In 1988 Sue and her late husband David retired to Chilfrome near Cattistock in Dorset after a working life spent farming in Cornwall. In 1991 the local team vicar, Tim West appealed for ringers to ring the 5 ringable towers in the Melbury Osmond benefice. Sue and David were amongst 15 taught by a group of instructors from the Dorchester and West Dorset branches of the Salisbury Guild. A cluster group was formed crossing branch boundaries, a daring idea at the time. This group would ring at 2 towers on a Sunday and practice at Evershot.
Sue and David rang a lot of quarter peals, many at Maiden Newton and with the Melbury ringers. In 1999 they started peal ringing progressing to multi Surprise Minor and 8 bell peals in Dorset and south Somerset, mostly conducted by Tim Collins. Sue rang 76 peals in all and over 250 quarter peals. In 2000 she was listed in the Ringing World as 6th in a table of who had rung peals with 5 or more 1st pealers.
Sue was secretary of the West Dorset Branch for 10 years and Tower Captain at Beaminster.
In 1998 she and David started a practice on Thursday mornings at Maiden Newton using a simulator that David had installed. On moving to Beaminster Sue continued this practice using the simulator at Bradpole. ‘COOTS’ (Come Out On Thursdays) still continues. Sue ran COOTS for 25 years.
Although no longer ringing tower bells Sue enjoys handbell ringing having taught herself a few years ago.
Sue celebrated her birthday in two sittings. On 4th February was a party at home for family and friends and on 11th February she was joined by ringing friends at the Strode Room in Beaminster churchyard. The local ringers provided an excellent ringers tea. She enjoyed catching up with old friends and chatting about past escapades.
A quarter peal of Grandsire Caters was rung during the afternoon mostly by friends who have been part of her ringing life. Sue sat in the churchyard and listened intently to the ringing throughout
When asked what it was about ringing that she most enjoyed Sue’s response was ‘friendship, brain activity and gratitude for all the help she has been given’
Looking at Sue’s ringing career it seems many will be grateful for her help.
Sue Carter, West Dorset Branch
