Mike Berning (1941 - 2006) was a South African librarian, author, and bell ringer. He is best known as a Head of Cory Library (1965) and Deputy University Librarian.

Career

Professional life

In the first part of 1965 Berning was employed in the South African Library in Cape Town, but in September of that year he was appointed Librarian of the Cory Library at Rhodes University. From 1978 until 1986 he acted as Deputy to the University Librarian until, in 1988, the post of Deputy University Librarian was created, to which he was appointed. Berning retired in 1999.

Bell ringing

In 1968

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...

Kenneth Oram Kenneth Cyril Oram AKC (3 March 1919 – 7 January 2001) was an Anglican clergyman who served as Dean of Kimberley and of Grahamstown before his elevation to the episcopacy as Bishop of Grahamstown, 1974 to 1987. Early years Oram was educ ...

sought volunteers to ring the

Grahamstown Cathedral The Cathedral of St Michael and St George is the home of the Anglican Diocese of Grahamstown in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Grahamstown. The cathedral is located on Church ...

bells. Berning, who was very involved in the life of the cathedral, was one of the recruits. Berning took over as Tower Captain, through a very difficult period in the 1980s, held a band together and continued to teach recruits. He helped found the South African Guild of Church Bell Ringers in 1988. Berning was instrumental in petitioning the Parish Council for permission to rehang the bells in a new frame. He also helped obtain the support of the Mayor of Grahamstown and City Council for the rehanging project. Berning was one of the band who rang the bells for the first time in their new frame, on Christmas Eve, 1993.

Awards

Order of Simon of Cyrene The Order of Simon of Cyrene is the highest award given by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to laity for distinguished service. It was established in 1960, during the tenure of Archbishop Joost de Blank, following a proposal by Bishop R ...

in 2006.

Publications

* * * * * * *

Personal life

Mike Berning was born John Michael Berning in Johannesburg on 4 December 1941. He attended the King Edward VII School in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

. He attended

Rhodes University Rhodes University () is a public research university located in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is one of four universities in the province. Established in 1904, Rhodes University is the prov ...

in 1960, where he studied history, graduating in with an Honours degree in 1963. He continued his studies at the

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) (, ) is a public university, public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university status in 1918, making it the oldest univer ...

in 1964. In 1968 he was awarded a Diploma in Librarianship from UCT. He died in Grahamstown on 7 December 2006, he was married to Ann.

Notes and references

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Berning, John Michael 1941 births 2006 deaths Bellringers South African Anglicans Academic staff of Rhodes University Rhodes University alumni South African librarians Alumni of King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)