with the money collected going to the pensioners of the Village. The SPAJERS were then born!

In the early days there were some 11 pubs in the Village, but at the present time, the competitors have it a bit easier, as the numbers are now down to four, although many of the residents of the houses which are ex-public houses, still get a table out and offer the drinks!

There are three races at present for juniors, intermediate, and seniors, the latter two normally being combined into a single event, with prizes for the winners and runners-up, and the races are held at the Spring Bank Holiday each year. And while the rules remain basically the same, various types of dress attire are now accepted, since night-shirts are a rare items these days, and a shortage of them some years back nearly led to the race’s demise!

It is ingeniously said that the origin of the ‘Shirt Race’ can be attributed either to the occasion, in 784 AD, when Ethelred the Shirtless, chased the burgers of Bampton through the streets in order to clothe his nakedness, or to a certain action of William the Conqueror’s soldiers stationed at Shifford during the beer drought of 1067!

The SPAJERS are still going strong after 50 years – the present committee numbers around 14 members - and are still raising money for the pensioners of the Village. The other major events run by the SPAJERS are the Village Quiz, in April each year, the Donkey Derby and Fete held on the Monday of the August Bank Holiday at Sandfords Field, and of course the Mummers, who perform their play at various locations in the village on Christmas Eve - see elsewhere in the Website for the Mummers.

The SPAJERS raise about £6000 annually, which allows them to give each pensioner £10 - sometimes £20 - at Christmas, an annual party, and an annual outing.

The SPAJERS hold their committee meetings, under conditions of strict security, in The Horse Shoe!