Left to Right:- Seymour Lee, Andrew Seeley, Edric Franklin, Simon Adams (Ringing Master), Ann Bailey, Ray Weekes, Alan Cottrell and Margaret Burling.  (photo by Julie Hooper)

Existing Ringers

  • Ray has helped in setting up the computer in the tower and helps with tower maintenance.
  • Simon  has been Ringing Master since Jeff Webb left in October 1991.  He conducts our practices every Wednesday.
  • Julie Hooper is correspondent at Bickenhill.  Julie organises ringing at Yardley if Simon is not there.
  • Ann's brother Seymour joined us seven years ago and is now ringing treble to triples methods as well as learning Grandsire and Bob Doubles.
  • Andrew rings tenor behind, but is also able to ring inside to Plain Bob Triples and is learning Grandsire Triples.
  • Alan & Margaret both began ringing in 1982 at Sheldon,  when there were only four bells there.  Sheldon now has six bells.
  • Mark Pouney is our youngest ringer.  He is ringing treble to triples methods.
  • Richard Andrew (from St James at Shirley) often joins our happy band for  practices and service ringing.  Ray rings regularly at Shirley.

Edric Franklin died in 2002 in his 88th year. Edric had been a member of the Yardley band from 1979 and  he also rang regularly  up until he was 80 at Hampton-in Arden and he rang at Shirley up until quite recently. He was brought up in Kemerton, Worcs and was taught to ring by Oliver Attwood 72 years ago. He moved to Birmingham before the war and rang at Aston parish church until 1966.  He became Ringing Master at Aston. Edric was a guard on the railways and was a member of the Railway Industries Guild.  He was a life vice-president of the St. Martins guild. Edric was a real character, always there in the ringing chamber with quiet words of encouragement for everyone especially the younger and newer ringers, a man with a wonderful sense of humour we shall all miss him  and all the members of the Yardley band will remember him with fondest affection and we will never forget our "Stedman" expert and all the time Edric gave to the hobby of Bellringing which he loved.

A photo of Edric taken at Sutton on the Hill during a Ringing Outing in May 2001

To contact us:

Phone: Simon Adams - Ringing Master -
0121 786 1242
Email: Bells@stedburgha.fsnet.co.uk

St Edburgha Church Bell Ringers |Shirley Ringing Outing-May Day|
All about us | Ringing in 2007!
| Visit to former vicar Jeremy Tyndall| The bells and tower