The church bell-ringing fraternity of the city and county and much further afield is mourning the untimely death of one of their foremost members, Alison Regan, who died in hospital at the age of 53, She contributed significantly to the sounds of Worcester over several years.

Mrs Regan was a leading figure in the Guild of Bell-ringers of Worcester Cathe-dral where husband Mark is Ringing Master. She was a constant member of the cath-edral’s team of bell ringers, ringing for Sunday services and fixed or special occasions as well as taking part in challenging peals.

She was also Tower Cap-tain, in charge of the bellringers of All Saints Church, Worcester, and was Master of the Worcestershire and Dist-ricts Bellringing Association. She rang too, at St Swith-un’s Church, Worcester and from time to time at cathedrals and major churches in London and around the country. She also belonged to a handbell ringing group.

Mrs Regan leaves three children – Catherine (14), Will-iam (12) and Nicola (11). She hailed from Winchester where she learned the art of bellringing and attended Win- chester College before going to university.

Professionally, she was a sub-editor for technical and specialist journals including the China Quarterly and publications of the School of Oriental and African Studies. For eight years, she had been Honorary Deputy Editor of The Shield, the annual publication and the Friends of Worcester Cathedral and also served on the Friends’ Coun-cil, representing the Guild of Bellringers.

Mrs Regan had been a governor of Redhill Primary School, a member of the Friends of Redhill School, chairman of the London Road Playgroup, and was an examination invigilator at Nunnery Wood High School and the Sixth Form College. She also helped her friend Caroline Hallam in running the 25th Worcester Guides and the Rainbow group.

David Beacham, a leading figure for many years in bellringing locally and former Ringing Master of Worcester Cathedral, said of Mrs Regan: “She was right at the top in bellringing and known nat-ionally. “Though small in stature, she could ring the heaviest of bells as well as any man, including one of those at the cathedral which is the sixth heaviest in the country. She always had such a graceful easy-looking style and we all mourn her loss.”

Her funeral will be at the cathedral at noon on Tuesday, July 31.