Professional photographer James Bell visited the tower on practice night and took some lovely pictures in the tower. We sent some of the ones of our fine pealboards to ‘The Ringing World’, the bell ringers’ magazine.

Melissa Osborne, a reporter for the Kingston Courier, visited the tower on practice night a few weeks ago to find out about bellringing. Here’s her report: https://kingstoncourier.co.uk/the-kingston-bell-ringers/
We have blogged about lending a set of handbells to Piggott School’s music department.
Well, we asked for a photo of them for our inventory and we were sent the pic above which got us intrigued to find out about the generous donator. This is what we’ve uncovered on the internet …
S. W. Gandy, Samuel Whitelock Gandy was a famous writer of hymns as well as vicar of All Saints Kingston, 1817-1851.
We’ve found the following about him on the Internet:
https://hymnary.org/person/Gandy_SW1
https://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/biographies/gandy.html
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/g/a/n/d/gandy_sw.htm
Gandy, Samuel Whitelock. This writer (Vicar of Kingston-on-Thames with Richmond from Jan. 1817 to his death, Dec. 24, 1851) was the author of “What tho’ the Accuser roar” (Victory through Jesus), and “His be the Victor’s name” (Victory through Jesus), in the Plymouth Brethren Hymns for the Poor of the Flock, 1838, Nos. 43, 44. Some of his Sermons were published posthumously in 1859. Sedgwick says he published a Selection of Psalms & Hymns, but we have not seen this work (S. MSS.). –John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
Samuel was the son of John and Margaret Gandy. He was a King’s Scholar at Eton in 1788, and an assistant there, 1800–03.
He was admitted as a scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, July 28, 1795 (BA 1800, MA 1803, fellow 1798–1817).
He served as minister at East Stonehouse (now part of Plymouth), and vicar at St. Budeaux Parish Church, Plymouth (1802–17), and at Kingston-upon-Thames, from January 1817 until his death.
Zac Hicks has made this video and wrote the tune to this song using lyrics from ‘His be the Victor’s name’:
All Saints Church has a vacancy for an Incumbent (Team Rector) https://www.allsaintskingston.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Church-Times-Advert-Kingston-Team-Ministry.pdf
The Team Ministry Profile has been prepared by the Churchwardens and PCC as part of the process of appointing a new Incumbent. Our profile was written by So-Shan Au, Paul and Kate Flavell. https://www.allsaintskingston.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Benefice-of-kingston-Profile-Online.pdf
Quarter peal of 1280 Cambridge Surprise Major for evensong. In memory of H John Parlett, 1948 Olympian, uncle of Kate Flavell (Kate’s paternal uncle), who died 6 March 2022, age 96.
Also a birthday compliment to Fraser. First on 8 too for Fraser. Well done Fraser on your first Major QP and Happy Birthday too!
Read about John Parlett here: https://www.teamgb.com/article/john-parlett-and-dorothy-manley/di2i7uHN0xkuE58fNM7Pm
Like the QP on Bellboard here: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1502506
Here is what I’ve managed to Google search. Please get in touch if you know more about any of these ringers.
Brian Threlfall
In Memoriam – Brian David Threlfall – CCCBR
Here’s his appearances on Bellboard: Ringing World BellBoard
Found a fab photo of him at St Sepulchre without Newgate in 1979 (?). He’s in the tweed suit – still a dapper dresser!
© Stephen A Waters (now in ASCY library) Love’s Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London (lovesguide.com)
Frank Hawthorne
Here’s his appearances on Bellboard: Ringing World BellBoard
We were sent an email from a previous Kingston tower captain, Martin Lazell (1980) with a link to a fabulous old photo album of Kingston on the Kingston Heritage Service Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingstonmuseum/with/32102653026/
There are some fab photos on there, but two caught our eye, and we’ve been able to identify the ringers too. Read on!
Here’s our detective work, thanks to Inspector Paul Flavell (our current tower captain), Inspector Alan Bagworth and Inspector Michael Uphill!
© Kingston Heritage Service
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingstonmuseum/31992719452/in/photostream/
© Kingston Heritage Service
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingstonmuseum/32102653026/in/photostream/
If you spot any pictures of All Saints Church or Kingston bell ringers on your travels and internet searches, do send them on to us as we’d love to see them. And I’ve just gone down a rabbit hole searching the named ringers in the photos. More to come! And if you have any stories about these particular ringers or you’re related to them, do get in touch. We’d love to hear your stories.
Quarter peal dates for Evensong (so no open ringing for service) – all subject to change. Please contact the tower for more info.
9 January
13 February
13 March
10 April
8 May
12 June
10 July
14 August
11 September
9 October
13 November
11 December
Other key dates
18-20 February – The Surrey Association Peal weekend is traditionally held in the middle of February each year to mark the anniversary of the first peal for the Association on 18th February 1881.
2 March – Ash Wednesday – No practice
2-6 June – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. The 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne falls on February 6, 2022 but the celebrations are to be held in June.
We lend a set of handbells to The Piggott School and they make an appearance in this year’s virtual Christmas carol service. You can watch it here.
The bells can be seen at 5 mins 10 and 24 mins 11.
Christmas Ringing 2021
Ringing arrangements as normal except as shown here:
Wednesday 8 December no practice (Carol service in church)
Sunday 12 December quarter peal in the evening
Tuesday 14 December practice night changed to Tuesday from Wednesday –
normal times and arrangements
Wednesday 15 December no practice (Carol service in church)
Friday 17 December finish decorating Christmas trees for festival
Sunday 19 December evening ringing from 15:30–16:30 for Community Carol service
Friday 24 December ringing from 22:15–23:00 for 23:00 service for midnight mass
Saturday 25 December ringing from 8:30–9:30 (coffee & cake afterwards!)
Sunday 26 December normal morning ringing. No evening ringing – no evensong
Wednesday 29 December no practice
Friday 31 December Ringing: be at the church by 23:30. Ringing from midnight.
Sunday 2 January back to normal.