Hell's bells – the vicar's watered down my beer
Looking through her uncle's army papers from nearly 70 years ago, Paula Middleton came across a poem which tells how one of Knighton's bellringers knocked six bells out of the local vicar for watering down his beer.
The handwritten poem was sent to John Gwyther, who was away doing his National Service between 1948 and 1950.
"I did find it in a little wallet that I'm pretty sure was Uncle John’s. I am guessing that it was probably sent by a friend," said Paula, from Bishop's Castle, who wonders whether it was a local humorous sketch at the time, or something which was doing the rounds at the local pubs.
The poem, written in a young hand in pencil and with some dodgy spellings, is called The Cheated Ringer.
It goes: "The Bells of Knighton ring sweet & clear, For the ringers are drinking stout & Beer.
