Vivian started ringing at the end of 1948 when the bells from St. Hilary, Wallasey, were returned from John Taylor’s, Loughborough bell foundry, where they had been ¼ turned, fitted with metal headstocks and ball bearings. From the records which Vivian compiled, it appears he was elected to the St. Hilary band in 1950 and rang 17 ‘720’s’ in that year, methods including Kent and Oxford treble bob and Cambridge.

Vivian rang a total of 41 peals, some as a conductor, his first peal being at Birkenhead St. Mary on 28th June 1950 in which he rang the treble to 4 Minor methods. His first peal at St. Hilary was rung on 6th August 1951 from an inside bell, the methods including Cambridge and Oxford and Kent treble bob combined, conducted by Frank Varty. One of his particular enjoyments was the handbell practices in his front room at 5, The Willows, under the guidance of Tommy (Eric) Gilbert. He was very proud of his achievements and rang several handbell peals. Another of Vivian’s enjoyments that comes to mind was the ringing for lunchtime services on the 12 at St. Nicholas, Pier Head, Liverpool under the direction of Geoff Sparling. As the older ringers at St. Nicholas, Wallasey, retired from ringing, due to old age and illness, Vivian was determined to keep the bells ringing and encouraged anybody he could to ring there on Sunday mornings after St. Hilary’s ringing.

When you look back, Vivian has made an amazing contribution to the life of St. Hilary’s. He was bellringing secretary and tower correspondent, church archivist, choir member, PCC member, printing press co-ordinator for the ‘village churches together’, and wrote ‘Up the Spiral Staircase’ each month for the church magazine.

In his spare time he organized the legendary St. Hilary’s bellringers outings, where many ringers and non ringers had some wonderful days out.

Vivian would never let you down and I know he had written a letter of resignation to the St. Hilary band but just couldn’t give it to us. I don’t think he could imagine not ringing again. Many thanks Vivian for your friendship, encouragement, support and guidance over so many years to myself and many others.

John McCulloch, Tower Captain, Wallasey St Hilary.

A half-muffled peal was rung on 27th November at St Hilary's in memory of Vivian, which we hope was a fitting tribute. The band included five present Wirral ringers and Christina Fleckney, who rang with Vivian a lot while her father was Rector at St Hilary's in the 1970s and 80s and who made the journey from Essex for the peal. The bells had also been rung half-muffled by ringers from St Hilary and other Wirral towers both before and after the funeral service and by St Hilary ringers for the interment of his ashes.

Vivian’s son, Richard, subsequently wrote to the Wirral Branch Secretary, whose address he had found on Vivian’s computer, referring to the ringing. Regarding the peal, he commented “I can imagine him lying there at the foot of the tower listening intently and ringing with them in spirit. I only hope they didn’t make any mistakes because he would have spotted that, too!” Thankfully, the number of mistakes was very few with each immediately corrected! Vivian would have forgiven us for that.

Peter Hughes (Peal Conductor) and Peter Humphreys (Wirral Branch Secretary).