Laurie Turner celebrated his 90th Birthday on June 1st. Laurie moved from Essex where he rang at a six-bell tower to Dorset in 1971 and looked for a new band to ring with. His father’s advice was to avoid a six-bell tower as he would find himself Tower Captain so he joined the band at Wimborne Minster. Within three years he was Tower Captain there! He set about building a band that could ring Surprise Royal to a high standard, his success is reflected in the high standard of ringing to this day at the Minster.
More recently Laurie has returned to minor ringing and so it was that he chose to begin the birthday celebrations by ringing a QP of Beverley Surprise Minor at Martinstown. A treat for him as, although he had been part of the band who rang a peal of 34 spliced Surprise Minor at Shenfield, Essex in 1962, a record at that time, he had never rung Beverley as a single method.
His birthday was spent with his wife Margaret opening up their house to their many friends and neighbours enjoying a cuppa and cake, with a celebration with family taking place later in the month at RNLI, Poole.
A peal was rung by friends at Corfe Mullen on June 1st as well as two quarter peals: one rung at Wimborne Minster and the other at Downham. Laurie rang 16 peals at Downham, Essex – mostly Surprise or Spliced Surprise Minor before moving to Dorset.
These days, Laurie keeps busy with ringing at Hampreston (no stairs to climb!) and at Bryanston for the Surprise Major practice. He also rings a QP from time to time at Martinstown and continues as a Minster Guide at Wimborne.
Pat Davidson
