The annual meeting of the ringers in connection with St. Peter’s, Yateley was held at Hilfield on a recent Monday evening, when the full company was present. J. P. Stilwell, esq., J.P., occupied the chair. The Yateley company are indeed fortunate in having this gentleman as president, for Mr. Stilwell has for many years been president of the Winchester Diocesan Guild. It has always been his wish that some of the members of his family (who are all life members of the Guild) should take up active change ringing, and we are pleased to find that the wish has been realised, for now on practice-nights in the belfry handling the ropes with the local band can be seen the youngest daughter of the president, Miss Beatrice Stilwell, of whom more will be heard in ringing records.
After the usual settling of accounts the election of officers was proceeded with. Needless to say Mr. Stilwell was re-elected president, and he briefly thanked them for electing him, and trusted that they might all meet again next year.
Mr. H. Hilton was re-elected foreman of the ringing company, the proposer remarking that no one studied the interests of the ringers more than Mr. Hilton, and wishing that he might live many years to officiate in the same capacity.
Mr. S. Riddell was re-elected captain, a vote of thanks being accorded him for the great interest he had taken in the work of the band. Mr. Riddell, in replying, thanked them for their kind vote, and said that without the help of his brother-ringers it would be impossible for him to give instruction on the ropes. He would like to take this opportunity of thanking all the ringers who had been good enough to come and take a rope on practice-nights to enable young ringers to master the intricacies of change ringing.
After the meeting the president kindly invited all those present to partake of supper, in which the good old English fare of roast beef and plum pudding came in for rather severe handling, the last course-end coming up about 9.45 p.m. After supper the company were invited to the drawing-room, where the members of three generations of Mr. Stilwell’s family were present to a short touch on the handbells. A course of Triples was rung, and also a short touch of Grandsire, in which Miss B. Stilwell took the treble. After the change-ringing a selection was well played by Messrs. G. Butler, G. Bunch, S. Riddell, F. Hagley, and W. Horne. This finished the evening, the ringers then dispersing to their homes well pleased with the kind hospitality of their president and the result of the annual meeting.
The Bell News No. 1415, May 15, 1909, page 145
The old wooden belfry at Yateley, Hants, was again, on New Years Eve, packed to its utmost capacity. At the services on Sunday the Vicar intimated that he was holding a short service with the ringers in the belfry a few minutes before midnight, and any who wished to join in and see the new year rung in would be welcome
The ringers met at the belfry at 11.30, and cars began to come from all directions, the village soon becoming ablaze with light. The belfry was quickly filled in every nook and corner, and also up the stairs.
Handbells were provided and exhibitions of change ringing were given which greatly interested the large company, many of whom saw for the first time the method of ringing and of the work carried out in our belfries.
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A few minutes before midnight the passing bell was rung, and as the clock struck the hour the Rev. F. R. Pechey offered suitable prayers for the occasion, including one from the Guild’s service, and then gave the Blessing.
The bells then rang out to the tune of Grandsire and Stedman, all ringers present taking a part. After many wishes for 1934, the company dispersed, but it is understood that some of the ringers visited the home of the president, where more good wishes were exchanged until all appeared tired out.
However, they were not to be allowed to rest for long, for amongst the company in the belfry was Miss Dorothy Macrae, who, quite unknown to them, was in a few hours to become a New Year’s Day bride. Nothing was known until about 1.30, when the ringers were called out to celebrate the happy event of her marriage to Capt. Harper, which had taken place by special license at Mortimer, Berks
Miss Macrae had always taken a great interest in the Yateley band, and everyone turned out and rang. The first touch wag 350 Grandsire Triples to allow Sailor Boy Cooper to ring, and conducted, by the head gardener of the bride’s home, Mr. A. Goodall. This was followed by a quarter-peal of Stedman Triples, conducted by Mr. G. Butler, after which the whole company were lavishly entertained by Mr. Kenneth Macrae.
New Year’s Day, 1934, will be long remembered by the Yateley band, and also by many more who, for the first time in their life, began to think that there is more in change ringing than appears on the surface. It is a good thing to invite as many as possible to our belfries on the occasions of ringing whenever convenient.
S. J. R.
The wooden tower at St. Peter’s Church, Yateley, was probably first erected by local talent. Later on it was shored up, underpinned and brickwork inserted owing to its sinking on the south side. Nearly 30 years ago the bells were going so badly, owing to the sway of the structure, that one of the ringers undertook to steel “flitch” the interior above first-floor level with 9in. by ¾in. flitches, and from that time the bells have gone very well indeed. The tower is covered with oak shingles.
The tower contains an old clock, which told time to the village in the days of Queen Elizabeth. It has the best eight-bell ringing chamber in North Hants, and is on the ground floor with the font in the centre. Eight ringers, who were born in the parish and baptised at the font, have rung a peal of Grandsire Triples at this church - a truly “local peal.” The band are strong and form themselves into a miniature Guild, having a president, vice-president, Ringing Master, secretary and treasurer, and for more than 40 years some of the present ringers have been members of the Guild. The following are the details of the bells:-
Treble.- “Ex dono Johannis Pakenham Stilwell, MDCCCLXXXVIII. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sauctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.” (The gift of J. P. Stilwell, 1888. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.) Cast by Taylor, of Loughborough. Weight, 3 cwt 3 qr. 26 lb.
Second.- “Ex dono Johannis Pakenham Stilwell, MDCCCLXXXVIII. Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis” (The Heavens and Earth are full of Thy Glory. Hosanna in the Highest.) Cast by Taylor. Weight, 4 cwt. 1 qr. 14 lb.
Third.- “Sancti Petri sum, ex dono Johanuis Pakenham Stilwell, 1878. Sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos.” (I belong to St. Peter. . . . May the splendour of the Lord our God be on us.) Cast by Taylor.
Fourth.- “William Yare made mee, 1613.” Cast at Reading foundry.
Fifth.- “Sancta Katarina, ora pro nobis.” (St. Catharine, pray for us.) Symbols, cat’s head, cross in a circle, and a bunch of lilies. “ R.E.” (Richard Eldridge, of Wokingham.) Cast about 1555.
Sixth.- “Love the Lord the God, and of E.H.S., 1577, TE.FR.” Symbols, cross in double circle, a man with a beard, monogram FCJ in a rope circle, the figure 6, and a geometrical figure somewhat like a 5-pointed star between the letters TE and FR, Also a figure of a bearded man (? the Deity) holding the sun and moon. Recast 1921, the old wording and symbols being retained and the following added: “In memory of John Pakenham and Georgina Elizabeth Stilwell, by their children and grandchildren.”
Seventh.- “Our hope is in the Lord. R.E. 1617.” Each word is followed by a heart.
Tenor.- “Cast by John Warner and Sons, London, 1864. F.S.” The Royal arms. Before it was recast, this bell had the following inscription: “Reprove mee not Lord in Thy wrathe. R.E. 1617” A heart between each word. Weight, 15 cwt. Note G.
Sanctus.- “R.E. 1623.”
The Ringing World No. 1190, January 12th, 1934, page 27