I first met Ernie Willcox in the early 1970s, when he was the formidable Ringing Master of St Chad’s, Shrewsbury, and I was a bit of a rabbit at twelve bell ringing. I soon learned that, besides being a superb heavy bell ringer whose high standard could lift the performance of the whole band, he was also very kind to novices. A man of few, and ruthless, words, if the ringing was sloppy, whose glare from the tenor box wilted many pretensions, he also had an impish sense of humour and a fund of funny stories. He was not a man who sought office, he simply loved ringing. Nevertheless, he worked hard for the Shropshire Association, taking on the roles of Ringing Master and Central Council Representative for some years.

Ernest Frank Willcox was a Salopian born and bred. He was twelve years old when he first climbed St Mary’s tower in Shrewsbury town centre, and asked to learn to ring. Another youngster there at the time was Cliff Barron. A couple of years older than Ernie, he was later to conduct Ernie’s first peal and became a life-long friend.

In those days there were separate bands at St Chad’s and St Mary’s, and Fred Beddow was Ringing Master at St Chad’s. If Ernie had any doubts about ringing, they ceased when Fred turned up to St Mary’s practice one evening with his daughter, Sylvia. Ernie started ringing at both towers. He was thirteen when he asked Sylvia to go out with him.

After leaving school, Ernie took a brick-laying apprenticeship. This was followed by National Service, from 1953 to 1956. He went into the Royal Horse Guards regiment (now part of the Blues and Royals), where his equine partner was named Spook. When stationed at the Knightsbridge barracks he took every opportunity to go ringing. In May, 1954 he was invited into a Cumberlands peal of Stedman Cinques, but had to decline. Her Majesty the Queen was returning from a Commonwealth tour and all leave was cancelled for the day in question.

Imagine the consternation when Trooper Willcox was summoned, without explanation, to the CO’s office. There, he was ordered to present himself for peal ringing duty at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and to do his best for ‘the honour of the regiment’. Ernie kept a straight face. Strings had been pulled, and Stedman Cinques was duly scored.

He returned to Shrewsbury and married Sylvia in 1957. He hoped to join the police. Shrewdly recognising that it would be difficult to police his home town, where he was so well known, he applied to the Buckinghamshire force, and worked there for the next ten years. Four of his five children were born during these years, which came to an end when Ernest’s mother-in-law became ill. The family returned to Shrewsbury, where Ernie resumed his first trade as a bricklayer, and gradually took on a leading role in local ringing. Ann Williams recalls that he was always very encouraging to novice ringers, and steered many people through their first quarters and peals, often at Atcham. When she started a new band at Moreton Corbet in the 1970s, Ernie came regularly to help. He promoted the regular ringing of quarter peals which is still a feature of the Shropshire Association. He also donated the cup for our striking competition.

Ernie rang 137 peals for the Shropshire Association, of which he conducted 19. His first peal, in March 1952, was of Plain Bob Minor at Cound, and the last was exactly 40 years later, in March 1992. A link with the beginnings of the Association is that Ernie rang peals with Teddy Rodenhurst, who rang in the Association’s first peal in 1926. Ernest also rang in the first peals at Atcham and Meole Brace. He rang the tenor at St Chad’s to peals from Triples to Maximus. An attempt for Minor was abandoned when one of the other ringers had had enough.

In total, Ernie rang in excess of 250 peals, for 18 Associations. His 100th peal was in 1970 on the tenor at Liverpool Cathedral. By modern standards he didn’t ring advanced methods – his peals included Cambridge Royal – and he often volunteered for treble or tenor. He is remembered for impeccable striking and concentration.

Apart from ringing, Ernie much enjoyed military band music. For many years he acted as general factotum and minder to the bands at the Shrewsbury Flower Show, and was to be seen alongside the bandstand, keeping a warning eye on the audience. He also enjoyed his regular visits to the Munich Beer Festival.

In the mid 1990s Ernie’s health began to deteriorate. Characteristically, he decided to stop ringing while he still maintained a good standard. He was seriously ill for some months before his death on December 20th. He will be remembered as a colourful character, and as a ringer who was generous with his talent.

Gill Glover