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Ely Diocesan Association

This page combines information from several sources and also indicates how the society has evolved over time.

Society NameDescriptionsFrom (year)To (year)Web site

Ely Diocesan Association

The bells of St Mary's Ely were restored and re-dedicated on 29th May 1882. The event attracted some 250 ringers from as far as Norwich and London. At a luncheon held in the Boy's Room of the National School, Gervas Holmes JP MA introduced the idea of forming an association in a speech which resulted in several ringers taking up the idea. Holmes himself had been a ringer at Great St Mary's when he was an undergraduate at Emmanuel College, Cambridge in the 1850s and had subsequently started a bell foundry at Harleston in Norfolk together with Captain A P Moore and H A O Mackenzie. A letter was circulated in December 1882 to canvass support and the Bishop afforded his patronage. A provisional committee was formed with Kenelm Smith acting as honorary secretary. By the following summer the committee was ready to act and held a ringing meeting in Cambridge on Bank Holiday Monday 6th August 1883. Following the day's ringing a dinner was held at the Alexandra Restaurant at which the proposal to form a 'Diocesan Association of Ringers' was carried unanimously.
The early years of its existence however, raised difficulties with the newly formed Bedfordshire Association created for the Bedford Archdeaconry which was part of the Ely Diocesan. These difficulties perhaps led to the meeting held on 12th January 1897 at which the Ely Diocesan Association of Change Ringers was re-launched. It may further explain the temporary re-naming of the Association as the Ely and St Edmundsbury Diocesan Association (1919 to 1921). Further information is provided in the Ringing World (10th January 1997, pages 25, 26 and 29). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1897. Sometime: Ely & St Edmundsbury Diocesan Association (1919 to 1921) [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1897

https://www.elyda.org.uk/
 

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Books in the Council Library

Total records: 4
TitleAuthorDateNotesAcquisition Number
The Ringer's RabbleNewsletter No 1 (Autumn 1999) - No 25 (Autumn 2007) No 13 and No 15 missing2811
Annual Reports 1895 (photocopy), 1898, 1901-08, 10-13, 13/15 (interim), 14/20 (1908, 1910 and 1911 are photocopies), 1921-2017/18, 2018/19 - 2022/23677
The Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers: the first hundred yearsGareth Davies et al2022illustrated 4187
The Ely Diocesan Association of Change Ringers 1895-1921. Peals, conductors and composers, 1895-1921Maurice J Thurmott2006A4 computer print-out 3144
 

Accounts of the lives of society members

Records 1 to 10, of 70 
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NamePlace(s)Other societiesDate of death
Private John Allen Place of Birth: Brampton
Roll of Honour tower: Brampton, Huntingdonshire
20/09/1918
Private William George Allen Place of Birth: Brampton
Roll of Honour tower: Brampton, Huntingdonshire
19/02/1915
Reginald Rupert Andrews Roll of Honour tower: Whittlesford19/04/1915
Albert E Austin Location mentioned in obituary: Newmarket25/12/1974
Alfred Edward Bacon Roll of Honour tower: Fincham29/10/1940
Raymond William Balls Began ringing at: Cromer
Location mentioned in obituary: Cromer
Guild of Post & Telecom Ringers
North Staffordshire Association
Norwich Diocesan Association
07/11/2000
Horace Banham Location mentioned in obituary: WisbechPeterborough and District Association22/01/1915
Alan Michael Barber Place of Birth: Newmarket
Began ringing at: Fordham
First peal tower: Swaffham Prior
Location mentioned in obituary: Stansted Mountfitchet
Location mentioned in obituary: Whitley Bay
Ancient Society of College Youths
Central Council of Church Bellringers
Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Association
Essex Association
12/07/2021
Albert Ernest Bass Roll of Honour tower: Kimbolton15/06/1940
George Alfred Baynes Roll of Honour tower: Ickleton03/02/1945
 

Central Council Reps

Records 1 to 10, of 123 
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YearCC Reps
1899Revd Walter William Covey-Crump
1900Revd Walter William Covey-Crump, Charles Sillitoe
1901Revd Walter William Covey-Crump, Charles Sillitoe
1902Revd Walter William Covey-Crump, Charles Sillitoe
1903Revd Walter William Covey-Crump
1904Revd Walter William Covey-Crump
1905Revd Walter William Covey-Crump
1906Revd Richard Lionel Twells
1907Revd Richard Lionel Twells
1908Revd Richard Lionel Twells
 

Peal board photos

Records 1 to 5, of 5 
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Cavendish, Suffolk 13/10/1912

Cavendish, Suffolk 22/02/1914

Details

Horringer, Suffolk 12/04/1913

Details

Chevington, Suffolk 29/01/1914

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Northwold, Norfolk 16/02/2002

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Methwold, Norfolk 20/04/2002

Details

Peals

For those who have a pealbase login, the society analysis has totals since 1910.