Trevor Lock - Captain
I've been bell-ringing since 1987 and for my sins have been captain for most of that time. I was invited to come ringing as my parents were involved in the 1987 flower festival to celebrate the centenary of the rebuilding of the church in 1887. They were helping to tidy the churchyard and I was with them and it happened to be bell practice night.
The team never lasted that long as most of my fellow ringers were old and were forced to give up due to ill health. Fred Price and Mark Elton became churchwardens in 1995 and acknowledged me winding the church clock. They quizzed me on my very limited knowledge of the church bells and after I explained I could ring, they both decided to join the team and get the bells ringing for services again. The church bells have been rung most Sunday Services ever since.
Bell Ringing to me is like football to Gary Linker or F1 to Nigel Mansel. It still amazes me how much I enjoy it, from grassroots ringing all the way to 12 bell Surprise Maximus, although I know it's not everyone's 'cup of tea', I often wonder how many people would really enjoy it, but have never tried and so will never know! Please do come along or go to your local tower and have a go at least once.
Jocelyne Lock
I started ringing with my son Trevor in 1987. Back then we learnt to handle a bell and to ring rounds. Churchwardens Fred Price and Mark Elton joined our team in 1995, and we all became members of the North Staffordshire Association of Change Ringers, which increased our experience and enable us to ring at many more towers. Bell ringing is a great hobby, very rewarding regardless of how long you've been ringing or how experienced you are. Whenever you turn up to any tower whether it's practice night or Sunday service ringing you are welcomed.
Mervyn Lock
Husband of Jocelyne, Father of Trevor - Ringing since 1999. Mervyn first took to the ropes to help out to ringing for the Millennium, think he'd ring for that monumental occasion and would no longer be needed. He decided to do this in the last few weeks of November 1999. He was given an extensive 'crash course' by Trevor most evening so he could manage ringing rounds for the occasion. He rung most practices and Services since.
View Mervyn's Performances
William Hall
Ringing since 2008 - William was invited to ring where he grew up, Appleby in Cumbria. However just before he started to ring he joined the RAF, and so he never got to learn. However that invite must have planted the seed and when he retired and came to live in Haughton he joined our band and has been a valuable member ever since.
Trevor Stacey
Ringing since 2011 - Trevor moved to the village in 2010. Trevor and his wife Catherine heard the bells ringing on their first New Years Eve in the village and came in to see us perform. Not knowing many locals, Trevor joined our merry band and quickly came part of our team.
Ringing since 2011 - Trevor moved to the village in 2010. Trevor and his wife Catherine heard the bells ringing on their first New Years Eve in the village and came in to see us perform. Not knowing many locals, Trevor joined our merry band and quickly came part of our team.
Dick Bowler
Ringing Since 2018 - Dick had a 'frozen' shoulder after retiring from many years work at Reso seeds. He had rung bells in his late childhood at Ellastone, and thought the exercise would help with his shoulder. It did and now Dick enjoys bell ringing and the camaraderie it brings.
Karen Powell
Ringing at Haughton Since 2019 - Karen learnt to ring at East Drayton, Nottinghamshire, where her mother had joined the local band, she would often ring there when home from university. Eventually ringing gave way to work commitments and raising a family. After 'semi' retiring in 2019 she was looking for something extra to do with her free time and joined our team. Not long after joining, the first Covid-19 National Lockdown was announced, and ringing had to cease. It also meant she was busier at work than ever! However Karen has managed to join most of our Zoom ringing meetings, and can't wait to get back to the tower.
Hilary Saunders
Ringing since August 2021 - Hilary has recently joined our team and is excited to start and learn to ring at Haughton.
Former Haughton Ringers
Below is a list of ringers who have been members of the Haughton team, as everyone is, they are more than welcome to come and join us at anytime.
Helen Turner-Murphy - Member 2015 to 2020
Lydia Turner - Member - 2017 - 2020
Cerys Lock - Member - 2017 - 2019
Connor Millington - 2018 - 2019
Max Symonds
Phil Michie
Dave Hitchens
Graham Johnson
Emma Clay
Janet Robson
Tony Martin
Ken Hewitt
Keith Litherland
Ben Day
Bob Woolman
Christopher Woolman
Catherine (from Romania)
Shane (from Northern Ireland)
Chris Jordon
Pamela Jordan
Pat Johnson
Louise Leese (nee Baskerville)
Michael Wood
Philip Brown
Michael Brown
Michael Hale
Simon Barnaby
Alex BarnfatherSteve Pollard
Present and Past Regular Visitors - The ringers below have been or are regular visitors to our practices and services. It's good to see them and we would like to thank them for their help and support, it's always really appreciated.
Ian Friend
Derek Tweed
David Hunt
Andy Hughes
Petula Hughes
Phillipa Hughes
Jenny Beech
Iain Waine
Anne Ashley
Keith Brooks
Gren Knight
Sandra Penson
Richard Harris
Shirley Harris
Jim Reynolds
Emma Sanderson
Gill Wheatley (and her Gang)
Ringing Members and regular Visitors who have sadly passed away - This list is of the bell ringers who were members or were regular visitors and have sadly passed away. We have some great fond memories of them all and they will always live on in our hearts and minds.
Fred Price (Haughton)
Mark Elton (Haughton)
Lou Waik (Haughton)
Canon Wade (Haughton)
Frank Doxey (Haughton)
Ruth Fairbrother (Stafford)
Ted Fairbrother (Stafford)
Frank Beech (Stone)
Marion Owen (Stafford)
Dennis Owen (Stafford)
Bill Reynolds (Lilleshall)
Andy Wilson (Haughton)
Joe Sleth (Church Eaton)
Charlie Getley (Church Eaton)
Fred Getley (Church Eaton)
Anne Davis (Haughton)
Ann Hodgkins (Seighford)
John Deakin (Haughton)
Margaret Jones (Stafford)
Ringers and People who have helped us along our way!
Selwyn Jones (Stafford)
Phil Gay (Keele)
Roy Jenkinson - Although never a ringer Roy & Mary used to live in Oak Gardens before moving back to their native Lancashire. Roy was head of our fundraising campaign while raising funds for the rehanging of the bells in 1998. He was responsible for applying for the Heritage Lottery Grant which was successful, without Roy we could be still ringing 5 bells on a rickety wooden frame, or worse still the frame may have been condemn and ringing would have had to stop. We will be always very grateful for Roy's efforts.
I've made these list from my memories of ringing at Haughton since 1987. Sorry, but I can't remember all of everyone's details and may have missed the odd person out. If you can add further to the lists, please do get in touch, I've heard lots of stories of past ringers such as Huebert Grattage and Harry Taylor, but I have very little information about this era, if anyone can fill in the spaces please feel free to get in touch. All these people have made great local history and I have very fond memories of my years at Haughton, all have been packed with lots of fun. Here's hoping for many more...
If anyone does not want to be mentioned above please let us know.
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