In the October Magazine I wrote about past ringers whose names are on peal boards at Gedney and in Ringing World peal reports dating from the early 1900's to 1914. John B Halifax's name was prominent in those days participating in peals rung at Gedney, Fleet and Long Sutton towers so who was John Halifax? My October article indicated that perhaps he was a Gedney ringer, but nothing could have been further from the truth as he was Fleet through and through. He was born there on May 25th 1874 to parents Joseph and Elizabeth, the 1881 census telling us Joseph was an "agricultural labourer", 64 years old, some 24 years older than mother Elizabeth. John, then 6 years old, had an elder sister Sarah, an elder brother James W, and a younger sister Elizabeth, 4 years old. They lived at No 68 Proud Foot Lane. Sometime between 1881 and 1891 Joseph died, the 1891 census records widow Elizabeth and John, then 16 years old and described as a "farm servant" still living at 68 Proud Foot Lane. There is no mention of the other siblings. By 1911 John then 36 years old and described as "a gardener" was living with younger sister Elizabeth 34, his "housekeeper", at No 71, Bensgate. He worked as a gardener for the remainder of his working life, one assignment being Fleet Rectory garden. After this time I do not know what became of Elizabeth, as John married and as far as I'm aware continued to live in the house on Bensgate for the remainder of his long life. He died on November 3rd, 1969 at the age of 95 years, preceded by wife Mary Elizabeth who died on January 21st 1968 aged 86 years. Their headstones are in Fleet church yard, a few yards west of the tower kindly photographed by Michael Slater, Tower Captain at Holbeach.
John Halifax was active in bell ringing for many years, his work and efforts at Fleet commemorated by the following peal rung on Fleet bells. Thursday May 25th 1950 in 3 hours and 7 minutes, a Peal of 5040 Plain Bob Minor. The band was as below, some of their names perhaps known or recalled by today's village residents .
Treble Mrs G.R. Butler, No 2 E. Scotney Seth, No 3 Robert Bennett, No 4 George Sisson, No 5 George R. G. Butler, Tenor Harold Waltham. A footnote tells us; "Rung by pupils of Mr J B Halifax esteemed captain of this tower in honour of his 78th birthday and to commemorate his 51 years service at Fleet."
Photographs exhibited at the 2024 Fleet Flower Festival included one of Mr and Mrs Halifax, others of Fleet bell ringers and one of Fleet ringers with hand bells. These are not dated, but from their suits etc I guess pre 1914. Also there is a delightful one of children taken in 1910 dancing round the maypole , an illustration of past days when we were content and enjoyed simpler pleasures. As for John Halifax, I wonder who taught him to ring? A possibility is James R Jerram but this is unlikely as I understand he left Fleet in 1882 when John was only 8 years old. Whoever did introduce him to ringing did an excellent job as John Halifax kept Fleet bells ringing for many years whereas nowadays, their bells, like those in many village churches are unfortunately silent as there are no local ringers to ring them . John Bennett
Addendum; Interestingly the 1901 census tells us St Mary Magdalene Fleet had , in addition to the Rector Rev. Walter H James, a Curate Rev. Charles J Sturton who was a competent bell ringer and nephew of the Rector. He was resident at the Rectory with six others , a second nephew described as "a physician", a 35 year old niece and four servants, a parlour maid, a house maid, a cook and a 15 year old lad described as "a groom and gardener." How times have changed in the past 123 years.