Bishop unveils ‘Great War Ringers’ by Westbury artist

THE Bishop of Salisbury, as patron of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers,  has unveiled a picture painted for the guild by Westbury artist, Helen Chester. 

The ceremony took place on 1st October at The Wardrobe, home of The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum. Also present were guild president Judith Williamson, guild master Robert Wellen,  trust chairman Nigel Walker and Helen Chester.     

Helen’s  picture depicts the 90 known bell ringers from the diocese who were killed in the Great War, against a backdrop of the cathedral and some of the churches in the diocese where they rang. The front 15 ringers are actual likenesses, drawn from contemporary photographs and include Private Fred Kerley, a ringer from Westbury, killed in 1914, and Helen’s great-grandfather. 

The picture was commissioned by the guild in 2019 to feature on the front cover of its Great War memorial booklet https://sdgr.org.uk/ great-war-memorial-booklet/).  The trustees of the museum have kindly agreed to the picture being hung in its entrance hall,  thanks to Nigel Walker, manager Tony Field and  curator Bethany Joyce. Soldiers from both of the museum’s regiments are included amongst those depicted in the picture. The picture will remain in the ownership of the guild. 

To see more of Helen’s work, go to Helen Chester (https://www.helenchesterarts.co.uk/).