Celebration of Happy Event by Raunds Bell ringer

On Saturday Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Gilbert, of Raunds, celebrated their golden wedding, when they entertained about 60 relatives and friends to tea in the Church Institute. The guests included members of the Northants Bellringers’ Association.

At the tables the Vicar, the Rev. C. Curtis in a felicitous speech, warmly congratulated the host and hostess. Mr. G. Smith of Rushden, a blind brother of Mrs. Gilbert, also gave a much appreciated speech fitting the occasion. Mr. F. Wilson expressed the congratulations and good wishes of the Northants Bellringers’ Association. The evening was spent in singing and dancing, Mr. H. Smith, nephew of Mrs. Gilbert, contributing to the programme.

Mr. Gilbert, who is now 71 years of age, and Mrs. Gilbert, who is 70, were married at the Parish Church Raunds, on February 25^th 1872. Their living descendants are two sons, four daughters and thirteen grandchildren.

To commemorate the event the Northants Bellringers’ Association rang a peal of Kent Treble Bob Major of 5,184 changes in 3 hours 36 minutes, Mr. Gilbert taking part. The peal was rung by the following members of the Association: No. 1 Mr. D. Redhead, Thrapston; No. 2 Mr. G. Lines, Burton Latimer; No 3 Mr. W.J. Gilbert, Raunds; No.4 Mr. J. Nicholson, Thrapston; No. 6 Mr. R. Loveday, Thrapston; No. 7 Mr. F. Wilford, Northampton; No. 8 Mr. C.W. Clark, Bedford (conductor).

Mr. Gilbert has been a ringer for 43 years and this was the 119^th peal in which he had taken part. On December 28^th 1894, at Irthlingborough, he took part in a peel of 10,176 changes, rung in 6 hours 12 minutes. His brother, Mr. F. Gilbert, of America, who is also a ringer, was at one time secretary of the Northants Bellringers’ Association.

Mrs. Gilbert has been closely connected with the church for a number of years. Her father was a bellringer of the neighbouring parish – Mr. W. Smith of Ringstead.