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I recall getting in touch with Brian in the early 1990s when I was organising some quarter peals around the Winwick/Great Gidding area, and asked him if he was available to ring, what followed over the following years were lots of quarters a few peals over many evenings and weekends, and even a quarter peal week in Derbyshire. Brian was a keen ringer, excellent striker with a critical ear. A substantial amount of his quarters were rung with Andrew and Peter Warboys, Peter Waterfield, Ian and Wayne Ansell (Francis), Matthew Walker and Andrew Farmer to name but a few. He had rung 58 Peals 42 of these with Sue Marsden who conducted his first peal. Brian’s entertaining skills were legendary with his jokes and playing his banjo/mandolin in the pub after our quarters, which were great fun. Brian moved to Pinchbeck in the early 2000s when he took on the responsibility of St Mary’s Pinchbeck tower training several ringers, sadly ill health had prevented his ringing in later years. His profession in the building trade were exemplary and true perfection, he had built a house from scratch in Winwick and when moving to West Pinchbeck converting a derelict barn into a lovely home. He leaves behind his partner Viv, a son and two daughters. Diana Street, Peter Waterfield and Matthew Walker wish to be associated with these tributes to Brian. (Anthony D Walker)

Former tower Captain of Winwick Huntingdonshire and Pinchbeck Lincolnshire, what follows is a couple of stories provided by Wayne Francis which sums up Brian’s character: Just two of the many funny memories of Brian: We were on a Tony Walker Saturday Quarter Peal day, Brian was in his faded red Jaguar, following around. As usual, we scored 6 quarters, Then Tony said he knew a good pub, so off we all drove, Brian following, We had a great evening, especially when Brian brought his banjo-mandolin into the pub and soon had the locals singing along, They kept buying him beers, asking for more tunes, it was getting late, and the rest of us drifted off home. We thought nothing more about it until we next met Brian, turned out the locals had a ’lock in’ and he ended up playing until very late, early hours I think, then eventually they all called it a night. Brian found himself in his car, alone, no sat nav then (not that he would use it!) having no idea where he was or how to get home! He’d followed us to the pub, it took him some hours to find a way home!

There’s his other story of being a local builder he was asked to see how badly Great Catworth tower moved while the bells were rung, up he went to the parapet around the base of the spire. as the 4 heavy bells started ringing, he found himself having difficulty standing! He had to grasp hold of a pinnacle and shout for the ringers to stop ringing for fear of being tossed off the tower!