Douglas Vellender
An appreciation. 		  
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Hear the name Douglas Vellender, mentioned in East Garston and you invariably think of church bells.
He was without question, the driving force behind our current band of ringers and likewise to the many that have gone before. Sadly, Doug is no longer with us but his whit, dedication and total like-ability will live on with anyone that was privileged to know him, and even more so with those of us that were honoured to call him a friend.......                                                                                 ...(KT)   . _____________________________________________________  

Doug learned to ring at Didbrook on the Stanway Estate in Gloucestershire. Unusually for those days he was taught by women: a ladies college had been evacuated to the area during the war and some to the students had become bellringers. When ringing recommenced once the risk of invasion was over, they were keen that there should be a band able to ring for VE Day.
After moving to East Garston, he became Tower Captain -(or as he preferred Tower-Keeper)- in 1969, and revived the bellringing after six dormant years. Doug paid considerable tribute to Bob Powell, who was the only member of the old band to continue to ring regularly, supporting Doug and his learners by ringing Tenor behind and treble when needed until ill health prevented him from continuing.
...                                                                                                                                                                                  Doug in 2001

 
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Doug began to teach his family to ring, initially silently with the clappers tied. He paid no heed to the taboo against women in the bell tower and his daughters would have been the first women handle a bell rope at East Garston, even though the country’s first ever lady ringer was recorded as long ago as 1896, just 25 miles away in Basingstoke.

In 1971 the bells were restored, moving parts cleaned, the frame repaired and the accumulated debris of years removed. The band was now augmented by several other villagers. One of  Doug’s pupils, -Richard Thumwood- is now one of the top bellringers in the country, and is frequently invited to ring at the most famous towers here and abroad.

with his Sister Marian at Didbrook 2001
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Ringing at East Garston continued for another 15 years, but several members left for various reasons and once again the bells fell silent, except of course for the clock which Doug wound without fail twice a week. Then in 1998, as part of the countrywide “Ring in 2000” programme, Doug was again persuaded to teach a number of local recruits the fundamentals of ringing.

Thanks to his skill & love of bellringing East Garston now has an enthusiastic band of ringers, so it is hoped this centuries-old tradition can continue long into the future                                                                                   (TH)
DOUGLAS VELLENDER 
1932 - 2006


 
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Text : Tessa Huyshe : Ken Tarbox
Group Photo : Ruth Brock
Video Captures from the film - "Gloucestershire Bells" - by Ken Tarbox
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