IN March 2015 the Courier published a story about Elias Browning who was a town crier in Crediton from 1903 to 1921 and was buried in the churchyard of Crediton Parish Church.

The story was read online by Keith and Judy Browning in Australia.

Keith recalled that as a young child his father, Arthur Miller Browning (born in Australia in1922 and the son of Robert Henry Browning) mentioning that he remembered his father’s, father, was once the Town Crier in Crediton.

So he contacted the "Courier" and was put in touch with Bill Jerman, a spokesman for Crediton Parish Church where the bell is kept. Bill liased between the Brownings in Australia and their family in Crediton to help set up a visit.

Keith and Judy together with Keith’s sister Christine Grattan (nee Browning) stayed at Chagford during their visit and attended a service at Crediton Parish Church on Sunday, June 4, where they met Bob and Pat Browning, Bob’s brother Geoffrey and their cousin Terry Keen.

They all visited the Governors Room where they had the opportunity to ring the retired town criers bell that had once belonged to their common ancestor Elias Browning.

After a cream tea in the Boniface Centre the three Australian visitors were shown the bell tower at the church, and then visited Dean Street and Park Road where their ancestors had lived around 100 years ago.

Before returning to Chagford everyone met up again at the home of Bob and Pat in Crediton.

Bob said: "It was nice to meet them and for them to be able to see the bell.

"We were able to share information from our family tree. It was a nice day and we plan to keep in touch now that we have met."

The visitors conveyed their thanks and gratitute to all those at the parish church for making their visit a magnificent and memorable experience.

"Bill was very generous with his time and our newly discovered relations were most hospitable and as excited as we were to share stories and memories", said Keith.

"We have exchanged contact details and will endeavour to stay in touch.

"We had a wonderful tour of the church, including an informative explanation of the church bells and bell ringing methods.

"Thanks to Bob, Geoff and Terry I have been informed that my direct ancestor William Browning was born at Drewsteington around 1613 so there is a lot of family history to unravel going forward."