Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, 16th Jan 1280 Yorkshire S Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 2, Peter Quinn 3, Richard Lewis-Skeath 4, John Nicholls 5, Michael Dane 6, Clive Sparling 7, John Gwynne 8. 40th birthday compliments (17 January) to Richard Lewis-Skeath.
Ilmington, Warks,, 22nd Jan, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Nicola Amphlett 1, Bill Sabin 2, John Kinchin 3, Jackie Hands 4, Michael Dane (C) 5, Mike Fairfax 6. Congratulations to Nicola on her first quarter peal!
Pebworth, Worcs,, 22nd Jan, 1296 Grandsire Caters: Andrew Baker 1, Charles Wilson 2, Richard Lewis-Skeath 3, Michael Haynes 4, Rosemary Hemmings 5, Martin Penny (C) 6, Simon Head 7, John Hearne 8, Simon Adams 9, Graham Allman 10 Rung in memory of Alistair Haynes, the father of 4, who passed away one year ago the previous day.
Harbury, Warks, 23rd Jan 1280 Groombridge S Major: Jonathan Tallis 1, Robert Reeves 2, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 3, Annie Hall 4, Chris Mew (C) 5, John Nicholls 6, Richard Lewis-Skeath 7, John Gwynne 8. 40th quarter peal and 1st Treble Bob on 8: 1
Bidford-on-Avon, Warks,, 27th Jan, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Martin Penny (C) 1, Sandra Parker 2, Matthew Kemble 3, Tom Sandham 4, Sam Precious 5, Roland Merrick 6, Chris Povey 7, Andrew Gunn 8. First Grandsire Triples inside: 3 & 5; first tenor to triples: 8.
Badsey, Worcs,, 29th Jan, 1260 Grandsire Doubles (with 768 cover): John Bolton 1, Tom Sandham 2, Claire Penny 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Martin Penny (C) 5, John Cleveland 6, Gordon Hill 7, Paul Green 8. Thanks to John Cleveland for standing in for Tony Hartwell at the last minute. Golden Wedding (on 20/1/12) compliment to Hilary & John Bolton. Rung before Evensong with a Blessing, followed by refreshments.
Salford Priors, Warks,, 30th Jan, 1260 Oxford Bob Triples: Richard Lewis-Skeath 1, Mark Sayers 2, Lucy Gwynne 3, Robert Reeves 4, Michael Danes 5, John Gwynne 6, Chris Mew (C) 7, Peter Quinn 8. A thanksgiving for the life of Doreen Patricia Mills, 13/10/1924 to 10/01/2012, a resident of Salford Priors for over 60 years.
Hanbury, Worcs,, 18nd Feb, 1260 Grandsire Doubles: Richard Lewis-Skeath 1, Michael Gray 2, Michael Haynes 3, John Nicholls (C) 4, Jonathan Tallis 5, Peter Kenealy 6. To mark the beginning of Lent (on 22nd Feb).
Pebworth, Worcs,, 20th Feb, 1260 Stedman Triples: Richard Lewis-Skeath 1, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 2, Robert Reeves 3, John Nicholls 4, John Gwynne 5, Chris Mew (C) 6, Jackie Hands 7, Michael Fairfax 8. 50th Birthday compliment (23 Feb) to Jackie.
Pebworth, Worcs,, 25th Feb, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Mike Fairfax 1, Andrew Baker 2, Michael Gray 3, Michael Haynes 4, John Carroll 5, John Nicholls 6, Michael Dane (C) 7, Graham Allman 8. Rung in memory of the comedian Frank Carson, who died 22/2/2012, aged 85.
Swerford, Oxon,, March 5th, 1260 Doubles (3m/1p): 1 Michael Gray, 2 Michael Haynes, 3 Rosemary Hemmings, 4 John Hearn, 5 Colin Meaks (C). Rung in memory of Alan Donaldson from Bloxham, who died 27th Feb of a suspected heart attack.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 5th March, 1280 Healey Surprise Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Peter Quinn 2, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 3, Richard Lewis-Skeath 4, Robert Reeves 5, John Gwynne 6, John Nicholls 7, Mark Sayers 8.
Temple Guiting, Glos,, March 17th, 1260 Plain Bob Minor: Peter Newing 1, Bill Nash 2, Michael Dane 3, John Nicholls 4, Mike Fairfax 5, Chris Povey (C) 6. Rung to celebrate the winning of the Cheltenham Gold Cup by 'Synchronised' the previous day. The horse was trained by Jonjo O'Neill, whose stables are near the village. The first quarter on the augmented ring, all the band being members of both the FSG and the G&B, the two grant-giving organisations involved. Peter Newing donated the bell, and was able to ring it on this special occasion. The ringing was indeed 'synchronised'!
Whichford, Warks,, March 26th, 1280 Whichford D Major: 1 Clive Sparling 1, 2 Richard Lewis-Skeath 2, 3 Sophia Lewis-Skeath, 4 Robert Reeves, 5 Chris Mew (C), 6 Mark Sayers,, 7 John Nicholls, 8 John Gwynne. In memory of Joyce Margaret Sparling, mother of Clive, who died on Saturday 24 March aged 88 years.
(Please let me have details of quarters. I cannot guarantee to see them on Campanophile, Belboard, or wherever. I do some, but probably not all. Ed)
Wyck Rissington: having lain unringable for a period, these four bells are to be rehung. The PCC is contracting with Whites of Appleton to undertake the work, which involves the provision of new bell fittings, new tie-bars in the bellframe to stiffen it and accurate retuning of the bells. The latter is to be welcomed, as, from the tonal analysis, the bells are 'musically challenged' in their present form. Grants for the work are being sought from the G&BDACBR and from our own Bell Restoration Fund. It's understood that removal of the bells will take place in May, although a completion date is unavailable at present. The PCC has just expended something like £300,000 on having the church roof repaired recently, so it is to be congratulated on moving forward with the bell work so quickly. An augmentation to 5 was considered, as initially it was thought the large tower with its small ring of bells would have sufficient room to install another bell pit easily. Sadly, further inspection revealed the existing wooden bellframe takes up a much greater than normal amount of room, leaving insufficient for a straightforward extension for a new treble. It seems Wyck Rissington will remain the only 4-bell tower in the North Cotswolds.
Adlestrop: this project isn't dead! There has been a delay in getting an acknowledged expert to undertake an historical survey of the bellframe, which will allow a decision to be made on whether it can be removed and replaced by a modern metal one (at one time a 'rip-out' was a simple thing to get agreed, but no longer!). This survey work should be undertaken fairly soon, after which the necessary comments regarding removal or whatever can be invited from the relevant parties that contribute towards the faculty process.
Temple Guiting: no, there's not another augmentation in the offing! A plaque has been put on the Nave wall to commemorate the new bell being placed in the tower. It records for posterity those to whom the bell is a memorial and those who contributed to the cost of the project. Along with Peter Newing, who donated the bell, and the contributing families, the Four Shires Guild and the Gloucester & Bristol DA are mentioned.