Bellringers in Market Harborough marked the passing of one of its longest serving members, John Hunt. A packed St Dionysius Church heard of his many exploits as family and friends joined to remember this well liked ringer and friend at his funeral on Thursday, 4th June.

John first started ringing in Hallaton, Leicestershire in the early thirties. A group of local friends cleared the sticks and birds’ nests out of the belfry, tied the clappers, and practised until they thought they were ready to ring open for Sunday services. Ernest Morris of St Margaret’s Church, Leicester heard of their efforts and took them to Leicester to help them improve.

When the Second World War began, ringing ceased and John joined the R.A.F. spending the war years in the service of his country, ending the war in Burma.

After the war, John returned to ring at Hallaton, then Great Bowden before moving to Market Harborough about forty years ago. John rang in this church continuously until about three years ago when health reasons prevented him from climbing the stairs. His ringing did not end here though, as his friends made sure he was still included in the after ringing pub visits, and he always had a lift to other local towers with few (or no) steps for Sunday Service ringing.

John became a member of the Midland Counties Association in 1937 at the age of 17. He was one of the first members of the Leicester Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers, served on the District Committee for several years and was chairman from the late 60s to the mid 70s. He was made an Honorary Life Member in 1988. John was also a member of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild and attended many of their branch meetings.

In 1990 when St Dionysius Church bells were augmented from 8 to 10 John spent several days helping the bell-hanger with the installation. He took easily to ringing ten bells.

John rang peals and a huge number of quarter peals, was always eager to go on outings and rang at over 1000 towers, rarely forgetting the good or bad ones. He loved ringing and all the camaraderie and friendship that went with it.

John will be missed by all who knew and rang with him.