Having learnt to ring when he was young with his father on the heavy twelve at Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire, David later rang in a call change band when he and his wife, Barbara, moved to Chudleigh in Devon having returned from living in France, running a guest house.
He moved to Bower Hinton where he settled into the Martock band. David’s first Quarter Peal was of Plain Bob Triples at Martock on 20th December 2009, where he rang the tenor and went on to ring numerous doubles Quarter Peals at Stoke sub Hamdon. From 2011 he also rang at Ash and progressed to Cambridge Surprise Minor and Major right up to ringing 15-Spliced Surprise Minor and 4-Spliced Surprise Major.
David became Tower Captain at Martock in 2016. He taught many learners to ring and Fiona Cozens speaks of his marvellous patience. The band rang a peal at Martock to celebrate his and Barbara’s Golden Wedding Anniversary, in September 2019. He remained Tower Captain at Martock for several years until he moved to Bridport.
Shortly after covid, when the Bradpole band was trying to re-invent itself, David joined the Bradpole band, attending all their struggling practices and steadily helping them to improve when he could have had fine ringing elsewhere. The band members treasure his loyalty. David would help in any way he could – offering lifts, opening up for practices or visiting bands and quietly making practical improvements like modifying the muffle-fixings and providing foam sheaths to protect the ropes from damp.
The Shipton Gorge ringers record his unendingly generous and patient support for the newly formed band, helping novices towards method ringing and supporting them through their early quarter peals. Elizabeth (Ferguson) says ‘His hints and tips were both idiosyncratic and spot on, never to be forgotten.’ David was undoubtedly pleased to ring there on Bell Sunday in 2025, alongside Dawn, who had bravely learnt to ring.
David was also a regular player at Bridport and South Petherton Bowls clubs. He had a bumper year in 2019 winning three singles competitions, the non winners trophy, the Handicap singles and Men’s four wood Championship.
He also won the three wood pairs in 2020. He helped the club off the green and is fondly remembered covering himself in white dust from rubbing down plaster work.
David was always an enormous and consistent support to learners and, in addition to his contribution to Bradpole and Shipton Gorge bands, was a regular supporter of the “Plain Bob and Beyond” group as well as the West Dorset branch Thursday morning sessions at Bradpole. His quiet and supportive presence will be missed by all who rang with him.
