A TIMBERSCOMBE man whose dedication to his village church has spanned nearly half-a-century celebrated his 90th birthday by once again taking hold of the ropes in the bell tower of St Petrock’s Church on Sunday (June 28).

Reg Holcombe has been a familiar and much-valued figure with St Petrock’s for decades, far beyond bellringing, but it is the sound of the bells that has remained one of the defining threads of his service to the village.

Mr Holcombe and his wife Mary took up bellringing in 1978 when he was 42 and was taught by the church’s tower captain Ivor Loveridge.

The Timberscombe church bellringing team with Reg Holcombe on his 90th birthday.
The Timberscombe church bellringing team with Reg Holcombe on his 90th birthday. (Contributed)

When the couple moved home in 1980, Mrs Holcombe stepped back from ringing, but Mr Holcombe continued and became a regular.

The number of bellringers dwindled over the years and the bells fell silent by 2005 until an appeal in 2009 by churchwarden John Gratton received an an encouraging response.

With training by Andrew Paulk, of Minehead, a new generation of bellringers was established and Mr Holcombe rejoined the team.

Bellringer extraordinaire Reg Holcombe and his wife Mary.
Bellringer extraordinaire Reg Holcombe and his wife Mary. (Contributed)

His contribution to church life included carrying out countless voluntary tasks, often going unnoticed but proving essential to its smooth running.

He unlocked the church each morning, wound the tower clock before it was electrified - a challenging task involving steep tower steps - and maintained churchyard gardening equipment.

Friends described him as ‘the very definition of a devoted servant of St Petrock’s, always willing to lend a hand whenever needed’.

With Reg Holcombe for his birthday were his wife Mary (seated) with Andrew Holcombe (left), Archdeacon Emeritus Elwin Cockett, and Donna Shane.
With Reg Holcombe for his birthday were his wife Mary (seated) with Andrew Holcombe (left), Archdeacon Emeritus Elwin Cockett, and Donna Shane. (Contributed)

A shoulder injury limited his bellringing, and his most recent ringing before his special birthday was during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

For his birthday, Mr Holcombe expressed one wish, to be back bellringing at St Petrock’s on the day itself, and fellow ringers were delighted to welcome him back.

Another special occasion for the Holcombes will be their diamond wedding anniversary in September.

A photograph of the reformed St Petrock's Church bellringers in 2009 with Reg Holcombe (left).
A photograph of the reformed St Petrock's Church bellringers in 2009 with Reg Holcombe (left). (Contributed)