Reginald George Tickner 1929-2010
Reg sadly died on 13th June 2010 in hospital a week before his 81st Birthday, over 400 people attended his funeral.
He was born in Worplesdon, Surrey, on June 21st 1929 and had two brothers and four sisters. Reg attended the local Worplesdon Primary School before moving on to Woking Grammar, where he stayed until 1945. He had been a member of the parish church choir but when his voice broke at 14 they decided that his voice was not good enough for the men’s choir and so he was sent upstairs to the tower where he was taught to ring. At that time there were six bells and a competent band; so Reg was soon ringing Grandsire, Stedman, Kent and Oxford.
On leaving School Reg joined the Electricity Department as an accounts clerk; remaining there until he was 18 when he was called up for National Service and spending over two years in the Royal Air Force. Returning to civilian life he resumed his former work but now with South Eastern Electricity Board.
On September 15th 1951 Reg married Doreen at St Mary’s, Worplesdon and went on to have three children Jane, Andrew and Richard. Having served forty years with the Electricity Board he decided to take the golden handshake in 1986 and became a gentleman of leisure.
Reg’s first peal was of Grandsire Triples in 1954 but it was another twenty years before he rang another peal, and he went on to ring 22 peals in total. He moved to Horsham in 1967 and over the next forty years was Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Captain and Captain of St. Mary’s Horsham. He also served as Northern Division Secretary. As well as bellringing Reg was a sidesman and a church watcher at St Mary’s; he also played bowls and was a member of the local RAFA club, being their treasurer for 33 years.
He was not a prolific peal ringer but rang 13 in Horsham and his name is on six peal boards; he also rang over 300 quarter peals; his last was on Bell Meadow mini ring last September. One of the most remembered quarter peals was rung when the local brewery, King and Barnes, closed down and the picture of this was published in the local paper.
His favourite methods were Stedman Triples and Grandsire Triples or Caters; he had a dislike of Yorkshire but would ring it and one of his peals was Yorkshire Major. A peal of Stedman was rung for his 80th birthday and many ringing friends gathered to wish him happy birthday. He was especially proud to ring with his granddaughter and his great granddaughter who has just learnt to ring.
His many ringing friends at Horsham and surrounding area will miss him; above all Reg was a much loved family man and will be sorely missed by his wife Dot, Jane, Richard and Andrew his children, his grand children and great grand children.
VAL BURGESS
