Eleanor Margaret “Peggy” Thornton

1919 - 2009

Coming within seven weeks of the death of her husband, John, the sad death of Peggy Thornton ended a wonderful married couple team at St Mary’s, Warwick. It was perhaps fitting that after 67 years of marriage they were not separated for long.

Born Eleanor Potter, Peggy was a farmer’s daughter and had an idyllic childhood, free to roam the countryside she would take the cows to graze on Warwick Common. Peggy attended King’s High School, went to teacher training college in London and first taught in Nuneaton and subsequently Warwick where she became a deputy headmistress at the Borough School. Peggy married John, whom she had known since teens, in 1942 and in 1947 their first child Christina was born followed by John and Mary. In the mid 1960s all the family learnt to ring with Peggy and John becoming stalwarts of the Warwick band.

Peggy only rang two peals, the first the treble to Bob Minor at Harbury in 1973, conducted by Chris Pickford and a second at Cubbington in 1976.

However, Peggy was at home on ten bells and rang quarters up to Grandsire and Stedman Caters. She also learnt to play carols on St Mary’s Ellacombe chimes. In latter years she was unable to ring due to failing health but continued her interest.

Peggy had other interests including being a Guide at St Mary’s, teaching Country Dancing (Playford dances), playing the piano and walking. The latter reflected her lifelong love of all things connected with nature. As the other half of “Mr & Mrs Warwick” she will be sadly missed. Peggy’s memorial service took place at St Mary’s Warwick on 26th June attended by a good congregation of Warwick folk and ringers. The bells were rung after the service and several quarter peals rung in her memory. Our condolences go out to her family.

Chris Mew