January 1st 1949, New Years Day, Alan Cattell and I take the train to Ullesthorpe, then walk the mile or so to Claybrooke on a grey winters day, though thank heavens it is not raining or snowing.
The occasion is a peal of Bristol, conductor Walter P Whitehead. I have not learned the method so ring the treble, Mrs Beamish on No 2, Frank Perrins, J W Frank Trotman, Paul K Williamson, Walter conducting from No 6, Alan and lastly John A L (Jack) Thompson who rings the tenor. I am most impressed by the sound of Claybrooke bells in particular how when half way up during an excellent rise in peal, the sonorous boom of the tenor resounds through the ringing room. The 5184 Bristol is excellently struck and afterwards Alan and I make our way back to Ullesthorpe Station board the train and home to Leicester.
Well readers, all that happened 75 years ago yet, when I think about that long gone day, it could be yesterday. I had started writing this article before hearing about the passing of Mavis Whitehead on October 10th 2023 at Portsmouth, aged 89 years. She was niece of Walter and daughter of Edward (Ted) Whitehead, both very clever ringers, Walter particularly adept as a conductor. Both Ted and Walter participated in two handbell peals, now largely forgotten, but which at that time were remarkable achievements. These were 5040 Cambridge Royal rung on Sunday March 30th 1947 at that venue for many a handbell peal, The Wayside, 150 Narborough Road South, Walter P Whitehead 1-2, Jill Poole 3-4, Alf Ballard 3-4, Harold J Poole 5-6, Edward R Whitehead, 9-10. Cond. H.J Poole. Then on September 28th 1947 5280 Cambridge Maximus, Peter J Staniforth 1-2, Jill Poole 3-4, Harold J Poole 5-6, Walter P Whitehead 7-8, Alf Ballard 9-10, Edward R Whitehead 11-12. Cond. H J Poole. Both were the first peals of Surprise Royal and Maximus rung on handbells.
I am not sure what happened after this, but there appears to have been dissension or disagreement between Walter and Harold. They were not ringing together in 1949 and there was an attempt to topple Harold as President of the Leicester Guild. I recall an alternative candidate being proposed who if my memory is correct, was Tom Belton of Barwell. In the end this came to nothing, but at the time caused quite a stir. Rather a shame after the above achievements.
I rang 14 peals with Walter, ten of them he conducted, including my first of Stedman Caters, first of Cambridge Minor and Major and first of Stedman Triples. I believe Walter liked Stedman, indeed Garry Mason told me the hearsay story of Ted and Walter standing back to back ringing Stedman Triples, four in hand, Walter calling it round. True or not, I can imagine them doing just that as a party piece. With Mavis I rang 11 peals, the first Grandsire Triples, rung on March 1st 1947 on the light eight at St Margarets, conducted by Ernest Morris, and the last, Stedman Caters at St John-the-Divine rung on November 12th 1949, again conducted by Ernest Morris. After these years I never saw Mavis again as our paths diverged, but then that is life. However for me she will never grow old, but will remain a mental vision of a young 14 year old girl catching hold of a rope in the ringing room of St Margarets Leicester, the tower where in that post war year of 1945, she learned to ring.
John Bennett
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