Tribute PageLadies' Guild: Tributes
Marion Diana Gilbert
Last Updated on Friday, 22 May 2009 08:17 Written by Margaret Ingman Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:12
October 17th 1943 - February 1st 2009
It is well known that Marion had many hobbies bowls, tennis, cycling and was a member of several organisations both in the village and further afield, W.I., book club,magazine distribution team,Southam Town Twinning to name only a few, but she was also an accomplished bellringer.She came to the village with her husband John and two small daughters Jane & Naomi in the summer of 1976. She taught at Stockton school and later at Napton ‘old school’ before becoming Headteacher there until her retirement in 1996 when the school closed.
She was born in Suffolk, moving to Norfolk with her parents, as a small child, where she joined the choir in her home village church, and as a teenager was recruited to the bell tower at Great Barton where she was taught to handle a bell by Gilbert Larter.
At Napton she held the post of Secretary and was the first lady Tower Captain in the history of St.Lawrence ringing, a position she held for five years during which time she taught many a learner to handle a bell. She was instrumental in the conversion of the then tower members to method ringing by the traditional and recognised way of memorizing the blue line, (at that time Napton ringers rang changes by reading numbers from a board which was positioned in the centre of the ringing chamber).
Her power of persuasion also encouraged John and in time Jane and Naomi to ring.
In 1988 she was elected to the Ladies Guild of Changeringers and remained a supporter of Northants District until her untimely death. Though not a peal ringer, she enjoyed ringing quarter peals for special occasions (including her own silver wedding anniversary) and enjoyed visits to other towers, pointing out items of interest in readiness for her ‘write up’ to the parish magazine after the autumn day outing.
For many years, with her husband, she organised ‘The Spring’ evening outing, which entailed finding a tower and more importantly a good pub for refreshment after the rigours of ringing. She continued to do this after John died in 2004.
Marion regularly attended the Holy Communion Services in Shuckburgh and occasionally Stockton, but always got back to Napton in time to take part in the Sunday Service ringing.
On the day of the funeral the weather was appalling, nevertheless the church was filled to capacity and local ringers with visitors took part in the half-muffled ringing before and after the Service.
In thanksgiving for her life, quarter peals were rung in Northants and Warwickshire.
Napton ringers will miss her greatly and extend their heartfelt sympathy, love and prayers to Jane & Naomi.
M.B.Ingman.
Ringing in memory of Marion Gilbert
Church of SS. Peter & Paul Nether Heyford, Northants.Thursday February 19th 2009
1260 PLAIN BOB MINOR In 44 minutes
| 1. | Karen Colvin * |
| 2. | Hilary Aslett |
| 3. | Margaret Ingman |
| 4. | Chris. Cox |
| 5. | Rosemary Hemmings |
| 6. | Shirley Waterhouse (Conductor) |
* First on the Treble to a Minor method and first for the Ladies’ Guild.
Joan Summerhayes
Last Updated on Friday, 22 May 2009 08:17 Written by Janet Stevenson Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:11
The Ladies Guild are sad to acknowledge the death of one of their long-serving past officers, Joan Summerhayes (nee Beresford). Joan was one of our Central Council representatives for 15 years from 1962-77 and Treasurer for 12 years from 1958-1970. The Guild is grateful for all the work she did for us and send their sympathy to her family.Janet Stevenson
National President.
Tribute to Claire Higby from the Ladies Guild of Changeringers 1941-2007
Last Updated on Friday, 22 May 2009 08:17 Written by Janet Stevenson Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:07
A good turnout of members at Clare's funeral reflects the esteem in which she was held
Clare Higby was a believer in the value of the Ladies Guild of Change Ringers and never failed to promote its work wherever she went. She was National President for the three years 1980 – 1982, National Secretary for 6 years from 1997 to 2003 and also one of the elected Central Council representatives for the Guild from 1980 - 1995. Clare was an officer of the western district in the 70s and early 80s and always a concerned member of the national committee. It was during her presidency that the rules of the Guild were completely revised. Because she held office within the Guild for so many years she was very knowledgeable, and also wise and approachable, so members felt fully consulted about the changes which she introduced. In 1997 at the dinner to mark the 85th anniversary of the Guild she spoke movingly about the way that ‘many of the aims of the Guild set out by the founders had been achieved ... to a level beyond their wildest dreams ...' But she encouraged further work saying ‘we cannot afford to be complacent…as long as bells remain silent on Sunday mornings and as long as there are ringers desirous of progressing in the art of change ringing’. These were sentiments typical of Clare’s own dedication to ringing and developing the skills of others. She added her musical skills to the services at the AGMs and last played the organ for us in June of this year.
She also spread the message worldwide wherever she went to ring. In 1999 she volunteered to act as Overseas Liaison Officer for the Ladies Guild and recruited four members from New Zealand and Australia while on a ringing tour of the southern hemisphere. It is sad that her much looked forward to return visit down under this autumn will not now take place.
At home Clare was elected repeatedly to represent the Guild on the Central Council from 1980 to 1995 and was never afraid to speak up in their defence as for example in 1991 when rationalisation of the Central Council membership was being discussed.
Clare was a tireless worker for ringing and gave selflessly of her time and energy to the Ladies Guild. The national shock at her sudden death is reflected by the way in which the districts of the guild have all organized memorial quarter peals within the last month to show their appreciation of all that she did for us and by the large number of members who travelled to attend her funeral at Chilcompton where ten of them rang a beautifully struck course of Grandsire caters for her.
Janet Stevenson
National President
Quarter Peals and other ringing in Clare's memory
Written by Sarah Catherall Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:02
Western District
27th August 2007
1260 Plain Bob MinorSt Michael's, Clapton in Gordano, Somerset.
1. Carolyn Dawson
2. Anthea Ames
3. Lorna Swan
4. Rose Ball
5. Teresa Humphrey
6. Janet Wyatt (c)
Rung open in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby
5th September 2007
1260 Plain Bob DoublesSt Bartholomew's, Churchdown, Gloucester.
1. Carolyn Dawson
2. Chris Hickey
3. Barbara Pettit
4. Mary Lynch
5. Janet Wyatt(c)
6. Joan Barraclough
Rung in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby.
6th September 2007
1320 Cambridge Surprise MinorSton Easton, Somerset.
1. Janet Wyatt
2. Lorna Swan
3. Mary Lynch
4. Chris Hickey
5. Brenda Arscott
6. Alison Caton (c)
Rung following the funeral service of Clare Higby
Central District
2nd September 2007
60 Stedman, 600 Bob Doubles, 600 Grandsire DoublesHarefield. Middlesex.
1. Rowena Scott
2. Gillian Little
3. Sheila Spreadbury
4. Jenny Instone
5. Ruth Groves (c)
6. Pat Grisdale
Organised by Barbara Wright to celebrate the life of Clare Higby.
Northants District
6th September 2007
1260 Plain Bob Doubles in 47 minsSt Lawrence, Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire
1. Karen Colvin
2. Marion Gilbert
3. Chris Cooke
4. Margaret Ingman
5. Rosemary Hemmings (c)
6. Shirley Waterhouse
Rang open in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby, on the evening of her funeral at Chilcompton.
Guild Officers
7th September 2007
1260 Plain Bob Minor in 43 minutesSt Michael & All Angels, Wadenhoe, Northants
1. Margaret Ingman
2. Chris Cooke
3. Janet Stevenson
4. Betty Baines
5. Hilary Aslett
6. Alison Caton (c)
Rung open in celebration of the life of Clare Higby, by Ladies Guild Officers and associated with all Guild officers, past and present. Past Presidents 4,5,6. Present President 3 Vice President, Northants Branch 2 National Secretary 1
Eastern District
6th September 2007
1260 Doubles, 1 principle, 5 methods (Stedman, Grandsire, Reverse Canterbury, St Martins, St Simons & Plain Bob)Church of St John the Baptist, Bressingham, Norfolk.
1. Mary Allum
2. Gale Hodgkinson
3. Ruth E Ogden
4. Lesley Wilson
5. Betty Baines(c)
6. Josephine Beever
Rung in thanksgiving, at the time of her funeral, for the life of Clare Higby, former President and National Secretary of the Ladies Guild
Kent District
8th September 2007
1260 Plain Bob DoublesChurch of St Mary, Horton Kirby, Kent
1. Sylvia Mackenzie
2. E. Lesley Barclay (c)
3. Diana Wraight
4. Bobbie Fairclough
5. Isabel Pearce
6. Rosemary Hodge
Rung in 40 mins on the back 6, in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby, by members of the Kent Branch of the Ladies Guild. Freda Cannon, Doris Colgate, Mary Andrews and Sue Fisher wish to be associated with this Quarter Peal.
North West District
18th September 2007
1260 Plain Bob MinorThe Minster, Preston, Lancashire
1. Charlotte A Ferguson
2. Jean Barnes (c)
3. Jean Kelly
4. Vanessa L Humphreys
5. Anne E Pettifor
6. Phyllis Pinch
First Quarter inside : 6 Rung in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby, Past President of the Ladies Guild, by members of the North West Branch
North American Guild, Philadelphia, PA, USA
27th August 2007
1260 Plain Bob TriplesSt Martin in the Fields.
1. Deborah Cooper
2. Donald Trumpler
3. Eileen Joy Butler
4. Elisabeth Trumpler
5. Susan V Clopper
6. Brian Zook
7. Bruce N Butler (c)
8. Alan Morrison
Rung in thanksgiving for the lives of Alan Morrison Jr MD, Thomas Osborne VMD and Clare Higby
General ringing took place in the following districts
Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:02 Written by Sarah Catherall Tuesday, 24 March 2009 18:59
East Midlands District
22nd September 2007
Plain Bob MinorSt Michael and All Saints, Willoughby on the Wolds, Nottinghamshire.
1. Rosie Mason
2. Janet Stevenson
3. Anne Sladen
4. Val Kellett
5. Judith Williamson (c)
6. Val Webb
26th September 2007
Plain Bob MinorSt Michael, Markfield, Leicestershire.
1. Rosie Mason
2. Jill Stainforth
3. Anne Sladen
4. Janet Stevenson
5. Judith Williamson (c)
6. Val Webb
Rung in thanksgiving for the life of Clare Higby.
Southern District
Plain Bob Minor
St Mary, Easton1. Judy Bishop
2. Teresa Brown
3. Polly Osborne
4. Mary Sterry
5. Caroline Barnes
6. Val Williams (c)
Rung in memory of Clare Higby