John Hinton 1924 - 2009

The obituary below, which supplements what was published in The Ringing World of July 24th, p.764, is based upon the notes that I wrote for the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain.

John will be especially remembered for performing on a unique set of boxed handbells on which he tapped out tunes using two hammers. The 15 bells were mounted mouth-to-mouth in a coffin-shaped box and had been in the possession of his family for some 150 years. The other interesting fact about the

bells is that they were cast by a local founder, as indicated by the inscription engraved on

the tenor: "J. Jarrett, Founder, St John’s, Worcester"; his premises were what is now the Bell Inn. In his book Musical Handbells, Bill Butler commented that he knew of only three sets by this maker. John was a member of HRGB, and was registered as a one-man team. He gave many public performances on these bells, especially at Christmas-time, when he would go round the local pubs with his boxed bells and a charity collecting tin. In the 1970s he appeared on the television talent show Opportunity Knocks.

As well as being a performer on handbells, John had also been a tower-bell ringer, and was the fifth in line of a notable Worcester bellringing family. His father and grandfather, and others before them, were all associated with ringing at the principal churches in the city, including the Cathedral, All Saints’, and St Helen’s. As signwriters, their work is in evidence in all of these churches in the beautifully lettered peal boards there. This is particularly so at the Cathedral, which has a fine set of boards written in gold leaf. Among the names are those of John’s father and grandfather.

John’s grandfather, George Hinton, Snr., used to team up with another notable Worcester ringer, William Page, and together they made many stage appearances as "The Bijou Minstrels". For their performances they used twenty handbells, with four in each hand and one strapped to each ankle! They sometimes even had one strapped to their head!

John’s great-uncle was William James (Jimmy) Hinton, who left Worcester for Bristol where he became a leading light. This September brings the centenary of Jimmy’s death and the ringers of St Stephen’s, Bristol, have plans to commemorate the event.

John’s son, Philip, has inherited the family’s musical talent, and is now Director of Music at the church of the Lutheran Ministry of Christ, in Coral Springs, Florida.

DAVID BEACHAM