Graham Henson, aged ninety, passed away peacefully a few days before Christmas 2024. His funeral service was held at St. Michael’s and All Angels, Stawley on January 17th when a large congregation gathered to pay their last respects. The service was led by Rev. Andy Barton with the eulogy given by daughter Jenny. The bells were rung, half muffled, by the local band before the service. After the burial daughter Angela joined other friends in continuing the ringing.

Graham farmed at Court Place, Stawley adjacent to the Church, where he ran a dairy herd as his main source of income, before retiring from active farming some years ago. His hobby was competition ploughing, and he travelled many miles with his tractor and plough to compete in ploughing matches, often returning home with trophies and rosettes.

Graham was dedicated to his family and to Stawley Church where he was Churchwarden and Tower Captain for forty-eight years. He was one of the prime movers in re-establishing bell ringing in the Church after a lapse of many years when the five bells had been removed from the tower and had stood at the back of the church covered in dust and cobwebs. Indeed, selling them for scrap was even considered by the PCC at one point in time. In 1976 a small group of enthusiasts, of which he was one, raised sufficient funds to have the bells re-hung in the tower in a new frame, although there was not enough cash available on that occasion to add a sixth. Following another fund raiser in 2007, a sixth bell was added to create a lovely ring, enjoyed by both the local and many visiting bands of ringers.

He joined the Bath and Wells Association of Bellringers in 1977 and received a Long Service certificate for forty years membership in 2017 and was made Member Emeritus in 2022. He was a great supporter of the Branch, regularly attending monthly Open Practices and Outings.

In his memory, branch members rang a peal of Doubles (5040 changes) on January 24th at Stawley, including twelve extents of Grandsire which was Graham’s favourite method, in two hours and forty-four minutes. The ringers were Angela Henderson, Jackie Henderson, Michael Hansford (conductor), Yuka Jones, Jill Hansford and Harry Thorne-Henderson.

Maurice Stanbury