Mrs Joan Summerhayes (Known as Mrs N Summerhays, Miss Joan Beresford.)

Date of Birth: 05/05/1932

Date of Death: 11/08/2007

Age at death: 75

Trade or profession:

Biographical references:

Biographical summary

Societies:

Society offices held: She was the Senior Steward of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths 1969-1971 and 1977-1978 and was Assistant Secretary 1974-1976. She was Tower Captain at Egham 1993-1999 and Ringing Master of the Chertsey District 1992-1995.

Places:

Place of Birth: Lichfield

Began ringing at: St. Michael's Lichfield

Tower mentioned in obituary: Egham

Ringing records:

Began ringing: 1946

Notable performances: She conducted a peal of Stedman Cinques, the first peal on 12 bells for the Ladies Guild, at Leicester Cathedral on 12 September 1964. She rang in the first non-conducted and silent peal of 6 Spliced Surprise Major at Turner's Hill on 23rd January 1966. The first peal of silent and non-conducted peal of 7 Spliced Surprise Major followed at Sittingbourne on 20th February 1966, and the first peal of silent and non-conducted 8 Spliced Surprise Major on 15th May 1966 at Turner's Hill. She rang in the first peal of Spliced London Surprise Royal: 1, 2 and 3, at Shoreditch on 27 July 1971. In 1971, with Jill Staniforth, she became one of the first women to ring a peal at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Details of peals: Included in her peal total are 89 peals of Maximus in 30 different methods and Spliced Maximus in 3 - 36 methods. Her handbell peals included Spliced Surprise Major in 4 - 10 methods.

First peal:

Grandsire Doubles

Mavesyn Ridware

05/05/1947

Total peals rung: 1170

Total peals conducted: 25

Handbell peals rung: 62

Participation in Central Council activities:

Meetings attended: 18