GEORGE NEWMAN; 27th May 1924 - 27th November 2007
George was born at Leverton, Berkshire but soon moved to Aldbourne and then Baydon where he lived all his life. He started bellringing at Aldbourne in 1937 at the age of 13. He learnt under the strict guidance of the then tower captain, Arthur Palmer, at a time when Aldbourne's heavy, odd-struck eight was a ground-floor ring and the ropes some sixty feet long. These factors undoubtedly accounted for George's excellent handling and his impish sense of humour, attributes from which many generations of learners at Aldbourne have benefited. George was himself tower captain at Aldbourne for many years and also at Baydon, was a longtime Chairman of the Marlborough Branch, and was an Honorary Life Member of the Salisbury Guild.
George's first priority was Sunday service ringing at Aldbourne and he prided himself on his impeccable attendance record. As well as numerous quarter peals, he rang 11 peals on Aldbourne's somewhat challenging bells and a further 44 peals at other towers. Always the enthusiast, George would think nothing of pedalling his heavy old Raleigh bicycle to the other end of Wiltshire on a Saturday to grab a tower, turning up early the following morning for service ringing at Aldbourne quite refreshed. George rang at 2614 towers all told throughout the country.
Following his well-reported rescue from the Aldbourne tower last year George sadly concluded that it would be unwise to climb to the ringing chamber again, so ending a notable chapter in his life and that of the tower. Since then, George rang occasionally at Baydon and at other local ground-floor towers, most recently for Baydon's Harvest Festival on October 7th 2007, completing 70 years of service to the art. Involved to the last, he attended a branch outing, which appropriately included Baydon, just four days before his death. Although he chose on that occasion not to ring, he couldn't resist the chance of sausages and mash at the Blue Boar afterwards.
George died suddenly and peacefully at home early on the morning of 27th November 2007. His funeral took place at Baydon, George's own village, on Saturday 8th December, 51 years to the day after his marriage there to Dorothy. It was evidence of the affection in which he was held that the church was full to overflowing with family and friends, among them many ringers.
Locally, quarter-peals were rung, in celebration of George's life, at Aldbourne on 2nd December 2007 and at Mildenhall on the 5th. On the day of his funeral quarter-peals were rung at Aldbourne and at Ramsbury.
Marc Hart and Colin Mynett