Walter S Izzard  

20th March 1904 – 21st May 1972

Age 68 

The following obituary was published in The Ringing World of 23rd June 1972 (Page 508)

Walter Izzard passed away during the early hours of May 21 at Bedford General Hospital at the age of 68.

His interest in ringing began during his childhood at Cardington, Beds, where his uncle had rung at the old church, and his brother Ernest was a ringer at the new church with its fine Taylor eight.   Walter learned to ring at All Saints’, Kempston when the six bells were reinstalled after the Second World War, and took part in the last peal to be rung on the six and in the first of Major on the eight.

Although he would not admit it, he had not been in good health for a number of years and his ringing had been confined to service ringing at Kempston.   Walter had been a member of the Bedfordshire Association for 27 years and although not a prolific peal ringer had rung six peals of Minor and Major for that association.

Representatives of the Kempston ringers and other members of the Association were present at the funeral service which took place at All Saints’, Kempston, on May 24 where, during the evening, the bells were rung half-muffled in tribute.  

As a regular Sunday service ringer, always ready with a cheerful word of encouragement, Walter will be greatly missed by the Kempston Band