In 1942, Eric Hitchins, along with his brother Laurie and two other youngsters, Fred Slatford and Donald Lee, were taught to ring at St Nicholas Church, North Bradley by Percy Harding, a very experienced ringer.

This was at a time when bell ringing was only allowed on ‘special days’ and practices were few. When the ban on ringing was lifted in 1943, the four young ringers became members of the Salisbury Diocese Guild of Ringers.

Over the 70 years of his membership, Eric was honorary general secretary from 1972-78. He became an honorary life member in 1993 after 50 years of ringing and is also a vice-president of the SDGR. One of his major achievements was to stabilise fundraising for the Llewellyn-Edwards Bell Restoration Fund.

Since that time and despite a move to Norwich, Eric has continued to support the Guild and we are delighted that he and his wife are planning to move back to the Salisbury Diocese area.

At the Devizes Branch meeting on November 2 at Warminster, Eric was presented with a certificate for 70 years membership of the Guild by Tom Garrett, the guild master.