It was in the Summer of 1946 that I met Sidney or “Sid” as he was known, a neatly dressed man of about 30 years of age, umbrella in hand, who turned up at All Saints Tuesday evening practice. By that time I had just about mastered Grandsire Doubles and full of youthful enthusiasm was eager to expand my knowledge of methods and bells of other towers. Encouraged by Alan Cattell I was soon a frequent visitor to practices at St Margarets, St Johns and later, the Cathedral. During the years 1946 to 1952 the name “Sid” and St John’s church and bells became to me, synonymous. I think he lived for that church. I was soon a regular visitor to their Wednesday evening practice and rang my first peal on ten bells there, Grandsire Caters on November 22^nd, 1947, conducted by Gordon Olliffe with Ernest Morris on No 9, and Paul L Taylor ringing No 4. On No 6 was William H (Bill) Clarke who I recall Sid telling me had been a member of William Wilson’s pre war band. There was an Ellacombe Chiming Apparatus in the ringing room and on this Sid was an expert. He would sometimes, after practice, put on a short recital of tunes, forearms and elbows working vigorously at the “clavier”, the bells singing out above and sounding as a miniature carillon. No music and all done by ear. I particularly enjoyed his rendition of the Easter hymn, Christ our Lord has Risen Today.

During the summer of 1947, monday evenings, Sid and a group of us regularly cycled to Taylors foundry for All Saints Loughborough practice, for some reason held at the foundry during these months. I was very lucky in seeing fully assembled, the 35 cwt ring of twelve for Wakefield plus a chime of 18 bells, largest 41 cwt, for All Hallows, Barking by the Tower. Wonder if the latter is still being sounded. ? Also, suspended from an arrangement of RSJ’s at the rear of the casting shop was 14 ton Great George destined for Liverpool Cathedral. With it’s sound bow about 3 feet from the floor one could crawl under and stand inside this 9 feet high bell while someone outside operated the enormous ball clapper. Today Health and Safety would no doubt take a dim view, but no one came to harm. I recall Paul Taylor being not particularly pleased about the Architect or whoever was responsible at Liverpool for having this bell hung dead as opposed to swing chiming. It was at about this time that Sid taught me about the sounds emitted by bells with particular reference to Canon A B Simpson and Taylors Five Tone Principle, something in which I have maintained a life long interest.

Easter Monday, 1947, and six of us cycled to Lincoln and back, a distance of about 104 miles. This was Sid’s idea, but he and Jim Deacon, one of St John’s young ringers were wise and went by train. We didn’t go there to ring, but rather to look at the Cathedral and to see the “Lincoln Imp.” A fine day, with a strong SW wind blowing us along the A46, in those days apart from the short section to the Six Hills roundabout, which was dual carriageway, all twin track with hardly any cars or lorries. Four hours and we were in the Cathedral Close, but oh dear, the return ride against that wind. It took us eight hours and we were so tired, periodically resting on the grass verges, the final rest at Marfitt Street, flat out on the pavement. However by then John Bramley had had enough and eager to be home left us there as he pedalled off disappearing in the darkness up Belgrave Road no doubt thinking of a warm bed awaiting him at home.

Summer 1948 and six of us went on holiday to Mablethorpe, this time on the train. I think this was organised by Sid. We all stayed at a “boarding house”, John Bramley, Gordon Olliffe, Sid, Jim Deacon and myself sharing a bedroom. There was a double bed, either side of which was a camp bed with a further camp bed at it’s foot. Sid slept there with John and Gordon in the others while Jim and I drew the short straws and shared the double bed provoking a few, I won’t say ribald, but certainly humorous comments from Jim. Jean Ward who later married Gordon was lucky in having a room to herself. I have to smile when I think of those times, so much different from today. We did during the week manage just one ring on the heavy eight at Louth. It was at Mablethorpe that we met Tony Jesson and introduced him to bell ringing. I recall being envious of Tony’s expertise on the dance floor where he could glide along, girl in his arms with a certain style. All ballroom in those days, one had to know “how to do it”. No use asking a girl if one had no idea.

Sid did have a few prejudices, which included Leicester Cathedral Band of Ringers, Alice Wilson and the saxophone. In my time I never saw him enter the cathedral belfry. Alice, wife of Fred Wilson, ringing master at Aylestone ran a tune ringing handbell band and I think there may have been a little professional jealousy, as she used the chromatic scale, picking up bells from a table whereas Sid’s music used with his band, “The Beltonians” was restricted to an octave and a half diatonic. Sid despised the table method, saying it “made the bells howl” Furthermore Alice had a complete set of Shaw handbells whereas I believe only the largest 19 of Sid’s were by that firm. As regards that hybrid musical instrument, invention of Belgian Adolfe Sax in 1840, it was probably the type of music it usually played that formed his judgement.

I rang three peals with Sid at St Johns, Grandsire Caters on June 19^th 1948, Stedman Caters on December 12^th 1949 and again Stedman Caters on August 23^rd 1952. However nothing remains static and after this time my life changed as indeed happens to all of us. I eventually became an expatriate, overseas for 21 years, then again for another 13 years. I recall meeting Sid briefly during a period of leave from Kuwait. We talked over those old times. I was out of the country when he passed away though his ashes are interred under a patch of grass adjacent to the South door of St Margarets Church. It was during 2004 that the late Gordon Olliffe pointed it out to me as we stood outside the church. “ Sid’s under there”, he said. “Oh well Gordon, they were indeed good old times spent with him, don’t you think? so may he rest in peace”, I said as late in the afternoon I took my leave of him and turned for home.

John Bennett