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John (Jack) V Chadwick

11th July 1932 - 27th October 2023

Jack was born on 11th July 1932 in Kirk Hallam, near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. He lived his whole life in Derbyshire. He joined the choir at Stanton by Dale, and the then tower captain, taught some of the senior choristers to ring.

Jack’s first peal was on 5th January 1965, of Plain Bob Minor conducted by the late Denis Carlisle. His first peal of Surprise Major was on 29th January 1966 at Derby St Peter’s. He called his 1st peal, of Minor, at Stanton by Dale in October 1967 and it was not until October 1971 that he called his first peal of Surprise Major at Melbourne.

He became a prolific peal ringer – in total he rang 1538 peals, 1530 of them for the Derby Diocesan Association, and conducted 909 peals of them, only one not for the DDA! His last peal was in 2016 at Ticknall and the last peal that he conducted was in January 2014 at Belper. He called Norman Smith’s 23 Spliced S Major four times and 25 Spliced once. He also took on the role of District Ringing Master for the Derby District of the Association.

Outside ringing he married Joyce in 1959. They had two sons David and Alan. He started working in the mining industrial around Ilkeston, before moving to the brewing industry, from which he took early retirement in 1992. He and Joyce moved from West Hallam to Hilton and he and Joyce both enjoyed gardening she grew flowers, and he took on the vegetable gardening.

Unfortunately, ill health stopped his peal ringing, but he still rang the service bell at Etwall until earlier this year. To quote another former ringing master “he was a lovely man, exuding quiet, unassuming competence with no trace of ego based white noise.”

To Joyce and the rest of his family our condolences. May he rest in peace.