Ringing publicity often focuses on the 12 bell striking competition. The Ringers of Leicester (not the LDG) were asked to enter a band in a proposed competition for a 12 bell striking at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. A band consisting (according to the 1975 LDG report) of 6 St Margaret’s Ringers, 4 Cathedral ringers, one from Anstey and one from Wigston Magna was formed. Rosie Mason has documented this in the history of the Guild and we are grateful to Kingsley for bringing the Emlyn F Hancock trophy to Bristol and giving it an initial clean. All three 12-bell trophies were displayed in the marquee; they would have benefited from an appointment with a tin of Brasso.

Early this year an article appeared in the RW about our memories of the 1975 competition. This was followed by an invitation to attend the 2025 event (in person or ZOOM) to take part in the 50^th celebrations. These were much more refined than the original day! A further article appeared on 20^th June and more will no doubt follow.

We followed the advertisements and bought wrist bands to enter the Church as seating would be limited and only those with bands would be allowed into the church and churchyard for the private event. A programme was given to us with the wristbands, containing a welcome note, order of events, details of food and drink available, information on the bands and a ‘trip down memory lane’…. giving an account of the 1975 event (with a picture of the 1979 Leicester band!)

By the time of the draw there was standing room only in Church. After welcoming addresses by the Vicar and the Chair of the 12 bell committee the draw was made. The event was a final for 2025 and a celebration of 1975. After this the first band, York, ascended the tower while the others had photographs taken. Two ringers actually rang the same bell as they had in 1975. The ringing time passed quickly – it was impossible to walk any distance without meeting someone you knew!

After the competition ringing had finished, the 1975 attendees were invited to the north aisle for a series of photographs. Firstly, the six members from the Leicester band with their trophy were pictured. A second set of photos was taken of all the ringers who had rung in 1975 and thirdly a picture of all the people who had been in Bristol on that day. A celebration cake had been displayed in the Undercroft earlier in the day but was cut without ceremony and pieces sold while we were waiting for the results.

After the photographs the six of us were interviewed about our memories – most of us struggled – there had been no formal photos in 1975. We remembered firing out practising the night before, the non-arrival of the coach on the morning, the surprise of winning as we were not the favourites and the journey home after the celebrations. We also remembered the members of the band who are sadly no longer with us.

In those days there was no way of telling how our ringing compared with the rest of the country. To this day we are still told we robbed other bands……….. The competition was arranged as a one off event but in 1976 a small group decided to repeat the event. The Emlyn F Hancock trophy belongs to the Ringers of Leicester who won it so Andrew Wilby set about commissioning a new trophy – The Taylor Trophy. A competition was arranged and Leicester proved their supremacy at St Margarets. Some felt that the competition would ‘fizzle’ out after a few years but it grew and a third trophy has been made to accommodate all the inscriptions. The first Taylor Trophy is now on display at the Bellfoundry. Our conversation moved to the Emlyn F Hancock Trophy itself – which belongs to the ‘Ringers of Leicester’. In 1975 we decided that it should be used to promote ringing to the public – two places were suggested – in St Margaret’s under the Ernest Morris window or in the St Dunstan’s Chapel in the Cathedral with appropriate wording. The Cathedral was chosen as it is open more frequently than St Margaret’s. The 1975 ‘Ringers of Leicester’ still want the trophy to be publicly displayed and have added the Bellfoundry museum to the list of potential venues. It is now an significant piece of ringing history and this needs to be documented!

We then assembled in the nave of the church and waited for the results. The judges gave their overall opinion, comments on individual bands and then results. Consistent comments were made about bells transitioning between 6’s and leading. After 50 years the Bristol ringers finally took the trophy home.

St Margaret’s also hosted the first eliminator in 1979. The 2026 competition will be on 20^th June in York. Qualifying heats are on 28^th March at Leicester St Margaret, Nottingham St Mary, St Mary-le-Bow and Cornhhill, St Michael. The 12-bell committee would like all entrants, including those who do not make the final, to have the same experience. All welcome! Let’s keep Leicester on the map!

Carol Franklin