(See also tributes by Revd. Brian Harris, Peter Dyson and Bill Dowse all of which, including the following, have been extracted from The Ringing World, issue No. 4784 dated January 3, 2003, pp20 and 21.)

There will be many tributes in these columns to Ken Lewis, outlining his great contribution to ringing. His devotion and service over the last 50 years to St. Margaret's, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire is less well known, but equally outstanding. His passing represents a very great loss to our church.

After their marriage. Ken and Mary came to live in Altrincham in 1948. They initially rang at St. Mary's Bowdon, the most active tower in the area at the time, but didn't feel 'at home' there. One day in 1952, Ken was out walking when he heard the sound of bells. He went to investigate, and came across St. Margaret's. Soon after, they joined the Dunham band and congregation. Ken became tower captain in 1958, and proceeded to teach many youngsters to ring on what were notoriously difficult, barely ringable bells. He also involved himself in the administration of the church, was quickly elected secretary to the PCC, and was subsequently appointed churchwarden and treasurer in 1962. In 1974, he was primarily responsible for persuading the vicar and PCC to have the bells rehung, resulting in the still challenging, but nonetheless rewarding ring of 10 we have today. He only recently stood down as churchwarden, but remained very active in church life. He would regularly administer the chalice during communion services, and was still church treasurer and tower secretary at the time of his death.

Ken's attendance at ringing and church was always exemplary - the only time he missed Sunday ringing was during the weekend of the Central Council meeting, and he only ever missed practice to attend Central Council, Guild committee or church meetings. He taught countless numbers to ring over the years, and would always welcome learners from nearby towers to practice. He would happily put himself out to help a learner, and took particular pleasure from taking part in ringing at any level in order to allow a learner to achieve a goal. He was still ringing regularly until just a month or so before his death, and his last two quarter-peals were both at Dunham in September, one of which was of Erin triples rung for his 89th birthday!

His funeral was very well attended by many friends and ringers from all over the country, as well as parishioners and representatives of the various organisations he had been connected to over the years. Handbells were rung during the service, to his favourite method in hand - Oxford Treble Bob.

K. G. LEE

Dunham Massey, Ches. 24 Nov, 1260 Stedman Doubles: K G Lee (C) 1, R J Warrilow 2, Cynthia Warrilow 3, D Latham 4, A J Freemont 5, J J Blowers 6. For Evensong, half-muffled in memory of Ken Lewis.

Dunham Massey, Ches. 25 Nov, 1260 P B Royal: Cynthia Warrilow 1, Dorothy Eccles 2, Julia Davies 3, Yvonne Blencowe (1st on 10) 4, B J Ongley 5, R J Warilow 6, R F Eccles 7, A J Freemont 8, D Latham 9, K G Lee (C) 10. On practice night, half-muffled in memory of Ken Lewis.