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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>There is another anecdote concerning the All-England ri=
ngers=20
meeting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>A good few years ago at a RW Board Meeting held at=
=20
Douglas Hughes house, we were planning the big ringers tea for the 75th=20
anniversary of RW to be held a Southwark. The subject of numbers and the Cr=
oydon=20
event came up only for us all to be taken aback by the explosion which came=
from=20
Douglas. He was suddenly incandescent about that event and G&J. and mad=
e his=20
feelings about "that crook" Johnson very plain</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>It appears that Cyril Johnston had staged the publicity=
stunt,=20
handed out the largess in the form of a free tea to something in the order =
of=20
3000 ringer (can't remember the figure but it was big) and then defaulted o=
n the=20
catering bill. The caterer went bust over it and according to Doug committe=
d=20
suicide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Clearly there were very strong emotions about G&J a=
t=20
Whitechapel and not without reason. Johnston's business practices were very=
=20
dodgy to say the least. There are many sets of G&J handbell=20
around acquired by Tower Captains who promoted the case for=
=20
G&J to get the job to their Parishes even if their quote was worse than=
the=20
competition. Yes we would now call it bribery and so it was then. Ther=
e is=20
evidence to suggest they he had local agents in many areas including around=
=20
Towcester in positions of authority who promoted his business without decla=
ring=20
an interest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Say what you like about his products but as a business =
it=20
stank and deserved to go under. My Grandfather worked for him on the clock =
side=20
at one time so I don't say that without some family inside=20
knowledge!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I suspect the lack of mention of G&J on the cu=
rrent=20
Bow Tenor is in part a reflection of all this.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Andrew</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>
<DIV>There is an illustration of the New York 18 ton bourdon as the front=
piece=20
of 'Bells Thro' the Ages' by JR Nicholls published in 1928. The bell is s=
hown=20
fitted with an arched steel rivetted headstock and two steel wheels hangi=
ng in=20
it's frame in the foundry. Standing on the frame is Fred=20
(Ted) Collins who worked for G&J from 1924-1936. The bell was ru=
ng at=20
the All-England ringers' meeting at Croydon in march 1928 .<!-- |**|=
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