Appealing surprise

On May 5 of this year I too was honoured by a quarter peal being rung on the bells of Burton Dassett Church for my 80th birthday, I have lived in Northend all my life, and was christened, confirmed and married in Burton Dassett church. My husband rang the bells there for 61 years, and I did for 35 years. Over the years we trained several young people to ring the bells up there, one of them being our nephew, at the age of 13. He is now in his 50s and living in Cornwall, but came up from there for my birthday, and organised for five other ringers to join him to mark my birthday. His mother and I sat in the churchyard on a lovely sunny day, to listen to them for the 45 minutes it takes.

Thanks should also go to our churchwarden John for opening the tower for them. It made my day, as it was a complete surprise, I wasn’t told it was happening until 2.30 that afternoon, when he told me to be ready to be taken up to the church at 3.30pm. - Mrs W.S.Benfield, Northend, Southam.