Shareholders

Mrs. Merle Taylor – Company President
Mrs. Merle Taylor had her interest in bells developed by travelling with her husband Paul on many site visits both at home and abroad and needless to say the many ringing discussions that must have taken place in Bellfoundry House etc.

On Paul’s death in 1981 Merle took over the role of Company Chairman of John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd., often opening her home for the Board meetings.

Merle was often quite insistent that she should see and become acquainted with aspects of the agenda under discussion especially when modern plant was to be installed or modification to the buildings was being considered.

At the merger of the two Companies it was unanimously agreed that Merle should continue as a Director and also be appointed the Company President, the position she continues to hold.

Dr Ray Ayres
Dr Ray Ayres is a Chartered Engineer and hereditary Freeman of the City of Leicester, the Merchant Guild and governing body of the town that originally controlled all business and ensured that only suitable craftsmen were free to trade.

Hence his deep interest in the famous Leicester Bellfounders Hugh Watts, Thomas and Joseph Eayre, also of Kettering and St Neots and Edward Arnold later of Leicester.

His early engineering training was as a student apprentice with A. A. Jones-Shipman the Leicester precision machine tool manufacturers, through whom he gained founding experience at Benjamin Russell’s foundry near the West Bridge, which coincidentally is close to where Edward Arnold’s foundry was latterly located and also where Paul Taylor learned his foundry skills.

After taking his degree at Nottingham University and qualifying as a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers he moved to Rolls-Royce at Derby working on the experimental development of the revolutionary RB211 aero engine before returning to Leicester University as a Research Fellow using computers to study aerodynamics.

It was at this time in the early ‘70’s that he came to know Paul Taylor well and developed an interest in computational modelling of bell profiles and harmonics. His first bell restoration project was the clock, carillon chime and ring of eight bells by Watts and Eayre of Kings Norton Leicestershire – the first job where araldite bell pads were used.

Subsequently, he pursued a dual professional career, with bells through the formation with Bob and Ruth Smith, of Eayre and Smith Ltd, and computers applied to avionics and air defence. His most complex technical achievement involving digital frequency analysis is the Eurofighter “Typhoon” Electronic Warfare test facility for British Aerospace and his favourite bell installation: St Andrew’s Cathedral, Honolulu. He does not consider himself a ringer but admits to playing piano and piano accordion a bit.

Alan P S Berry
As a Man of Kent Alan learned to ring at the Church of St. Mary and St Eanswythe Folkestone, and joined the Kent County Association of Change Ringers in 1956. Between the years of 1958 and 1970 he served in various offices of the Ashford District of the Association, as Representative to the County Committee, Ringing Master and District Secretary.

In 1969 he was elected County Association Secretary, a post he held until 1978 when he joined John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd as General Manager, in the same year becoming the Managing Director. He is also a member of Leicester Diocesan Guild and the Ancient Society of College Youths.

Alan served as a Diocesan Advisor for bells to the Canterbury Diocese from 1973 to 1978 and lead a team of ringers in DIY restoration at several Towers in the east of the county. He has also served on The Central Council of Church Bellringers as an Honorary Member and currently does so as a Trustee of the Carter Ringing Machine housed at The John Taylor Bell Foundry Museum.

On leaving the local Grammar School he took employment in the Engineering Design Office with the National Coal Board, South Eastern Division and studying Mechanical Engineering at Dover and Canterbury Technical Colleges.

After 17 years service with the N.C.B he joined the Anglo American Engineering Unit of Charter Consolidated Ltd. at Asford, spending some time as Project Engineer in Kitwe, Zambia associated with copper mining and its processing.

Alan has also served in several capacities on Parochial Church Councils and still retains an active interest in the Scout Movement. His retirement activity is as a member of the Leicester Society of Model Engineers and is currently its Chairman - but still finding time to serve the Company as Director in Charge of the Museum.

Peter R Cake
Peter served his engineering apprenticeship with crane builders Herbert Morris Ltd of Loughborough, and then joined John Taylor Bellfounders as draftsman on 1st August 1961, initially to assist with the design and building of the Carillon at Washington National Cathedral.

Peter went on to be an integral part of the carillon side of the business and spent time in America where he built up the overseas market for the company.

Peter worked his way up through the company as Works Manager, Works Director and then Managing Director. He retired on 28th November 2002.

Peter was educated at Skegness Grammar School, Loughborough College and O.U, and he qualified in Mechanical & Production Engineering, Machine Shop Engineering and has a B A in Technology & Sociology.

His current interests include cricket, following the sun, Italy, Cyprus, et hoc, most sports, reading and the grandson!

Eur Ing Robert B Smith BTech CEng FIMechE MIET
Bob has been a bellringer for over fifty years and conducted the Extent of Plain Bob Major in 1963, rung at the bellfoundry tower. He first appeared in 'Who's Who of British Engineers' in 1980.

Bob is the former Head of Mechanical Engineering and Construction at Loughborough College and was a Director of Eayre & Smith Limited.

Mrs. Ruth H Smith
Ruth was previously the Company Secretary and a Director of Eayre & Smith Limited and holder of a Private Secretary's Diploma and Teaching Certificate.

She started ringing in 1955 and has rung over a thousand peals. Ruth has assisted on bellringing courses and bell-hanging projects for many years and is currently the Ringing Master at Melbourne, Derbyshire.