Offenham, Worcs, 3rd June, 1260 Grandsire Doubles: Phyllis Brazier 1, Tom Sandham 2, Claire Penny 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Martin Penny (C) 5. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Rung before the tree planting on Offenham Recreation Ground. Rung on the back 5 due to the unavailability of a 6th ringer!
Evesham (Bell Tower), Worcs, 4th June, 1260 Doubles (April Day, Plain & Grandsire): Martin Penny 1, Claire Penny 2, Tom Sandham 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Chris Povey (C) 5, John Booth 6. Rung at 3pm to coincide with HM Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. Thanks to Merry Privett for standing down after Robert Hall became unavailable beforehand due to a painful arm.
Halford, Warks, ringers couldn't manage a quarter, but loyally rang on June 4th nonetheless.
Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, 5th June, , 1260 Stedman Triples: Richard Lewis-Skeath 1, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 2, Annie Hall 3, Mark Sayers 4, Karen French 5, Chris Mew (C) 6, John Nicholls 7, Rob Stansbury 8. Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Circled the tower 3 times: 1
Tredington, Warks, 7th June, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Hazel Davies 1, Nick Allsopp 2, Jonathan Tallis 3, Mike Rees 4, Richard Lewis-Skeath (C) 5, Allen Turner 6. Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Tredington ringers would also like to associate this quarter peal with Ven Dr Gordon & Olive Kuhrt as the quarter peal attempt prior to their final service at Tredington was unsuccessful.
I'm sure other towers rang, too, but details haven't reached me. Let me know and I will include these towers in the next Newsletter. Ed.
Mickleton, Glos, 16th April, 1280 Double Norwich Court Bob Major: John Kinchin 1, Ian Thompson 2, Karen French 3, Lucy Gwynne 4, Chris Mew (C) 5, John Nicholls 6, John Gwynne 7, Richard Lewis-Skeath 8.
Stow-on-the-Wold, Glos, 23rd April, 1265 Plain Bob Major & Grandsire Triples: Maureen Sparling 1, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 2, Richard Lewis-Skeath 3, Mark Sayers 4, John Nicholls 5, Chris Mew (C) 6, Clive Sparling 7, Peter Quinn 8. A 65th birthday compliment to Clive Sparling.
Middle Littleton, Worcs, 27th April, 1260 Plain Bob Doubles: Andrew Gunn 1, Chris Povey 2, Claire Penny 3, Martin Penny 4, Matthew Kemble (C) 5, Tom Sandham 6. Rung in memory of Vera Penny (1924-2011) and Barry Penny (1931-2012). 1st Q as conductor.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 30th April, 1280 Cotswold S Major: Michael Dane 1, Chris Mew (C) 2, Sophia Lewis-Skeath 3, Mark Sayers 4, Richard Lewis-Skeath 5, Robert Reeves 6, John Nicholls 7, Peter Quinn 8. Rung to mark the 80th birthday of John Nicholls. (Q attributed to the Coventry D Guild, but we must publicise it here). Congratulations, El Presidente, on reaching such a great age!
Mickleton, Glos, 14th May, 1280 Glazebury S Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Ian Thompson 2, Robert Reeves 3, Lucy Gwynne 4, Peter Quinn 5, Richard Lewis-Skeath 6, John Nicholls 7, John Gwynne 8.
Childswickham, Glos, 25th May, 1260 Plain Bob Minor: Andrew Gunn 1, Martin Penny 2, Tom Sandham 3, Claire Penny 4, Matthew Kemble 5, Chris Povey (C) 6. 1st inside to PB Minor: 5.
Saintbury, Glos, 26th May, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Robert Chadburn 1, Robert Hall 2, Doug Bott 3, John Kinchin 4, Tom Sandham 5, Martin Penny 6, John Nicholls (C) 7, David Hammond 8. Rung to celebrate the 55th (Emerald) Wedding Anniversary of Anne and Doug Bott, who were married at St Catherine's Church, Chipping Campden, on 25th May 1957. Hearty congratulations, Anne and Doug!
Offenham, Worcs, 10th June, 1260 Plain Bob Minor: Chris Povey 1, Claire Penny 2, Tom Sandham 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Roger Hunt 5, Martin Penny (C) 6. Rung to close Offenham Wake.
Salford Priors, Warks, 18th June, 1250 Yorkshire S Major: Chris Mew 1, Alan Hartley 2, Lucy Gwynne 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, John Nicholls 6, John Gwynne 7, Richard Lewis-Skeath (C) 8.
Bidford-on-Avon, Warks, 29th June, 1260 Doubles (Plain Bob, April Day & Grandsire): Andrew Gunn 1, Claire Penny 2, Sam Precious 3, Roland Merrick 4, Martin Penny (C) 5, Matthew Kemble 6. An 18th birthday compliment to Sam.
(Please let me have details of quarters. I cannot guarantee to see them on Campanophile, Bellboard, or wherever. I do some, but probably not all. Ed)
Evesham, The Bell Tower: I was wondering how I might fill this slot, as little was happening 'out there'. Fortunately/unfortunately the following happened just before I'd finalised the Newsletter, allowing me to fill it. The Bell Tower has been closed off to the public. There is temporary fencing around it, so nobody can walk through the archway. Small flecks of the top structure have been falling off over many years, usually after a nasty storm. Earlier this year two large lumps about 6ins long dropped down. The crunch point was reached when the insurers said they wouldn't cover the PCC if anybody was hurt or even killed. The PCC had no option but to close it off. The structure at the top is sound; it is the ornamental bits, which have suffered badly with the two recent bad winters. Any small fissures in the limestone get rain in them. A heavy frost weakens the fissure more and eventually a crack forms. Ringing isn't to cease, but the three largest bells (4 tons total) won't be used. This will leave the light 10 — but 10's a goodly number!
Adlestrop: the bellframe expert has now inspected and his report is to be distributed to the relevant bodies. He doesn't seem to have identified any highly historic or particularly significant features about the frame, so this is encouraging. However, it is the bodies that will provide the all-important comments. The scheme promoters remain hopeful.