A 93-year-old from south Norfolk has marked 80 years of ringing the bells at his local church, after first taking up the ropes as a teenager.
Herbert Websdall learned to ring in October 1946, aged 13, after moving to the area and following his mother’s advice to give it a try. He has rung ever since, attending regular Wednesday practices and Sunday services for much of his life.
Now based at St Margaret’s Church, Starston, Herbert has spent more than 50 years as Tower Captain. In that time, he has trained generations of ringers, including members of his own family, and helped keep the parish tradition going. He also supported ringing further afield, including helping to train a team when the bells at Fressingfield were restored in 2008.
To mark the milestone, a bell festival was held at St Margaret’s. The day began with a service led by the Bishop of Thetford, followed by handbell performances, a chance to try ringing on the Glebe, and a gathering in the village hall.
Herbert is modest about the achievement. Few people continue ringing into their nineties, but he speaks more about the routine than the record.
He said; “I started then and carried on. We practise every Wednesday and ring for Sunday services. I have not missed many.”
He is now preparing to step back from his role as tower captain, handing on responsibility for training, maintenance and organising the ringing. Recruiting new members is a priority after recent retirements and people moving away.
He is keen to encourage others to try. “Come along and have a look and see what it is all about,” he said. “It is not hard work. It is about concentration and timing.”
Over the years, he has taught people of all ages, including a young boy who spent two years learning before ringing one of the heaviest bells. He stands with new learners in their early sessions to guide them and make sure they are safe.
Herbert says the appeal of bell ringing is both practical and personal. He said; “While you are ringing you cannot think of anything else. You have to concentrate, it is a very social activity. The team looks after one another.”
He also values what the bells mean for the wider community. “They tell people there is a service. For some who cannot get to church, when the bells are ringing that is their church time.”
After a lifetime in the tower, he says the sound itself still matters most. “What I get out of it is to stand in the churchyard and listen,” he said. “It is part of life.”