St Wilfrid's Church
Wednesday, 20 December 2017 in 56m (6–3–13)
1440 Plain Bob Doubles (with 6,7,8 Covering)
(being two 720's, each 720 contains every row three times at handstroke and three times at backstroke.)
Composed by Mark Lynch
1 Janet M Risdale
2 Yvonne A Woodcock
3 Paul Sharp
4 Christopher C P Woodcock (C)
5 Sister Maureen Pike
6 Bob Hardwick
7 Janet Crafer
8 Raymond A Cucksey
Rung by a local band with the bells half muffled to commemorate the centenary of the death of Private GEORGE HENRY COOKE, who died of wounds this day (20th December) in 1917 at the age of 29, whilst serving in the Lincolnshire Regiment 2nd/5th Battalion.
George was a ringer at this Church and was the second of two ringers from Metheringham to be killed in the Great War, the first being William Pearson Green (28th June 1916). George (along with William) were two of the nine new ringers learning to ring at Metheringham, being taught by Fred Stokes (Tower Captain at neighbouring Blankney) after Metheringham bells were restored and augmented from 5 to 8 in 1912.
On 20th May 1913 George (along with William) rang in the first Quarter Peal on the bells at Metheringham being Grandsire Triples with George on the third & William on the second, it was the first quarter for all the band except Fred Stokes the conductor (the band being all the new learners). This was followed on 9th August 1913 with George (along with William) ringing in the first Peal on the bells at Metheringham by a local band being Grandsire Triples with George on the third & William on the second, it was the first peal for all the band except Fred Stokes the conductor (the band being the new learners with their teacher conducting it). They followed this up with another peal on 6th June 1914 of Oxford Bob Triples with George on the fourth & William on the second again called by Fred. This was both their last peals before going off too fight in the Great War.
George (along with William) were both members of the Lincoln Diocesan Guild.
Prior to the quarter a candle was lit and a brief account of George was read out followed by the poem 'In Flanders Fields' and finishing with a prayer. The candle was left lit whilst the quarter was rung and following the quarter a bell shaped wreath was laid in memory of George at the War Memorial in the Church.
At the back of Church by the font is a large Brass Baptismal Jug. This was given by George’s Brother & Sister in memory of him and is inscribed as so.
I . M
GEORGE H. COOKE
KILLED IN FRANCE DEC 20th 1917
GIVEN BY HIS BROTHER AND SISTER
(Rung also for the Lincoln Diocesan Guild)

This performance is linked to the event Saint Andrew's and All Saints Society — Remembering our fallen local Ringers (WW1)