I was inspired to write these few words after reading Gary Mason’s article about the peal of Bristol Maximus rung at the Cathedral on Monday, May 22nd 1950. From the month of May 1946, until Harold’s unfortunate passing in 1955 I saw quite a lot of him participating in 63 peals, mostly conducted by him. He was a remarkable character, tall and imposing with an authoritative manner of expressing himself, a good orator and public speaker who could get things done. This he did and during those years inspired and led the Leicester Cathedral band, at the time without doubt the leading maximus band in the country. Heavens how time has flown as it is now 70 years since his passing. I can think only of Winifred Warwick and myself, still alive who knew and had the pleasure of ringing with him.

Of the peals I rang with him one or two remain in memory eg 5040 Yorkshire Royal rung at St Pauls Bedford on Monday September 29th 1952 by a Leicester band. Some well remembered names took part, Jill Staniforth, Alf Ballard, Mrs H J Poole, Harry Poyner, Harry Wayne, Alan Jacques, myself, John Smith, Peter Staniforth and HJP conducting from the tenor. Unfortunately it was not a really good peal, no mistakes but we never settled down to first class striking. The other occasion was one of Bristol at Claybrooke rung on Friday, May 23rd 1952. My pal in those years, Terry Thornber, rang No 7 with myself on No 3 and HJP conducting from No 2. It was the only occasion I ever noticed HJP make a mistake, a slight trip which he immediately corrected, his facial expression remaining impassive. I dare not look at Terry, nor him at me because we “both knew that he knew that we knew” . We would have been in trouble had we made a mistake. We had such a laugh afterwards.

The rendezvous before peals was often Leicester City Police Headquarters, then at the southern end of Charles Street. We were instructed by Harold “Be at Headquarters 6 o’clock- don’t be late”. He would emerge from a side door, into his car and off we went for the peal. He was certainly a stickler for good striking and oh dear, if any one ruined a roll up? Terry recalled such an occasion ringing Maximus at the Cathedral when some poor unfortunate badly timed his bell during a roll up, provoking an irritated growl from HJP, “ now listen carefully, there are no dotted notes in bell ringing, the stuff’s not worth ringing without good roll ups”.

He had an excellent musical ear. I recall a few of us being invited to a social function at “Headquarters” where we saw HJP plus a group of policemen bobbing up and down on the stage while singing that Gilbertian number, “A policeman’s lot is not a happy one” Also at Blakeshays Farm in May 1952, an enjoyable evening with a group of friends where accompanying himself on the piano he sang a ditty in which there was a verse about each one of us. He was good on the dance floor and I recall our going to and enjoying country dances at various Leicestershire villages though how he found time for activities other than ringing, heaven knows? His peals, 143 of them in 1949 must have occupied most of his free time.

On another occasion he invited Terry and I to observe him prosecuting at a Leicester Court, in those days held in the Town Hall. He installed us, not in the public gallery but in the well of the court where we saw him in action. Quite an experience.

He had an amusing fictitious “bless yer” list comprising those young girls who raised no objections to their boy friends going peal ringing as opposed to a date with them, but on a more serious note he was concerned about their safety. For example the late Kath Brown told me how, after a winter evenings practice at the Cathedral, he detailed Tony Jesson to escort her to the Midland Station to catch her train to Ullesthorpe.

As mentioned earlier in this article, he was a man of authority, probably instilled into him during his years with the police, a structured and disciplined existence which I believe suited his personality. This was sometimes noticeable by the manner in which he addressed people, tolerated by most of the older generation though I recall one of the Cathedral band (an excellent ringer himself) telling me he didn’t particularly like HJP. Incidentally we youngsters never addressed him by his Christian name-oh no! Alan Jacques recounted how HJP had lectured him after Alan had used HJP’s Christian name “Harold” either spoken or in written correspondence (cannot recall exact details of this episode). I had one “run in” with him and that was when I, as a mere 17 year old dared to criticise (rightly in my opinion) the slap happy manner in which, after practice they fell their bells in peal. However that is another story. Meanwhile I will conclude this one by repeating a few of his words heard by me on several occasions “It’s a rum game this bell ringing, young John Bennett” . They were happy days.

John Bennett