Young bellringers compete

On 2 April, seven teams of young bell ringers from all over the diocese met at Purley-on-Thames to compete in the first ever John Butler Trophy.

The trophy has been specially designed by two Pangbourne ringers, Len Palfrey and Richard Carpenter, to mark the 100th birthday of John Butler. John is now living in retirement in Chudleigh, Devon, but he was for 73 years tower captain at Bradfield, Berkshire.

John started ringing in 1919, in response to a recruitment drive for new bell ringers following World War I. During the war Bradfield bells had been ‘manned’ by women, quite an exceptional occurrence but essential while the men were away in the war.
In 1922 he became a member of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and in 1927, tower captain at St. Andrew's, Bradfield, Berkshire. In  2000 he was awarded the MBE for services to bell ringing in Bradfield.

During his captaincy he taught many young people the art and science of bell ringing and it is most apt that the new Youth Trophy should be named in his honour.
His 21st birthday was punctuated, very memorably, by the birth of our Queen!
John was ringing until two years ago and is still very alert and enjoying his retirement. He was delighted that the Guild had honoured him in this way.

The competition, which was organized by Chris Wells (14 ) of Tilehurst, drew teams from North Bucks, East Berks and South Bucks, Shiplake Oxfordshire, Reading branch, Vale of the White Horse, Sonning Deanery and Oxford City, each team containing at least 4 under-21s. The competition was judged by Robin Hall of Oxford and Keith Anderson of Wallingford. The winners were the team from Oxford: Jonathan Cresshull*, Simon Edwards*, Sarah Franklin, Heather Banyard, Nick Hartley and Leon Thompson, the conductor. (*over 21.)

Bobbie May, press officer for the Oxford Diocesan guild of bell ringers.