IN MEMORIAM

remembering members who have died recently

Sandy Fancourt of Adwick le Street

 Rang at Adwick le Street and Bentley. Joined the YACR in 2022 and had recently moved away to be closer to family.

Pamela A Bingley of Darton

Pam was one of four new recruits who first came to the tower at All Saints', Darton, after reading a recruitment article in the ‘Darton Arrow’ magazine in 2011. As a mature learner, she approached learning to ring with enthusiasm, while at the same time, holding on to strong views of her own. Those who encountered her would probably agree that she could be resolute and, at times, rather obstinate. Nevertheless, her perseverance enabled her to become a regular and valued member of the Darton band.

She was initially elected as an Associate Member of the Yorkshire Association in 2012 and, during her five, or so years as an active ringer, rang three Quarter Peals, all of which were at Darton and for all of which she rang the treble. Two of the Quarters were of Doubles and one was of Minor.

Pam was elected Secretary of the Central Branch in 2013, serving just one term of office, until 2015.

For a short period in 2016, Pam served as Tower Captain at Darton and was keen to broaden her own ringing experience by visiting neighbouring towers, in particular Penistone and Cawthorne.

Before her retirement, Pam had worked as a Librarian at the University of Leeds. During her time at Darton, she also developed an interest in Crown Green bowls and became a member of the Darton Welfare Bowling Club, an activity she continued to enjoy after stepping away from ringing in 2017.

Although her ringing career was relatively brief and she was not a prolific ringer by any means, Pam nevertheless made a valued contribution to the local ringing community at Darton through her regular attendance, commitment and willingness to become involved in both branch and society meetings.

It is understood that Pam passed away in June 2026 following a period of care at Barnsley Hospice.

Trevor C Ledger

Ken Machin of Swainby

Died 31st May 2026.

Meredith Woode of Bingley

 A long time member of the Bingley band. Passed away on Wednesday 27th May.

Reverend J Michael Stephens of Kirkbymoorside

Life member of the YACR. His funeral was on 27th April 2026.

Owen Battye, Unattached

Died 15th April 2026. 

John Firth of Tadcaster

YACR member and ringer at Tadcaster since 2017. Died at the end of March 2026.

M F Digby Burton of Skipton

Vice President of the YACR. Digby was a ringer for 74 years, many of them at Skipton where he was tower captain for 47 years. His funeral was on 27th March 2026.

Peter H Gardner, late of Leeds Minster

More recently tower captain at Ambleside, Cumbria. Died 3rd March 2026. 

Philip Fawcett of Darfield

Ringer and lay reader at All Saints Darfield. Died on 14th February aged 96. YACR member from 1975 - 1994.

John D Nutbrown of Penistone

Former ringer at All Saints', Rotherham and St John the Baptist, Penistone, who passed away on Thursday 29th January 2026, aged 94 years.

Vera Walker of Horton in Ribblesdale

Vera Walker died at home on the morning of 27 January 2026.

She will be sadly missed by the ringing band especially at St. Oswald's, Horton in Ribblesdale. She rang at many towers in the Craven area - Long Preston, Kirkby Malham, Settle and Giggleswick, following in her fathers' footsteps

Len Morris of Saltaire

Died on 25/1/2026.

John Crouch of Barwick in Elmet

Died peacefully at home on 17th January 2026 following a short illness.

John learnt to ring in the early 1990s in the Brailsford area, Derbyshire. He moved to Barwick in January 1997 and started the band at Barwick in approximately 1998 with himself as tower captain. John rang his first peal in 2004 as a celebration of Barwick's tenor's 400th birthday. He will be sadly missed.

Helen Hancock (nee Chaddock)

Died 15 January 2026 aged 58.

Helen was  an occaisional ringer at Beighton pre Covid (although not a YACR member at the time) but was a member of the Association in her teens/early 20's (1978 - 1983). Her parents were Gordon Chaddock dec'd (late of Sheffield and Lichfield) and Lynn Ardron(previously Chaddock) previously of Handsworth and Beighton. - no longer ringing.

Helen was a payroll manager at BHP Chartered Accountants in Chesterfield and will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends.

 Richard Allinson of Swillington

Former ringer of Swillington who passed on the 30th of December 2025.

Penny Woode of Bingley

Ringer and long time member of the church at Bingley who passed away on 26th November 2025.

Ken Pearce of Clapham

Died on Tuesday 25 November 2025.  Ken was a member of YACR since 2004/5, until a couple of years ago when he ceased ringing due to ill health.

Bill Walton of Flamborough

Tower Captain at St Oswald's Flamborough, sadly passed away on Sunday 9th November.