October 17th 1943 – February 1st 2009

It is well known that Marion had many hobbies – bowls, tennis, cycling and was a member of several organisations both in the village and further afield; W.I., book club, magazine distribution team, Southam Town Twinning to name only a few, but she was also an accomplished bellringer.

Marion came to Napton-on-the-Hill village with her husband John and two small daughters Jane and Naomi in the summer of 1976. She taught at Stockton school and later at Napton ‘old school’ before becoming Headteacher there until her retirement in 1996 when the school closed.

She was born in Suffolk, moving to Norfolk with her parents, as a small child, where she joined the choir in her home village church, and as a teenager was recruited to the bell tower at Great Barton where she was taught to handle a bell by Gilbert Larter.

At Napton she currently held the post of Secretary and was the first lady Tower Captain in the history of St Lawrence ringing, a position she held for five years during which time she taught many a learner to handle a bell. She was instrumental in the conversion of the then tower members to method ringing by the traditional and recognised way of memorizing the blue line (at that time Napton ringers rang changes by reading numbers from a board which was positioned in the centre of the ringing chamber).

Her powers of persuasion also encouraged John and in time Jane and Naomi to ring.

In 1988 she was elected to the Ladies Guild of Changeringers and remained a supporter of Northants District until her untimely death.

Though not a peal ringer, she enjoyed ringing quarter peals for special occasions (including her own silver wedding anniversary) and enjoyed visits to other towers, pointing out items of interest in readiness for her ‘write up’ to the parish magazine after the autumn day outing.

For many years, with her husband, she organised ‘The Spring’ evening outing, which entailed finding a tower and more importantly a good pub for refreshment after the rigours of ringing. She continued to do this after John died in 2004.

Marion regularly attended the Holy Communion Services in other churches in the benefice, Shuckburgh and occasionally Stockton, but always got back to Napton in time to take part in the Sunday Service ringing.

On the day of the funeral the weather was appalling, snow and ice abounded, nevertheless St. Lawrence’s Church was filled to capacity and local ringers with visitors took part in the half-muffled ringing before and after the Service.

Napton-on-the-Hill ringers will miss Marion greatly and extend their heartfelt sympathy, love and prayers to Jane & Naomi.

In thanksgiving for Marion’s life, quarter peals were rung in Northants and Warwickshire details of which accompany this tribute.

M. B. Ingman