1880 - 5/11/1922We deeply regret to record the death, at his residence, 10, Talbot Road, Northampton, of Mr William John Allen, one of the best known and most respected Northampton ringers. The sad event occurred on Sunday morning, November 5, 1922. Mr Allen contracted double pneumonia, and despite all that skill could do, and the unremitting care of a devoted wife, he passed· away within a week. The sympathy of the Exercise will go out to Mrs Allen and family in the heavy bereavement they have suffered. Mr Allen first learnt to ring at St Edmunds, where he stayed for a short time, afterwards joining St. Peter's Society, and subsequently, in 1900, the All Saints' ringers, when he made rapid progress as a ringer and conductor. He rang his first peal in 1902; his first of Stedman in 1906, which he also conducted, at St. Edmund's, Northampton. It was also the first peal of Stedman in Northampton by a local band. He conducted the only peal of Cambridge Major rung in Northampton at All Saints' in December 1921. Altogether he had rung 77 peals in the following methods: Doubles 2, Minor 16 (conducted 3), Grandsire Triples 2, Stedman Triples 18 (conducted 10), Bob Major 7 (conducted 2), Kent Treble Bob Major 1, Double Norwich 5, Superlative 14 (conducted 8), Cambridge Major 1 (conducted 1), Grandsire Caters 3, Stedman Caters 2, Bob Royal 2, Kent Treble Royal 2, Cambridge Royal 1, Erin Triples 1. He was appointed foreman of All Saints' belfry on the Tuesday he lay ill; but, alas! he never fulfilled the office.
Deceased was most regular and punctual in his attendance for Sunday ringing at All Saints', ever ready to help at other towers when not on duty at his own; always ready to help to make up a band for a peal, being an able conductor, a very good striker and safe ringer. He will be very much missed, and his loss to All Saints, Northampton, and to the other towers in town and county, cannot be measured.
The funeral took place on Thursday, November 2. The service at mid-day was at All Saints’ Church, when there assembled many ringers and friends, including Messrs S Lawrence (district secretary) , F Wilford, F Hopper, J Metherall, B Soden, W Gammage, A Moore, W Moore, W Parker, W G Farey, Mrs Waldock (representing Mr Grant, treasurer of the All Saints' ringers), Mrs Eales, Mr Wilford, senior, Mrs Oxley. The cortege was met at the west door by the Vicar (the Rev Geoffrey C Lunt MA MC) and the Rev O St M Williams BA, curate. The coffin was borne in to the church by four of the deceased brother ringers and two of his fellow-workers: Messrs R Blundell, W Farey, H Rainbow, J Dean, E Malpas and A Underwood. The mourners were the widow and other members of the family. The service was taken by the Vicar and the lesson was read by the Rev O St M Williams.
The interment took place at Kingsthorpe Cemetery, where the committal prayers were said by the Rev O St M Williams. There were a large number of floral tributes, including wreaths from All Saints' belfry, and ringing friends of Northampton.
Touches were rung with the bells half-muffled in the evening. At All Saints' Church the whole pull and stand was rung, also 168 Grandsire Triples by H Blundell 1, A Robinson 2, S J Lawrence 3, L Farey 4, F Wilford 5, A Moore 5, W Farey 7, W G Farey 8. A course of Stedman Triples and a course of Superlative were also rung. Messrs Moore (Daventry) and Stewart (Northampton), who took part were old ringing friends. At St Edmund's Church the whole pull and stand was rung 42 times, representing the deceased's age, also various touches, the ringers being T Tebbutt, J Metherall, F Hopper, W Rogers, J Hensman, W Gammage, S Burton (Leicester), J Mackay and B O Soden. At St Giles' Church, two courses of Grandsire Caters and three of Stedman Caters were rung by W Rogers, H L Key, W Sibley, J Metherall, B O Soden, F Hopper, J Hensman, S Burton, G Flavell, J Freeman, E James and A Monk. On Saturday a half-muffled peal of Stedman Triples was rung at St Edmund's.
Mrs Allen and family desire to express thanks to all those who assisted in the ringing, and those who sent floral tributes and messages of sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.
The Ringing World, November 24th, 1922 - page 749
AN APPEAL. Readers of the 'Ringing World' are earnestly asked for their assistance on behalf of the widow and four children of the late Mr W J Allen, All Saints', Northampton. All contributions will be thankfully received by F Wilford, 149 Ashburnham Road, Northampton.
RW 1922 pp815 and 831
NORTHAMPTON. At the Church of All Saints, for evening service, on November 12, 630 Grandsire Triples: W Farey junior, 1, A Robinson 2, A P Hensman 3, J Dean 4, H Rainbow 5, H Blundell 6, W Farey (conductor) 7, L Farey 8. Rung with the bells half-muffled, as a token of respect to the late W J Allen, a most faithful member of All Saints' belfry.
