After 41 years as captain of Holsworthy church bell ringers, 88-year-old Ralph Chapman has decided to retire and hang up his rope.

His duties will now be carried out by his daughter Angela.

Ralph is a third generation of bell ringers in the Chapman family and started his passion for bellringing at the age of 10 in his home village of Black Torrington. His first encounter was with his brother under the instruction of their father Walter. However, this brush with bellringing was brief.

Upon marriage to Shirley the family relocated to Holsworthy and Ralph’s passion for bellringing was reignited.

In 1967, under the guidance of Francis (Shim)Gliddon, Ralph returned to bellringing at Launcells. Once he had mastered his skills he started to ring at Holsworthy Church under the watchful eyes of Frank Rowland and Charlie Lyle.

During his bellringing career, Ralph has achieved much success in the bellringing world and is highly acclaimed throughout Devon for his precision, accuracy and striking skills. During the late 1970’s he also rang with Black Torrington in their competition team and they became very successful in the Devon ringing circuit winning numerous competitions and trophies.

In 1982 he became the Tower Captain at Holsworthy where he has maintained a steady hand of kindness and respect for his fellow ringers. He has taught many to ring over the years, many of whom are still ringing today.

In addition to his captain duties, Ralph was also the clock and tower keeper for many years and took great pride in maintaining the wonderful Holsworthy Church Bells.

Ralph intends to carry on ringing for as long as his health will allow and his duties of captain have now been handed over to his daughter Angela.

To mark the occasion the bell ringers presented Ralph with an engraved glass bowl as a mark of their gratitude and affection for his dedication, commitment and friendship.