To the PCC Holy Trinity Bosham

9th March 2008

by the Tower Secretary, Mrs Joan King

Each year, when we pay our subscriptions to the Sussex County Association of Change Ringers, I have to fill in a form giving the age groups – under 16, 16-70 and 70 plus. For the first time I find myself alone in the last group!

The tower is now a much younger group of ringers – 19 adults, 4 juniors, 23 in all. As I now have difficulty in climbing the stairs and therefore am able to ring only occasionally, I feel that the time has come to hand over the secretaryship to Mandy Rodgers who is a regular ringer and has email, which will please Father Tom!

During 2007 we rang for 16 weddings and have a similar number booked for this year. Last September Mandy organised an outing into Hampshire where we rang at 6 churches. The old year was rung out and the new in by 5 ringers, one being a guest who joins us most years.

To end on a more serious note, John Woolley who was Tower Captain for 38 years until 2003 has died recently. Some of you may remember Father Tom presenting him with an engraved compôte bowl after a 9.30 service and I gave him an engraved tankard from the bellringers to mark his retirement. I was very pleased to be able to make the stairs and ring before and after his funeral service on 21st February 2008. On a happier note, he joined us for the bellringers’ supper at The Anchor on 5th April last year – his 90th birthday. In his short speech he made it clear that he didn’t want eventually to receive a telegram from the Queen.