Four Shires Guild of Bell Ringers

  1. TOC
  2. back
  3. next

A look back on recent FSG Mid-Week Tours

The Four Shires Guild's Mid-Week Outings continue to be very successful. Thursday 19th August was 20 years since the late Tony Brazier phoned me to ask if I was interested in a day's Ringing Outing. I had just retired. Fifteen of us set out. Our first tower was Belbroughton and three other towers in the Kidderminster area. We were ringers from villages in the Evesham and Pershore area.

Thursday 19th August 2010 was the 250th outing, organised by Margaret Pratt. The first tower was the 8 (15cwt) at Mickleton, then on to the 6 (12cwt) at Willersey. After lunch we rang on the 8 (11cwt) at Saintbury. Not only was it a good ring, but the view over the Vale of Evesham and beyond on that lovely clear day was worth seeing. We ended the day on the 8 (22cwt) in the lovely Cotswold town of Chipping Campden, where our ladies supplied us with tea and cakes.

We have had some very enjoyable outings taking us to all the different Counties in the Midlands. Every one has its beauty.

The April Outing, organised by Pat Halls, took us into South Derbyshire. The first tower was the 8 (11cwt) at Netherseal, and then on to the 6 (13cwt) at Lullington. We then had lunch at Acresford and in the afternoon rang on the 10 (9cwt) at Ticknall. We ended a lovely day on the 12 bells (15cwt) at Melbourne.

The May Outing, organised by Colin Lord,, took us to North Buckinghamshire. The first tower was the 8 (15cwt) at Wicken, and then on to the 6 (10cwt) at Maids Moreton, where we had lunch. Afterwards we rang on the 6 (16cwt) at Great Horwood, and ended the day on the 8 (17cwt) at Winslow.

The June Outing, organised by Alan Marks, took us to Northamptonshire, where the first tower visited was the 6 (12cwt) at Yelvertoft. The next tower was the 6 (8cwt) at Guilsborough, where lunch was taken. In the afternoon we rang on the 8 (12cwt) at Welford and ended another lovely day's ringing at Castle Ashby (6, 6cwt).

The July Outing, organised by Sandra Parker, returned to South Warwickshire, where the first tower visited was the 6 (13cwt) at Honington. From there we rang on the 6 (14cwt) at Butlers Marston. Lunch was taken at the Castle Inn, Edge Hill, which overlooks the valley where the Battle of Edge Hill was fought centuries ago; and what a beautiful view it is! After lunch we rang on the 6 (9cwt) at Shotteswell, and ended the day on the 8 (10cwt) at Kineton.

The September Outing was organised by Geoff Pratt and took us to the Rugby area of Warwickshire. The first tower was Rugby Parish Church's West tower (5, 9cwt) and then its North-east tower to ring on the 8 (25cwt). The Barley Mow at Newbold-on-Avon provided lunch, after which we rang on the 10 (12cwt) at the church there. The day ended by ringing on the 6 (7cwt) at Church Lawford.

It is not only the ringing we enjoy. There is the comradeship and friendship we get from ringers over eight different Midlands counties. There is the beauty of different towns and villages, the different coloured stone and scenery - and the different brews as we travel about.

Frank Spiers

Thank you for your report of the Mid-Week tours, Frank. Please provide some more in future. Ed