BellBoard

Pam Jenkins (1935 – 2016) Born in Wellington hospital to Lilian and Cyril Stevens. Pam followed in her father’s footsteps and learned to bellring. In addition to attending her local tower, West Buckland, her father, Cyril, made a fully working model bell with a bell rope in the outside shed for Pam and sister Jean, to practice on. She also rang method on hand bells with her father, sister Jean, Uncle Walter and other family friends. Pam married Tony in 1962 and moved to Creech where daughter Helen was born in 1966. Following the family tradition Pam taught Helen to ring at Creech St Michael. Pam was a ringer and member of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers for more than 60 years. She was tower captain at Creech St Michael for 14 years and Secretary of the Taunton branch of ringers for 6 years. She rang extensively in the Bath & Wells churches and enjoyed trips to other parts of the Country. Pam rang a total of 225 ¼ peals on both tower and hand bells, from minimus to maximus, and 6 peals on tower bells for the Bath and Wells Diocesan Association. Sadly, increasing immobility in recent years had stopped her ringing but she still wanted to hear about the ringing activities including those of her 2 granddaughters, Felicity and Eleanor. She keenly awaited the arrival of The Ringing World each week as well as reading the Taunton branch news and was an avid listener to Radio 4’s Bells on Sunday. Pam’s health declined rapidly over the last few months but with Tony’s help she was able to stay at home until the last few hours when she passed away in Taunton hospital. Pam was laid to rest at Creech St Michael where the bells had been half muffled for some excellent ringing before the Service and 2 equally well struck ¼ peals after the Service.