the central council of church bell ringers

1939-1945 War Memorial Book of Church Bell-Ringers - Introduction

Introduction

The Central Council Memorial Book of Church Bell-Ringers of the British Isles who were killed by enemy action during the War of 1939-1945 was completed before the 1952 Council meeting.

During the 1953 meeting it was agreed that it be housed in St Paul's cathedral, where it can be viewed in a display case on the way up to the ringing chamber.

Alan Regin is currently undertaking research to find out more about each person listed, which includes finding where each of them is buried and/or commemorated and any other details that can be found along the way. Already, many ringers across the UK and beyond have been helping with this research.

If anybody could add any detail, however large or small, about any of those named, this would be very gratefully received.

Alan would much appreciate it if ringers at all towers would check whether any former members are commemorated on peal boards or special memorials, in minute books or other documents that their tower may hold.

This is even more important when any are NOT included in the list of names on this website because we would like to commemorate all ringers who fell in the War of 1939-1945, and will add new names to the book in the future.

If anybody is able to supply any more information Alan would be very happy to receive photographs of any memorials, peals boards or the individuals themselves.

He already has a significant collection, including 760 photographs of gravestones or memorials of the men, and would be very happy to pass this on.

Alan can be contacted as follows:

(H)020 8471 7045
39 Maud Road, Plaistow, E13 0JT, UK

History

At the 1947 Council meeting, on the motion of the Hon. Secretary, seconded by Mr. E. A. Young, it was agreed to ask the Standing Committee to appoint a sub-committee to consider the preparation of this Roll of Honour.

1949 meeting:

"The (Standing) committee ... reported that the sub-committee appointed to consider Decisions of the Council had presented an interim report and that a member had now been found to undertake the work in compiling the Roll of Honour."

1950 meeting:

Sub-committee report: "Mr. H. Miles presented an interim report, the adoption of which was seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs and carried. To assist the completion of the Roll, members were asked to enquire of their Associations if particulars had been furnished"

1951 meeting:

Sub-committee report:: "Adopted on the proposal of Mr. H. Miles, seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs, and it was agreed that Mr. J. W. Clarke be co-opted and that further consideration be given to the cost of preparing the Roll"

1952 meeting:

Sub-committee report: "Adopted on the proposal of Mr. H. Miles, seconded by Mr. R. S. Anderson, and on the proposal of the Hon. Secretary, seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs, a vote of grateful thanks was passed to Mr. F. Cullen for generously undertaking the writing and to Mr. Miles for the successful completion of this work.
"It was agreed that further consideration be given as to where the book should be deposited."

1953 meeting:

"On the proposition of Mr. F. E. Collins, seconded by Mr. F. W. Rogers, it was agreed that the Roll be housed in St. Paul's Cathedral.
A proposal that the Roll be brought to each Council meeting was not carried.
It was proposed by the Rev. A. G. G. Thurlow, seconded by Mr. P. J. Johnson and carried that a photostat copy of the Roll be made, to be taken to Council meetings.

Mr. R. S. Anderson proposed, and Mr. F. I. Hairs seconded, that a case to house the Roll be provided, and that subscriptions of ten shillings towards the cost of this be invited from each affiliated Society. This was carried.
The report was adopted on the proposal of Mr. H. Miles, seconded by Mr. A. A. Hughes.
A vote of thanks to Mr. Miles for his efforts was proposed by Mr. P. J. Johnson, seconded by Mr. R. S. Anderson and carried with acclamation.
It was proposed by Mr. G. W. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. P. J. Johnson and carried that Mr. Miles be appointed Trustee of the Roll."

1954 meeting:

"Adopted on the proposition of Mr. H. Miles, seconded by Mr. P. J. Johnson. It was agreed to proceed with the construction of a case and to put in hand the matter of a photostat copy."

2004 meeting:

"Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour

In proposing the adoption of the report, Andrew Stubbs noted that work on the supplement [to the Great War book] was not yet complete but should be ready soon; he would bring it to the 2005 meeting. Andrew Wilby seconded.
Julia Lysaght asked if it would be possible to include those who had fallen in other conflicts, such as Northern Ireland and Iraq. Andrew Stubbs replied that the two volumes were specifically in respect of the two World Wars; after Julia had proposed that there should be a new volume to cover other conflicts, Tony Smith pointed out that this would require an amendment to Decision (C) and therefore a proposal would have to be brought to a future meeting of the Council."

2005 meeting:

"Rolls of Honour
Regarding a possible amendment to Decision (C), as Julia Lysaght could not attend that day, the matter would be deferred until she was able to present a Motion in person"
"Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour
In proposing adoption of the report, Andrew Stubbs was pleased to report that the work on the supplement was now complete and available for inspection that day, prior to its return to St Paul's Cathedral. As mentioned earlier in the meeting any decision on a further volume would be deferred until next year. Michael Church seconded and adoption of the report was agreed."

2006 meeting:

"Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour
In proposing adoption of the report, Andrew Stubbs noted that after the Harrogate meeting he was asked to add names to the World War I volume: if there were any others to be added, would members please notify him as soon as possible. Andrew drew attention to there being only one copy of the Rolls of very poor quality: he suggested that more copies could be microfilmed if there was sufficient interest. Laith Reynolds seconded.
Several members pointed out that the Rolls could be scanned electronically. Russ McAnulla asked how many names were held on the Rolls. Peter Trotman offered to place the Rolls on the website. Responding, Andrew estimated that there were some few hundred names on the Rolls; he would take up the suggestions for securing copies if the meeting agreed - a straw poll showed there was substantial support.
Adoption of the report was then agreed."

2007 meeting:

"Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour
In proposing adoption of the report, Andrew Stubbs noted that 30 more names were to be added to the World War I volume, thanks to research by Alan Regin; an electronic version of this Volume was now available and would be copied to the Council's website. The World War II volume would be scanned shortly. George Doughty seconded and adoption of the report was agreed."

Peter Trotman (April 2008)