PRESIDENT'S PIECE

2002 was the worst year of my life: the first part of the year was a nightmare, which slowly unfolded until it came to its horrific conclusion when Gordon died. For the rest of the year life was not easy for me, as I am sure you will all appreciate. But it would have been very much harder if I had not been a ringer. Non-ringing friends seem surprised that I still ring now Gordon is no longer here, but it has been the friendship and support of ringers that has enabled me to cope.

So this year I simply want to say thank you. So many people have been so kind in so many different ways, that I don't want to mention too many names for fear of missing someone out. But I would like to mention Clive Thrower and David Sansum for the leading roles they took in Gordon's funeral and Chris Willis for not only playing the piano so beautifully at the end of the service, but also for master-minding the best "ringers' tea" ever following the funeral. Gordon would have been thrilled by the tea and also by the number of ringers present from near and far.

Thank you all.

Pat Halls