Derrick Phillip Bailey
17/6/1939 – 18/5/2025
My Dad was born in the village of Great Cheverell near Devizes in Wiltshire on 17th June 1939, just before the outbreak of World War Two.
He often reminded us that not long after he was born, he was christened by a vicar who was named Rev Wilbert Awdry who was the children’s author of the Thomas the Tank Engine Books.
Dad was very proud to represent his country doing National Service from 20th August 1959 – 12th September 1961 as a Teleprinter Operator for the RAF. Dad often talked about his time in at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
Dad had a career as a postman and worked in Devizes sorting office for a staggering 44 years before retiring at the age of 60.
Dad was taught to ring by his father Louis Bailey and he was elected a ringing member of The Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers in 1953 and became an Honorary Life Member of the Salisbury Guild in 2003 on completion of 50 years membership, and he received his certificate to mark 70 years membership in 2023. Dad was proud of this certificate, and it hung near his armchair for everyone to view. Dad had held the post of Ringing Master in both the Devizes and Calne Branches being a regular supporter at events in both.
Dad was also very honoured to be elected to the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths in January 1971.
In the 1960’s and 70’s , Dad was connected to St Mary’s Devizes and he along with several other ringers ensured that there was regular ringing happening in the tower. They would ring at St Mary’s on a Sunday morning and then dash over to Great Cheverell to ring for the service which was later. My parents met each other at St Mary’s tower and married there in 1969.
Dad was a member of the Great Cheverell band for many years he was tower captain and ringers from around the area would attend the practice nights as they enjoyed the way he ran the ringing. Dad began to struggle with his mobility and in the end when he could no longer hold a rope, Dad would run the ringing and conduct from a bench in the corner of the tower. He was sharp with his conducting and would conduct methods spliced at the half lead, he was able to put anyone right if they made a mistake.
Dad taught me to ring when I reached 10 years old and the rest is history. Dad and I would often have conversations about bellringing, and I am so grateful for everything that he taught me.
Dad rang a total of 96 peals and conducted 39 of these which included 88 for the Salisbury Guild, 5 for the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, and 3 for the Ely Diocesan Association. Dad rang his first peal at Seend, Wiltshire in 1963 which was Plain Bob and Grandsire Doubles. He conducted it which was almost unheard of in 1963. One of Dad’s greatest achievements was to conduct a peal of 42 doubles methods and variations in 1967 which was the most methods to a peal by all the band. My Dad rang and conducted the first peal on the new six at Avebury, the last peal on the six at Avebury and the first on the eight after augmentation.
Dad and I rang 11 peals together, 5 of which were at Avebury and 3 at Great Cheverell. Dad’s last peal was Yorkshire Surprise Major at Bishops Cannings following the SRCY country meeting in 2011. This was the only peal we rang together for the SRCY so ringing this peal together for the Society was a very proud ‘father and son’ occasion.
We have no record of how many quarter peals Dad rang, his first was in February 1963 at Seend, Grandsire Doubles, which of course he conducted himself, and by the end of 1963 he had scored 19 quarters, conducting 18, including his first of minor. In 1989 a group started ringing quarter peals in Surprise Minor methods, the first being London Surprise Minor at Great Cheverell. Over the next four years various firsts in method were scored and then in 1995 it was decided to attempt to ring quarter peals in the 41 standard Surprise Minor methods. Most of these attempts took place at Avebury with Dad as the conductor, the group became known as the Friday Gang. All 41 methods were rung as single method quarter peals. Dad also rung quarter peals to methods forming a Surprise Major alphabet from the first letter of their name.
Dad unexpectedly became very unwell in March and was in hospital and then a rehabilitation home until May before returning home. Dad was taken into hospital again a week later and died suddenly in Salisbury District Hospital on 18th May at the age of 85. The funeral took place on what would have been Dad’s 86th Birthday at St Peter’s Great Cheverell. David Hacker of Melksham was a great friend to my Dad and at the funeral, David spoke about his ringing memories and the family were grateful for David agreeing to do it.
Derrick Phillip Bailey was not just my dad but he was my rock, my strength, my hero, my friend and he gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.
The ringing world has lost a good ringer, conductor, teacher and helper, someone who could bring out the best in people who shared in the friendship and fellowship that ringing has to offer.
Now he is reunited with my darling mum and may he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Phil Bailey
(Thanks also to David Hacker for allowing me to use some information from his memories read out at the funeral)
