1891 Robert Wincott, who had lived at Leasow Farm Whichford, gave the church a new clock to celebrate his 96^th birthday. He died later the same year and is buried in the churchyard. The clock and chimes cost £210 and were by Gillett & Co. of Croydon. For Westminster chimes it was necessary to add a new treble bell. This cost £21. Arthur Slatter, village carpenter and wheelwright made the frame for it, £7. RH

1892 The idea of rehanging was first discussed. Harry Harwood later recounted to Rob Harvey that the new treble was never satisfactory. He also said that at that time only the tenor had a stay. When the bells were rung up the ringers had to hold them on the balance to stand, and sometimes they tied the ropes around the very substantial fixed wooden ladder. RH

1896 Revd Copplestone, Vicar of Whichford, persuaded Richard Badger, Wine Merchant (benefactor of the Ellen Badger Hospital in Shipston) to donate money for the rehang. He gave £300. Although Richard Badger then lived in Shipston, Rob believes that he was probably born in Whichford.  

1904 The story goes that when young Edgar Field (Rob's mother's brother, born 4/7/1903) heard the Whichford bells ringing for his uncle Jack Harvey's wedding about Easter 1904 (the last time they were rung before the rehang), he spoke his first word - not 'Mamma' but 'Bells'. RH

1904 Taylors of Loughborough carried out the rehang. Rob's maternal Grandfather, Fred Field, was village haulier and used his team of horses to bring the frame (which including the 15cwt dray weighed in at nearly 4 tons) from Hook Norton Station.

The Dedication of the new 6 bells was on 13^th December 1904.

RH

September 1908 H B Walters visited Whichford and recorded the new bells (for publication of Church Bells of Warwickshire 1910) T&W

On soundbow:- THOMAS HARRASS ROB WALKER IO TAPLIN C W T&W

1936  On hearing that King George V had died, Rob Harvey's father sent a telegram to Taylors of Loughborough for a set of muffles (they had always used old bits of blankets before). The muffles arrived at Hook Norton Railway Station at 2pm the next day and were collected from there by horse and trap, and used for ringing until the funeral.  

1994  On 13^th December, to mark the 90^th anniversary of the rehanging of the bells (1904) Rob invited Jed Flatters from Taylors of Loughborough to ring in a Quarter Peal. Jed saw the lay-out of the bells and said straight away that it looked as if an 8 had been intended. On his return to Loughborough he looked in Taylors 1904 Job Book and saw that it was perfectly clear from the frame drawings that the work had originally been designed for 8 bells, written out complete with all frequencies, weights and diameters.  

   Ernest Jones was Churchwarden. He and Rob decided informally to give one treble bell each to make up the octave. Most sadly however, Ernest dropped down dead while chairing a PCC Meeting shortly afterwards, before their plans could develop any further and that seemed to be the end of the dream of augmentation.  

   Rob arranged for the frame (a solid iron H frame) to be rubbed down and repainted. The work was done by Sid Newport, a local builder, whose father and grandfather had been sexton at Whichford. Painted in red oxide paint, it looks very smart.  

1996  Harry Windsor, of the Coventry Diocesan Guild brought to Rob's attention the Millennium Bells scheme. A condition of the 50% grant was that the other 50% should already have been raised or promised locally, and nearly all the grants had already been taken up nationally. Rob immediately promised to guarantee half the local money and Tony Edwards the other Churchwarden did likewise. Thus the application could go ahead immediately, into one of the last few available slots in the Millennium Bells list and swift action saved £2500 in VAT.  

1997  Rob went round visiting in the village one Saturday morning and came back with signed promises for £2500. One lady who lived at the end of the churchyard had once complained "How much longer are these bells going on for, we cannot hear ourselves speak". To which Rob's answer had been, "If you bought a house next to a railway line you would expect to hear trains". Six months later the lady's daughter was to be married and she asked for the bells to be rung. Rob had replied, "yes, if you are sure it will not disturb anyone". He met this lady on his Saturday fund-raising visiting and she asked how the appeal was going. Then she said "I'll give you £1000". Rob was on her doorstep with a form ready for her to sign the very next day!  

1998   The two new bells were cast at Taylors of Loughborough on June 18th, watched by many Whichford ringers and friends. The 19^th June was Rob's 80^th birthday and this date was put on the bells)

2. THE PARISH GAVE ME 19-6-1998 (Millennium Stamp) weight, size  

  The new trebles were dedicated by Revd Russen Thomas on the 13^th December