My dad George Barry Brown was born in Billingborough in Lincolnshire on 21st December 1936.
He was many things: He was friendly; Approachable; He had a dry sense of humour; Good tempered except possibly when bellringing; a unique dress sense and he was very active even at 88. Loved company and could talk to strangers like they were old friends and he had many interests in life. He liked History especially war time Britain; Engineering including aircraft, trains and traction engines; he enjoyed the outdoors and liked Travelling around the uk and abroad; he enjoyed music; he also enjoyed doing family things – but his passion was bells and bellringing.
He starting ringing in his early teens and one of his claims to fame is he not only rang for the late Queen’s coronation in June 1953 but also for King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.
He met my mum, Ann, who was a regular ringer at Barkby when he started visiting Leicester on his motorbike and eventually in a three wheeled car. Mum and dad married in June 1965 at Barkby church and then moved to Anstey. He was also a regular ringer at All Saints Leicester. At All Saints he would regularly be seen ringing with a rope in each hand. This would mesmerise many visiting ringers as not only was my dad ringing two bells but so were 2 other members of the band.
He rang over 350 peals. 11 were double handed.
He lived in Anstey all his married life. I was born in 1967 and my late brother, Ed in 1969. We were brought up in the ringing room and Ed and myself along with quite a few other ringers kids spent many an evenings after ringing sitting in the car in the pub car park drinking bottles of pop and eating crisps while our parents were in the pub.
He was a devoted parent and grandparent to Emily, Alex, Liana and Thomas unfortunately none of them have caught the bellringing bug despite his best efforts.
My dad was a regular ringer in the Leicester Diocesan guild joining in 1961 and did a stint as chairman in the Leicester district. He was also a member of the Framland bellringers from 1997 even taking on rolls as ringing master and committee member for a time. He would meet up with the rambling ringers for ringing trips and he was also a member of the RAF guild and often went on weekend trips with them too.
As tower captain at Anstey for over 30 years, he enjoyed teaching new ringers and helping people progress. He loved organising outings and weekend ringing trips on minibuses and Wednesday night quarter peals. He was always looking for a bizarre method that my mum and I would have to learn at short notice. With a comment like “Its easy its only Cambridge Above the treble”.
Barry was a regular face at Markfield, and Ratby as well as Anstey, turning up in his shorts, sandals and bobble hat to help out on practice nights, Sunday service ringing and weddings. He would regularly visit my brother Ed and his family in the lake district and would time his visits so he could ring at a meeting in that area.
My dad was much travelled and known around the country for his ringing. When I lived away from home I would often visit towers either practice nights or meetings in different areas. When I told people I was from Leicester, someone would always ask me if I knew Barry Brown. I even met some bellringers on an alp in Switzerland who knew him.
He retired from Leicester city council as an electrician at the age of sixty. Once retired he used to organise a monthly Leicestershire ringing meeting for the wrinklies.
He was married to my mum for 59 years and 2 days, until she died in June last year. He was her main carer for about five years as her health deteriorated. After mum died he was still actively ringing and going places. He went on a weekend ringing trip with the Framland and attended the RAF guild weekend meeting. He also rang a quarter peal of Lincolnshire for his 88th birthday back in December.
Unfortunately, my dad took ill about 4 weeks before he died. He was doing really well up to then. He had been to hospital for a check-up and the doctor had commented that he hoped he was as fit as my dad at 88. Dad loved telling everyone this. He was in hospital 3 weeks before he died. He had heart failure, a chest infection and was very confused. He was well looked after by the Glenfield hospital but slipped quietly away on the evening of 7th March 2025.
He will be sadly missed not only by my family but also by the local Anstey community and the ringing community of which he dedicated his whole life.
In loving memory.
Marion Pegge
Ringing in Memory of Barry
Saturday 8th March, Anstey, General Ringing
Saturday 8th March, Leicester St Mary de Castro, 1282 Lincolnshire Surprise Royal
Sunday 9th March, Sleaford Lincolnshire, 1344 Cambridge Surprise Minor
Sunday 9th March, Claybrooke, 5056 Spliced Surprise Major (4m)
Tuesday 18th March, Bellfoundry Tower, 1260 Plain Bob Minor
Wednesday 19th March, Birmingham Alabama USA, 1250 Braunstone Surprise Major
Wednesday 19th March, Anstey, 1280 Lincolnshire Surprise Major
Friday 21st March, Great Dalby, 1260 Mixed Doubles (5m)
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