Harbury, Warks, 1st July, 1250 Cambridge S Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Julie Doyle 2, Richard Lewis-Skeath 3, Karen French 4, John Nicholls 5, Peter Quinn 6, Robert Reeves 7, Mark Sayers 8.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 8th July, 1280 Spliced S Major (Cambridge, Yorks, Lincs): Chris Mew (C) 1, Peter Quinn 2, Julie Doyle 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, Richard Lewis-Skeath 6, John Nicholls 7, Mark Sayers 8.
From L-R: Peter Kenealy, Trish Holmes, Alan Turner, Cameron Townsend, Sarah Scotter, Roger Cotter, Paul Marriott
Sarah Scotter sent me this report from Cherington:
Please find attached a photo of the Cherington Ringers, who rang immediately after the announcement of the Royal Birth, at 8.30pm on Monday 22 July. We rang Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob Doubles and Plain Hunt Minor. The Tower Captain is Paul Marriott, and the ringers that evening were: Cameron Townsend, Trish Holmes, Roger Cotter, Alan Turner, Peter Kenealy and Sarah Scotter. The photograph was taken by visiting ringer, 'Norfolk' George.
We think we may have been one of the first to ring out the good news, if not the first in Warwickshire!
I'm sure you were first. Congratulations!! CMP
At the end of most months a band from the Vale meet to ring a quarter somewhere in the area. It was Matthew Kemble's idea that it should be a social occasion, too, so afterwards we go for a curry or something similar. I got the job of finding a tower for the July session and secured Stanton. This was relayed to the band, whereupon Claire said, 'I've never rung on an anti-clockwise ring before! Bags I ring the tenor.' 'Hmmm', said clever Matthew, 'perhaps we should ring Reverse methods.' That was a good idea, so we agreed to ring Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Doubles and Reverse St Bartholomew's Doubles, as some of the band had never ventured into such strange territory previously. To add to these methods we decided to ring Reverse Downham to start with and Reverse Uppingham to finish. It's what you do on a reverse (anti-clockwise) ring…
Stanton, Glos, 26th July, 1260 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Bob Doubles & Reverse St Bartholomew's Doubles: Andrew Gunn 1, Claire Penny 2, Martin Penny 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Chris Povey (C) 5, John Nicholls 6. To celebrate the birth of HRH Prince George of Cambridge. First Rev Cant: 2 & 4; first Rev St Bart's: 2, 3 & 4.
Afterwards we went to my place for the 'apres Q'. Matthew brought the curry and Claire brought the afters - 'upside-down pudding' of course! CMP
Halford, Warks, 5th Aug, 1296 Minor (3m): Chris Mew (C) 1, Karen French 2, Robert Reeves 3, Peter Quinn 4, John Nicholls 5, Richard Lewis-Skeath 6. Rung to welcome Jasmine Sara Wakeham, great niece of conductor, daughter for Richard and Louise.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 9th Aug, 1280 Superlative S Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Michael Haynes 2, Peter Quinn 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, Mark Sayers 6, John Nicholls 7, Richard Lewis-Skeath 8. First S Major: 2.
Middle Littleton, Worcs, 23rd Aug, 1290 Mixed Doubles: Christina Ireland 1, Tom Sandham 2, Claire Penny 3, Martin Penny (C) 4, Matthew Kemble (C) 5, Roland Merrick 6.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 30th Aug, 1280 Cambridge S Major: Chris Mew (C) 1, Sue Bacon 2, Peter Quinn 3, Karen French 4, James Ingham 5, Michael Dane 6, Richard Lewis-Skeath 7, Mark Sayers 8. 80th birthday compliment to Sue's mother. First in method: 2.
Offenham, Worcs, 27th September, 1320 Doubles (St Simon's, St Martin's, Rev Canterbury, Southrepps, Plain Bob & April Day): Roland Merrick 1, Chris Povey 2, Matthew Kemble 3, Tom Sandham 4, Martin Penny (C) 5. First Q on the simulator. New methods for 3 & 4.
Harbury, Warks, 30th September, 1280 Yorkshire S Major: Chris Mew 1, Richard Lewis-Skeath 2, James Ingham 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, Mark Sayers 6, John Nicholls 7, Peter Quinn (C) 8. To mark the birth of Helena Alice Quinn, born on 23rd September 2013, granddaughter of Peter & Veronica Quinn.
(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)
Nick arranged to ring a peal with some friends at his home tower of Moreton-in-Marsh for his 50th birthday. The method was, appropriately, Fifty Surprise Major. He asked some of his old ringing colleagues from Hampshire to take part, along with Richard L-S, Chris Povey and Michael Chester from Coventry. The peal went well, with only an occasional trip, and was completed in 2hrs 41mins. The composition provided some good music.
Afterwards it was the usual case of 'Which association do we ring this for?' There were three FSG members, but four resident and one non-resident Winchester & Portsmouth Guild members, so ringing it for the W&P won. The non-W&P members were put up for NRLM and the peal was headed W&P for convenience. However, it was a significant event for a Guild member and involved other Guild members, so is mentioned here. The details are:-
Winchester & Portsmouth Guild
St David's, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
Saturday 7th September 2013, in 2hrs 41mins (10-0-14)
5088 Fifty Surprise Major
1 Christopher M Povey
2 Richard Lewis-Skeath
3 D Annabel Preston
4 Nicholas K Allsopp
5 John P Collis
6 Michael Chester
7 Roy LeMarechal (cond)
8 Stewart J Hearne
Comp by: Don Morrison
Rung to celebrate Nick's 50th birthday (02/09/2013)
Belated congratulation to Guild member Daniel Austin of Hook Norton tower in Oxfordshire. Daniel rang his first peal at the first attempt at Steeple Aston, Oxon: details below. Well done Daniel!
Oxford Diocesan Guild
SS Peter & Paul, Steeple Aston, Oxon
Saturday 1st June 2013, in 2hrs 58mins (12-2-16)
5056 Plain Bob Major
1 Malcolm R C Hencher
2 Heather Bletchly
3 Claire E Tarrant
4 Sally A Austin
5 Daniel J Austin
6 Martin J Saunders
7 Alan J Griffin
8 Graham J Clifton (Cond)
Comp by: J R Pritchard
Rung for the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of HM The Queen.
First Peal at first attempt: 5
Pebworth's tenor has been investigated. Taylors looked at it and found the fabricated steel headstock had cracked badly (it is not a Taylor stock).
This had forced the headstock to splay out, and damage the bearing and bearing housings. See photo. A new headstock will be required, together with new bearings and housings. As might be thought, there will be a fairly considerable bill for supplying and fitting the new stock and ancillaries, so it may be a little time before this is repaired. In the meantime Pebworth will have to revert to its pre-1995 status as a 6-bell tower, as the front 6 are, of course, a genuine 6, and they are unaffected by the tenor's troubles. Apparently a similar failure on a similar headstock at a church in Oxford occurred in the past.
A clock hammer head sheared off from its shaft at Stow-on-the-Wold recently when the 4th was being pulled up. The hammers had been pulled off, so there's something of a mystery about this. Luckily, no damage was done to the bell or its wheel.
Guild Vice-President the Rev Peter Newing has been unwell recently with a breathing problem following a 6-day Great Train Ride into and around Switzerland with Angela. This required 8 days in Gloucester Royal Hospital to prevent further complications. He hopes to be well enough to join us at Offenham for the AGM. You have our best wishes, Peter, and we look forward to seeing you at Offenham on October 12th.
Ilmington, Warks, 26th July, 1260 Grandsire Triples: David Clark 1, Francis Chapman 2, Bill Sabin 3, Bill Nash 4, John Kinchin 5, John Nicholls 6, Michael Dane (C) 7, Jackie Hands 8. To celebrate the 80th birthday of Chris Righton, a ringer at this tower. (Congratulations on getting there, Chris!! CMP)