Gordon A Halls MBE 1931-2002

Gordon's influence on bells and ringing in Derbyshire and beyond has been well documented. Early this year it was suggested that it would be appropriate to attempt quarter peals in as many of the towers where he was influential as a ringer or as our diocesan bell consultant as possible, to mark the 10th anniversary of his passing. A list of towers was provided and ringers at each were asked if they would wish to ring a quarter peal in his memory during the second half of April, that being the month of his birth and also of his death. They were offered help to do so if they felt that they wanted it and as a result twenty-seven quarter peals were rung by ninety DDA ringers and twelve non resident ringers representing forty-two different towers. 

These included quarters at Derby Cathedral where he rang regularly for 50 years, St Peter’s Derby where he was the ringing master for twenty-five years and at Eckington where the Gordon Halls Ringing Centre is dedicated to him. A further four ringers rang with six DDA ringers in a peal, conducted by Pat, at Newton-le-Willows where Gordon learned to ring and where he was also heavily involved in the augmentation project that culminated in the bells’ dedication on the day after he died.

A further peal was rung at Oaks in Charnwood on 30th April.

Wormhill, Derbyshire. 13 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Minor:  Katie Eldridge 1, Eileen Goodall 2, Pauline Boyle 3, John Boyle 4, Geoff Goodall Josh Eldridge (C) 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who led the DIY team that installed a new steel frame and rehung the bells in 1998

Youlgreave, Derbyshire. 14 Apr, 1264 Plain Bob Major: John Boyle 1, Pauline Boyle 2, Ruth Littlewood 3, David Camm 4, Eileen Goodall 5, Geoff Goodall (C) 6, John Thorpe 7, Josh Eldridge 8. Rung on the back eight in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). Gordon was instrumental in rehanging these bells in a frame for thirteen in 1995 and then in their augmentation in 1997.

Pinxton, Derbyshire. 14 Apr, 1344 Yorkshire Surprise Major,  Anne Westman 1, Joe Leary 2, Tony Fisher 3, John Fisher (C) 4, Andrew E Hall 5, Jim Heading 6, Neil A Westman 7. Susan G Hall 8. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). This was Gordon's first project. In response to enquiries, he persuaded the incumbent to scrap the two old bells and install a new ring of five in a frame for eight in 1966, and then to augment to eight in 1968. Also for Pinxton bells open day.

Youlgreave, Derbyshire. 15 Apr, 1259 Grandsire Caters: John Thorpe 1, Emma Humphrey 2, David Camm 3, Roy Meads 4, Frances Haynes 5, Robert Marchbank 6, Simon Humphrey 7, Ted Dakin 8, Richard Taylor (C) 9, John Boyle 10. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). Gordon was instrumental in rehanging these bells in a frame for thirteen in 1995 and then in their augmentation in 1997. Also a 65th birthday compliment to Robert.

Stanton in Peak, Derbyshire.16 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Jo Walker 1, Steph Steele 2, Gail Lilley 3, David Camm 4, Richard Taylor (C) 5, Sue Hadfield 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the installation of the new lighter ring of six in 2003.

Etwall, Derbyshire. 16 Apr, 1272 Rossendale Surprise Minor: Mike Willis 1, Jane Boden 2, Pat Halls 3, Tony Lees 4, John V Chadwick 5, John Hawes (C) 6 Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (15/4/1931 – 27/4/2002).

Scarcliffe, Derbyshire. 21 Apr, 1376 Plain Bob Major: Dennis Smedley 1, Tony Fisher 2, Anne E Westman 3, Hazel Jones 4, Pat Halls 5, Alec Humphrey (C) 6, Don Jones 7, Nick Daines 8.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the augmentation of these bells from five to eight in 2001.

Norbury, Derbyshire. 21 Apr, 1296 Plain Bob Singles (variable hunt): Gill Hughes (C) 1, Steve Harpham 2, Neil A Westman 3. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was influential on the frame improvements carried out on these bells in 2003.

Morley, Derbyshire. 21 Apr, 1296 Minimus, (Oxford TB, Kent TB, S Court, Double B & Plain B): Nick Daines 1, Gillian E Hughes 2, Alec Humphrey (C) 3, Neil Westman (C) 4.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the augmentation of these bells in 2001. 600th quarter peal together 2 & 3.

Youlgreave, Derbyshire. 22 Apr, 1280 Yorkshire Surprise Major: David Camm 1, Simon Humphrey (C) 2, Emma Humphrey 3, Ian Duff 4, Mike Lilley 5, Gail Lilley 6, Richard Taylor 7,Helen Taylor 8. Rung on the light eight in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). Gordon was instrumental in rehanging these bells in a frame for thirteen in 1995 and then in their augmentation in 1997.

Eckington, Derbyshire (Gordon Halls Ringing Centre). 22 Apr, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Nicola Hardwick 1, Kathy Grieve 2, Anne E Westman 3, Hazel Jones 4, Neil A Westman (C) 5,Simon Grieve 6, Don Jones 7, Barrie Goodwin 8.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) to whom this ringing centre is dedicated.

Dinting Vale, Derbyshire. 22 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Minor: Andy Venables 1, Linda Pelc 2, Adrienne Pyne 3, John Le Grove 4, Esther Venables 5, John Thorpe (C) 6.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls (1931 – 2002) who led the restoration of these bells to a ringable state in two stages in 1992 and 1997.

Bonsall, Derbyshire. 22 Apr, 1440 Cambridge Surprise Minor: Alec Humphrey 1, Graeme A Hughes 2, Gillian E Hughes 3, Frances Haynes 4, Alistair Hamilton 5, Roy Meads (C) 6.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). The restoration of this former derelict ring of six in a new frame in 2004 was a result of suggestions by Gordon some time earlier.

Belper, Derbyshire (St Peter). 22 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Gill Hughes (C) 1, Elizabeth French (first inside) 2, Alec Humphrey 3, Sue Marson 4, Viv Suttie 5, Naomi King 6.Rung in memory of Gordon Halls (15/4/1931 – 27/4/2002).

Ashover, Derbyshire. 22 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles, Jim Heading 1, Karen Jeffrey 2, Emma Humphrey 3, Richard Taylor (C) 4, Gavin Scott 5, Barry Watts 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the augmentation of these bells from 8 to 10 in a new frame in 1997. Also for the birthday of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and for St George's Day

Brailsford, Derbyshire. 23 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles, Pat Halls 1, Jenny Booth 2, Keith Baines 3, Cathy Potter 4, Chris Booth (C) 5, Rosemary Chesshire 6.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the design and installation of a ringers' gallery completed in 2003

Allestree, Derbyshire (W Bank Rd). 24 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Mike Willis 1-2, Alec Humphrey 3-4, Philip Hudson (C) 5-6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (15/4/1931 – 27/4/2002).

Newhall, Derbyshire. 25 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Katherine Fairbrother 1, Francis Gilbert 2, Alec Humphrey (C) 3, Chris Gilbert 4, Steve Durow 5, Kevin Parrans 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002). Gordon & Pat were heavily involved in the maintenance work carried out on the bell frame in 1992.

Brailsford, Derbyshire. 25 Apr, 1260 Minor (St James's Youths' Exercise B & PB): Mike Willis 1, Ray Daw 2, Jack Chadwick 3, Philip Hudson 4, Nick Daines (C) 5, Alec Humphrey 6.Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the design and installation of a ringers' gallery completed in 2003.

Hartington, Derbyshire. 26 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Mary Goodwin 1, Christopher Dullage 2, Lesley Birch 3, Giles Lacey 4, Geoff Goodall (C) 5, John Dean 6, John Boyle 7,Philip Goodwin 8.First quarter peal for 1, 6 & 8. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the new installation of these bells in 2007

Belper, Derbyshire (St Peter). 26 Apr, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Jack Chadwick 1, Pat Halls 2, Ray Daw 3, Mike Lilley 4, Colin Aked 5, Philip Hudson 6, Alan Marchbank (C) 7, Robert Marchbank 8. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 - 2002)

Osmaston, Derbyshire. 27 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Kath Brown 1, Keith Baines 2, Jenny Booth 3, Rosemary Chesshire 4, Chris Booth (C) 5. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002)

Brackenfield, Derbyshire. 27 Apr, 1250 Cambridge Surprise Minor: Alec Humphrey (C) 1, Pat Halls 2, Anne Sladen 3, Neil Westman 4, Chris Gilbert 5, Anne Westman 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the augmentation of these bells from three to six in 2002.

Bamford in the Peak, Derbyshire. 28 Apr, 1320 London Surprise Minor: Duncan Matheson 1, Kathleen Matheson 2, J David Adams 3, Brian Blakey 4, Simon Taylor 5, Ian W Taylor (C) 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in replacing the six steel bells with a new installation in 2000.

Mugginton, Derbyshire. 29 Apr, 1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor: Gill Hughes (C) 1, Viv Suttie 2, Alec Humphrey 3, Mike Banks 4, Irene Clarke 5, Steve Harpham 6. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 – 2002) who was instrumental in the augmentation of these bells from four to six in a new steel frame in 1987.

Derby,  (All Saints Cathedral). 29 Apr, 1280 Plain Bob Major: Paul Lynch 1, Pat Halls 2, Cathy E Potter 3, Janet Foulds 4, William Branson 5, Pam Timms 6, Anthony Cotton 7, John Heaton (C) 8. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls MBE (1931 - 2002) a ringer at this cathedral for fifty years

Derby, (St Peter). 29 Apr, 1260 Plain Bob Triples: Mike Willis 1, Chris Willis 2, Francis Gilbert 3, Chris Gilbert 4, Alec Humphrey (C) 5, Richard Barnett 6, Alan Rowe 7, Catharine Forster 8. Rung in memory of Gordon A Halls (1931 – 2002) who was the ringing master at this church for twentyfive years.