St Andrew
Thursday, 19 May 2022 in 2h 53 (6–3–24)
5100 Doubles and Minor (7m)
(being: 1,140 (9 exts + 60) PLAIN BOB DOUBLES, 360 (3 exts) each of ST SIMON'S BOB DOUBLES, ST MARTIN'S BOB DOUBLES & GRANDSIRE DOUBLES, 1,440 (2 exts) of PLAIN BOB MINOR and 720 each of NORWICH SURPRISE MINOR & CAMBRIDGE SURPRISE MINOR, rung as follows: 1 ext of Norwich S Minor, 3 exts of St Simon's B Doubles & 2 exts of Plain B Doubles, 1 ext of Cambridge S Minor, 3 exts of St Martin's B Doubles & 2 exts of Plain B Doubles, 1 ext of Plain B Minor, 3 exts of Plain Bob Doubles, 1 ext of Plain B Minor, 3 exts of Grandsire Doubles & 2 exts + 60 of Plain B Doubles.)
1 Jane A Aked
2 George A Dawson
3 Lynda M Lazzerini
4 Colin Aked
5 Christopher C P Woodcock (C)
6 Paul Sharp
Specially arranged and rung with the bells half muffled in fond memory of our dear friend Ron Applewhite, who passed away four months after his 100th birthday on 22nd May 2020.
This is the first opportunity we have had to ring a peal in memory of him and to celebrate his life due to covid preventing us at the time of hos death, last year’s peal which would have been on the first anniversary was cancelled on the morning of the attempt as the conductor was rushed into hospital so we have had to wait until now.
Ron’s obituary:
Ron was born in neighbouring Washingborough but he lived in Potterhanworth most of his married life moving to the village after the second world war and lived here with his dear wife Molly ever since until he had to give up driving at the age of 94 and moved to a sheltered complex in neighbouring Branston where he lived independently for the next for years before finally moving into a care home at neighbouring Heighington for the last couple of years of his life. So he has lived in this group of villages nearly all his life – all within a couple of miles of each other, so this was very much home.
Both he and his wife Molly were stalwarts of this village sitting on many of the village organising committees.
Ron learnt to ring aged 12 at Washingborough. After he moved to Potterhanworth after the second world war he joined the Nocton band and then got invited to join the locally renowned Branston band. He rang with the Branston band for the next 20 years during the 1950’s & 1960’s. he was a member of the Branston Multi Minor Peal band which was highly regarded in the county as the best Minor band during the 50’s & 60’s. They were known for the striking in particular as well as the complexity of the Minor methods and numbers they rang.
Ron was also actively involved in the Potterhanworth Millennium project to restore the three bells and augment them to six. Not only did he help and support at all the fundraising events from 2000 to 2004 he also helped with the actual bell work. He was over joyed on dedication day (4th Sept 2004) when a life long dream of his had come to fruition – Potterhanworth now had a ring of six bells!
Shortly after the dedication his dearly beloved wife Molly passed away (Oct 2004) after being married for over 50 years and so Ron donated a set of muffles to the Church in memory of her. These are the very muffles that we used today for the peal.
Ron rang quarter peals here on his 90th, 91st & 92nd birthday's and he was very proud of these especially the one on his 90th birthday when he rang inside to Single Oxford Minor and the one on his 92nd birthday which was his last quarter when he rang Plain Bob Minor inside.
Ron was made an Honorary Life Member of the Guild in 2004 for services to ringing within the Diocese, something he was extremely proud of.
We were pleased to be able to celebrate with Ron at his care home on his 100th birthday (26th Jan 2020) as covid had not hit us then so we have some very fond memories of that day and he was so pleased to see us all and to hear about the peals and quarters we had rung for his 100th birthday.
Rest in peace dear friend now reunited with his beloved wife Molly, both of whom are interred in this Church yard within the shadow of this tower (so under the sound of his beloved bells).
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