Hilda Collins

1925 - Jan 2021

Hilda passed away peacefully with coronavirus in January 2021. She was attended by a very dear carer in the residential home where she lived as family members were not allowed to be with her due to coronavirus.
As Hilda Smith, she learned to ring when the ban on ringing during WW11 was lifted in 1943. Along with Bill Collins, who she married in 1949, she was taught by her uncle, Fred Browning – some time Northampton Branch Secretary. She learned on the anti-clockwise ring of four at (Nether) Heyford and cycled for greater experience ringing the 5 bells at Bugbrooke, 6 at Weedon and 8 at Daventry.
Hilda joined the PDG through the Daventry Branch in 1944 and was Branch Secretary and Treasurer in 1946. Early days saw her and Bill cycle to Branch meetings and, when necessary, use buses and trains to attend Guild meetings. She was Branch Committee member 1980-81, GMC rep 1984-91, Branch Treasurer 1986-8, a Synod Rep on GMC 1997-2008. Hilda was made a Life Honorary member of the Guild at the AGM in 2014.
Hilda remained an active and loyal member of her tower, Branch, and the Guild; always there, methods learned and secure, striking careful and accurate. As a member of the local church, ringing was very much part of her worship. She finally stopped ringing when mobility and balance issues made her feel unsafe (and unable to perform to her own exacting standards). She last rang at a Daventry Branch meeting in December 2009, but attended until 2014. Even after this, she insisted that her apologies be sent to Branch and Guild meetings; she genuinely was sorry not to be able to attend.

Author: Alison Willgress