SAM THOMAS

From the Order of Service for the Re-Dedication of the Bells,
31st March 1934.
(The complete Order of Service booklet is in this Word file)

  He was born in 1870 at Wath-on-Dearne, and came of an old ringing family. He first learnt to ring a bell when he was nine years of age ; this was during a dispute between the ringers and the Church authorities. Sam was a boy in the choir and they used to jangle the bells for service.

  He came to Sheffield in 1888 to join the staff at the Botanical Gardens, and one year later joined the Parish Church (now the Cathedral) Company of ringers, with whom he rang his first peal. He became associated with Ranmoor in 1896, and was Captain for many years. He was an excellent teacher and under his tuition great strides were made by the Company.

  Thomas was one of the early founders of the Sheffield District Association of Changeringers, and did much to promote Surprise Ringing in Yorkshire. Among his many achievements was the first peal of Original Major, which he composed and conducted.

He passed to his Rest on June 24th, 1924.

 

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