Former Boston Stump Tower Captain Honoured


St Botolph�s (Boston Stump)

On Thursday 31st January a quarter peal was specially arranged and rung at St Andrew�s Butterwick just outside Boston Lincolnshire to congratulate Tom Freeston on being given a Civic Award for "Service to the Community" by Boston Borough Council. This was awarded for his long and loyal service as Bell Ringing Captain at St Botolph�s, better known as Boston Stump and for services to bell ringing across the district. Tom was put forward for this award by the Eastern Branch and it will be presented at a special ceremony on 18th April.

Tom has been Bell Ringing Captain at Boston Stump for 41 years, standing down at the end of last year, and has been ringing at the Stump for 66 years. Even though he has stood down as Bell Ringing Captain he is still going each week and ringing at the Stump. On top of all this he has also been President of the Eastern Branch of the Lincoln Diocesan Guild standing down in January at the AGM. Tom has been a stalwart of the Eastern Branch supporting ringing all over the Branch in the East of Lincolnshire.

The band who rang the quarter peal consisted of Tom himself with two other Eastern Branch members and three Central Branch members. Also present was local ringer Tom Palmer who sat in the tower throughout the quarter peal.

Congratulation�s Tom, you deserve it! Especially for climbing the 209 steps up the Stump each week to ring the bells!!!

Lincoln Diocesan Guild
Butterwick, Lincolnshire
St. Andrew's
Thursday 31st January 2013 in 43 mins (9-3-12)
1260 St. Clements College Bob Minor
 (being: 720 & 540)

1 Rhoda Reynolds
2 Kate Morgan
3 G. Jogn Collett
4 Thomas J, Freeston
5 Philip H. Dawson
6 Christopher C. P. Woodcock

Specially arranged and rung to congratulate Tom Freeston
on being given a Civic Award by Boston Borough Council
for service as Bell Ringing Captain at St Botolph�s (Boston
Stump) for 41 years and for services to bell ringing across
the district.

The Butterwick quarter peal band, L-R: Tom Freeston, Tom Palmer (who sat in the tower whilst
the quarter was rung), Rhoda Reynolds, John Collett, Kate Morgan, Chris Woodcock, Phil Dawson.

C. C. P. Woodcock