Alan retired to Verwood in 2015 following a successful career as an engineer in Buckinghamshire. He had learnt to ring as a teenager, became Master of the Southampton University Guild where he met his future wife Kathy, and they were both mainstays of the Aston Clinton band during their working life.
Alan’s ringing skills and experience were a great asset to us and he quickly established himself as a full-time member of the Wimborne Minster band. He relished the challenge of ringing on twelve bells, was an enthusiastic and committed teacher of our learner ringers, and sought out opportunities to support ringers further afield – notably the newly-formed band at Lytchett Matravers and at Ringwood where he became Tower Captain.
He rang in four peals at the Minster – including the ones to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday in 2016 and the birth of Prince Louis in 2018 – and also 88 quarter peals which were mostly for Sunday Choral Evensongs, the final one being in August last year.
Alan’s quiet manner, self-effacing personality and gentle humour were particular characteristics, as was his willingness to help anyone at any time. A keen member of the Wimborne Camera Club, Alan and Kathy mounted an exhibition of Ringing for Royal Events which is displayed in the Baptistry at appropriate times during the year, and they also organised a memorable ringing weekend for the Minster Band around churches in the Chilterns last September. This turned out to be one of the last times Alan rang with us.
Sadly, an illness first diagnosed in 2008 returned and despite the best of care from Bournemouth and Poole hospitals he was unable to recover and passed away peacefully with his family close by in July. A Service of Thanksgiving was held in the Minster on the 8th August, attended by his family and many ringing friends from around the country. We will miss him.
Wimborne Minster Bell Ringers 