Report due
26 October 1962
Youngsters swell the numbers14 July 1961
Recorded by a visitor11 August 1961
Buckland Brewer6 January 1978
Moggridge girls15 March 1957
Many successes8 August 1969
Woolsery parish churchsix bells peal
Hartland bellringersannual dinnerl
Bellringers marryBuckland couple
Winkleigh Parish Church bells 1973Retuning of bells 5th april 1973
A family connection to Clovelly bellringers18 May 1973
Honeymoon in London10 February 1950
70 sat down to tea12 July 1963
Tea on the Rectory lawn25 July 1958
Mr G Nicholls arranged the competition22 September 1950
Report due26 October 1962
The eight bells of the church on the island of Lundy
have been silent for a number of years, having become unsafe through the deterioration of fittings and the tower.
On the arrival of a bell-hanger to rehang the re-cast bells of Appledore Parish Church, the opportunity was taken to let him inspect and report on the island’s church tower and bells. The tenor bell on Lundy weighs 15½cwt compared with the 10¼cwt of the tenor bell at Appledore.
The bell-hanger, Mr J Walker, visited the island on Saturday in the Lundy Gannet whose passengers also included the co-owner of Lundy, Mr Albion Harman.
A report will in due course be received at Appledore from the bell-founders.
Gazette article dated 26 October 1962
Youngsters swell the numbers14 July 1961
St Nectan's Parish Church, Welcombe, now has a team of bell-ringers for the first time for a number of years
The Vicar, Rev Andrew T H Jones, explained that a suggestion had been put forward at the annual parish meeting that a team should be revived and they had been fortunate in getting five or six youngsters to come forward to train under the captaincy of Mr Jack Saunders, of Lynton Farm, Welcombe, who is an experienced ringer.
Appropriately, the first peal by the new team was rung at the church's Patronal Festival on June 18th and they have rung on successive Sundays.
'We are very thrilled with it' commented the Vicar.
Gazette article dated 14 July 1961
Recorded by a visitor11 August 1961
Already heard in London
The sound of the bells of Weare Giffard Parish Church, recently rung for the first time after being re-hung, will be heard in Vancouver.
The Rector, Rev J M Lucas, explains in the current issue of the Hartland Deanery Magazine that a visitor from Vancouver, staying at Landcross, came to Weare Giffard one evening and tape-recorded the bells.
‘Our ringers gave a good account of themselves and I understand that the bells of Weare Giffard will sound forth on the local radio in Vancouver and will also be amplified from the church tower of the church in which our visitor worships’ writes Mr Lucas.
Incidentally the bells have already been heard in London – by someone who telephoned Mr Lucas on the first occasion the bells were rung since the re-hanging.
Gazette article dated 11 August 1961
Buckland Brewer6 January 1978
There was an abrupt end to peals on the bells of Buckland Brewer parish church welcoming the arrival of 1978.
The team was only a quarter of the way through the peal when the rope of the second bells suddenly snapped on the bell wheel.
As it would have meant a new rope having to be spliced, the welcome stopped there and then – the first time in living memory such an incident has occurred.
But there was no denying the warmth of the welcome the New Year had already received at Buckland Brewer and on Torridgeside generally: in homes, clubs, pubs and in the streets people celebrated in traditional fashion the departure of yet another year and the arrival of a new one.
Brothers Roy and Leonard Blight and Leonard’s son David were among the Buckland Brewer ringers who welcomed in the New Year. Also in the picture – Miss Jennifer Mills, Dave Snowden and Albert Manning.
Gazette article dated 6 January 1978
Moggridge girls15 March 1957
So enthusiastic were two young girls to learn the art of church bell ringing
that within a month of arriving at Abbotsham from Wellington in Somerset they had ‘won over’ two other young people and together the four of them began practising with bell ringers at Abbotsham Parish Church.
When, last September, the Moggridge family made their home at Abbotsham their two daughters – Peggy and Frances – were able to put into practice an interest they had held for some time. Another member of the family, Pamela, is also keen to learn bell ringing but at the moment is not strong enough.
The other two youngsters are Maureen Hockin and David Stapleton. Incidentally, all the girls are members of Abbotsham Parish Church Choir. All the Moggridge girls were members of Holcome Rogus Parish Church choir before coming to live at Abbotsham.
Seen in the picture are Mr Fred Fulford, Frances Moggridge, Mr Sydney Nicholls, Peggy Moggridge, Mr William Turner, Mr William Brooks, Mr Stanley Beckley, and David...
Many successes8 August 1969
Brothers among recipients at Alwington
At the conclusion of a special ‘Ringers’ jubilee’ Evensong at St Andrew’s, Alwington’s Parish Chruch, at which the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, the Ven A F Ward, was the preacher, presentations were made to three ringers, two from Alwington and one from Clovelly, to mark their gold jubilee as ringers.
The recipients were Messrs Frank Daniel and Frank Bailey, who have rung together in Alwington tower since their initiation into the art, and Mr Walter Daniel, who is now captain of Clovelly tower. A third brother, Mr Alfred Daniel, who started ringing at the same time, was churchwarden and captain of ringers at Parkham until his death two years ago.
The presentations to the Alwington recipients were made by the Rector, Rev J E Lynn, who is also Rector of Parkham, and to Mr Walter Daniel by the Rural Dean, Rev R O H Eppingstone, who is Rector of Clovelly.
The Alwington ringers have had many successes in recent years, particularly this year as they now...
Woolsery parish churchsix bells peal
Woolsery parish church's six bell peal 18th January 1974
Originally the work of restoring Woolsery parish church's six bell peal was estimated to cost around £3,000, but after a further examination, now the bells have been taken down, it is considered that all of them, instead of just two, will have to be re-cast.
The bells are to be re-cast by Messrs Taylor, of Loughborough, who cast them 148 years ago when the firm had a branch at nearby Buckland Brewer.
Hartland bellringersannual dinnerl
Hartland bellringers 10th October 1975
Hartland Deanery bellringers and their guests pictured after their annual dinner at Penstowe Manor, Kilkhampton. In the forefront is the Rev R O H Eppingstone, Rector of Clovelly, who is the president.
Bellringers marryBuckland couple
Bellringers marry 22nd June 1979
Bellringing. A Buckland Brewer couple, both bellringers, were married in the parish church - the bride in a dress and veil she made herself.
Bridegroom was Mr David Leonard Blight, son of Mr & Mrs L P Blight of Tower Hill, Buckland Brewer and his bride Miss Joan Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Mr & Mrs T H Brown, of Cleverdons, Buckland Brewer.
Bride's attendants were her sister, Mrs Brenda Mills and cousin Miss Jayne Wright. Best man was Mr Alan Wright.
Winkleigh Parish Church bells 1973Retuning of bells 5th april 1973
Winkleigh Parish Church Bell 5th April 1973
Winkleigh Parish Church bells are to be re-tuned. Here Mr Arthur Fidler (right), of Bow, and his assistant, who lowered the eight bells from the tower, are seen prepared two of the largest bells for dispatch to the foundry at Loughborough.
A family connection to Clovelly bellringers18 May 1973
A Clovelly representative on Bideford Rural Council, Mr Edward William Johns has died at his home, The Haven, Woolsery, at the age of 69.
A member of Clovelly church council, Mr Johns was also deputy warden. He was captain of Clovelly bellringers, of which both his sons are members, and a former member of Clovelly Parish Council.
The Rector, Rev R O H Eppingstone, officiated at the service assisted by the Rev L Buttle, Miss U Moore was organist.
Captains of the local towers rang a muffled peal on the church bells.
Immediate mourners attending were: the widow, Royston and Alan, Beryl, Florrie, Bob, Vera and Jacqui, Christopher, Kath, Mr W Gifford, Mr and Mrs J Murch, Mr and Mrs G Burgess, Mr and Mrs W Alford, Messrs L and W Johns, Miss S Ellis, Mr and Mrs R Gifford, Mr N Alford, Mr and Mrs W Johns, Mr G Braund, Mrs T Braund, Mr an dMrs J J Headon, Messrs R K T and S Johns, Mr Heard, Mrs A Taylor, Mrs O Adams, Mrs T Ashwood, Mr and Mrs W Jewell, Mrs D Jennings, Mrs H Grills, Mr and Mrs N...
Honeymoon in London10 February 1950
Mr E C Nicholls and Miss J M Sanders
The bridegroom’s grandfather, father and two uncles and the bride’s brother were among those who rang the bells as the wedding at St Nectan’s Church, Welcombe, of Mr Ernest Claud Nicholls, of Shutta Farm, Littleham, to Miss Joyce Mary Sanders, daughter of Mr and Mrs Sanders, Linton Farm, Welcombe.
The bridegroom is chairman of the Buckland Brewer Young Farmers’ Club and the bride one of the organists of Welcombe Church and a bell-ringer.
The bridesmaid was Miss Edith Joyce Gifford and Mr Arthur Bisset was best man.
The bouquets were afterwards placed at the graves of the grandparents at Stoke, Hartland and Welcombe.
The reception was held at the bride’s home and sixty guests were present. All were interested in the display of presents, among those being a delightful gift from the bride’s two tiny nephews, Norman Sanders and John Lee, and another from the Littleham Skittles Club.
London was chosen for the honeymoon.
The full Gazette article is dated...
70 sat down to tea12 July 1963
St Mary’s Church, Appledore, was host on Saturday to the annual ringing festival of the Hartland Deanery and some good peals were rung on the bells which were re-hung and dedicated last November.
Twelve teams competed, including newcomers Littleham and Welcombe.
The judges, Messrs A Burrow and W Tuck, were closeted in the church schoolroom.
Principle placings were: Shield and first certificate, Alwington B; Northam; Appledore; Alwington A; Hartland; Monkleigh.
Other teams competing in order of scores were Bideford, Clovelly, Littleham, Weare Giffard, Buckland Brewer and Welcombe.
About 70 sat down to tea provided by the Social Committee of the Church Council, organised by Mrs M Petley.
The concluding set of corporate worship was conducted by the Vicar of Appledore, Rev R C Dixon, with Mrs L Parks at the organ.
Mr G Smith, the hon. Secretary, thanked all who worked to make the day such a success.
Gazette article dated 12 July 1963
Tea on the Rectory lawn25 July 1958
A record number of 13 entries marked the annual bell-ringing festival of the Hartland Deanery, this year held at Clovelly on Saturday.
Judges were Mr A Nicholls (Littleham), Mr S Nicholls (Abbotsham) and Mr W Tuck (Bideford).
A short service in the Church, conducted by the Rector, the Rev Dr G S Spinks, afforded an opportunity of corporate worship by the ringers and friends.
The Deanery Shield and certificates were presented to the winners by the Hon. Mrs Asquith, of Clovelly Court.
In proposing a vote of thanks to all who had helped to make the occasion a success, Mr J H Dryer welcomed particularly the presence of many young ringers, several of whom took part in the competition.
Team competing and placings were: Monkleigh; Northam; Alwington; Buckland Brewer; Hartlant; Clovelly; Parkham.
Tea on the Rectory lawn was provided by Mesdames J Johns, W Johns, E Johns, E Bragg and F May, Misses F May, S Ellis and B Pillman.
Winners of competitions included: Mr H Dayman; Mr E Bragg; Mrs J...
Mr G Nicholls arranged the competition22 September 1950
A bell ringing competition, arranged by Mr G Nicholls, took place on Saturday by kind permission of Rev R P Newton- Priest-in-charge, in connection with the Harvest Festival.
Ten teams of the Association entered the contest. The judges were Messrs C R Bissett, S Nicholls and F Bailey.
The results were: 1, Chawleigh; 2, St Giles; 3, Down St Mary; 4, Frithelstock; 5, High Bickington; 6, Sheepwash; 7, Alwington; 8, Petrockstowe; 9, Northam; 10, Parkham.
Certificates which were presented to the five winning teams by Mrs M H Hill were the gifts of Mr G Nicholls.
Gazette article dated 22 September 1950