Stephen Ivin – an appreciation
Stephen will inevitably be remembered for his ingenuity and skill in bell hanging and restoration and his many compositions but in addition to these practical capabilities he possessed great personal qualities in leadership, coaching and a unique style of humour. Like many others who met and rang with Stephen I have fond memories of a friend, mentor and coach whom I respected and held in high regard.
After learning to ring at Elstow, Bedford in 1969 aged ten I progressed little beyond hunting the treble until 1971, when brother Stephen and Robert Wood (Woody) were ringing at Bedford St Paul following an invitation from Stephen. Possibly contrary to popular belief Bedford St Paul was open to any reasonably capable ringer but an invitation from Stephen certainly would have had some significance. At the time I did not consider such matters and one Sunday morning I tagged along with my brother and Woody in the hope I would get a ring. As I remember, Stephen, having established my primitive ringing credentials, assigned me to hunt the treble to Grandsire Triples with Avril standing behind. I doubt I made much of a job of it but was pleased to have rung and felt a sense of achievement. I was somewhat surprised when Stephen suggested I might come again. This was the beginning of my regular attendance at Bedford St Paul under Stephen’s leadership which afforded me the best opportunity I could have expected. In spite of the high standard expected and complexity of methods normally rung Stephen always catered for my needs ensuring that I had an opportunity to develop my ringing further. My persistence and I assume Stephen’s tolerance must have paid off because on 17th September 1972 Stephen called my first peal, Grandsire Triples on the treble at Bedford St Paul. I was delighted.
I continued to ring at St Paul’s until around 1975 when other interests took me away from ringing but on Christmas Eve 1979 with nothing else planned I decided to venture to St Pauls once again. At the end of the evening’s ringing Stephen asked when I might be coming back. I considered my unannounced period of absence might not have conveyed the value I placed on Stephen’s previous attempt to make me a ringer, and with his apparent wish for me to return an interest in ringing was rekindled. Shortly after this Stephen and Avril moved to Oxford. I stayed ringing at St Pauls and eventually graduated to ring on higher numbers, coached and supported by members of the experienced twelve bell band that Stephen created.
I particularly recall from this period a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples, possibly my first on an inside bell. I struggled to get to grips with being in the hunt but Stephen soon fixed that. The first three or four occasions I failed to stay in the hunt he gave a gentle reminder, increasing in volume each time. Inevitably a limit was reached and Stephen deemed a more assertive instruction to be necessary. At volume he bellowed “David get in the ******* hunt!” I made no further mistakes thereafter and at the end of the quarter peal a grin and a “well done” from Stephen was enough to put me at ease and a reminder to do my homework in future! I still sometimes forget I am in the hunt when ringing Grandsire and on realising I vividly recall Stephen on that occasion. It reminds me to always do my best. Steve’s frustration would have come from the fact he knew I could do better. That was Stephen’s approach, getting the best from people and improving it.
After Stephen and Avril left Bedford to live in Oxford we met and rang together only occasionally and exchanged correspondence. I know Stephen maintained an interest not only in what I was ringing but also my family and their welfare. I am glad that prior to his death I was able to share with him my recollections of those earlier years and express my gratitude for what he did for me as well as talk about other topics of common interest.
I am saddened that Stephen is no longer with us and I will hold personal memories of him as a friend, leader, coach and role model whose personal achievements were directed at the greater good.
May he rest in peace.
David Stanford
