Offenham, Worcs, 5th Jan, 1260 Mixed Doubles: Christina Ireland 1, Robert Hall 2, Chris Povey 3, Matthew Kemble 4, Martin Penny (C) 5, Bob Topp 6. Rung for Samuel Thomas Room, born 21/12/13.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 13th Jan, 1250, Hwange D Major: Michael Dane 1, Peter Quinn 2, Richard Lewis-Skeath 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, Chris Mew (C) 6, John Nicholls 7, Mark Sayers 8.
Childswickham, Worcs, 24th Jan, 1260 Doubles (Stedman, Grandsire, P. Bob): Martin Penny (C) 1, Chris Povey (C) 2, Tom Sandham (C) 3, Roland Merrick (C) 4, Matthew Kemble (C) 5, Andrew Gunn 6. 300 called by 1 and 240s called by 2-5. Birthday compliment to 6.
Harbury, Warks, 27th Jan, 1260, Erin Triples: James Ingham 1, Peter Quinn 2, Ian Thompson 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, John Nicholls 6, Chris Mew (C) 7, Jackie Hands 8.
Great Tew, Oxon, 31st Jan, 1260, Stedman Triples: Claire Tarrant 1, Sally Austin 2, Heather Bletchly 3, Daniel Austin 4, Sue Burchell 5, Robin Green 6, Graham Clifton (C) 7, Michael Austin 8. 1st Stedman: 4. To congratulate Rev. Sue Burchell on gaining an MA.
Wellesbourne, Warks, 10th Feb, 1260, Middlesex B Triples: Peter Quinn 1, Richard Lewis-Skeath 2, James Ingham 3, Karen French 4, Robert Reeves 5, John Nicholls 6, Michael Dane (C) 7, John Wheeler 8. 1st Q on 8: 8. Good wishes from the band to Ann Mew, who is recovering from an eye operation.
Chipping Campden, Glos, 24th Feb, 1282 Lincolnshire S Major: Robert Reeves 1, Richard Lewis-Skeath 2, Karen French 3, Richard Lewis-Skeath (C) 4, Michael Dane 5, Jonathan Tallis 6, James Ingham 7, Peter Quinn 8.
Salford Priors, Warks, 28th Feb, 1260 Plain Bob Triples: Claire Penny 1, David Roskelly 2, Tom Sandham 3, Angela Roskelly 4, Matthew Kemble 5, Martin Penny 6, Chris Povey (C) 7. 1st Q inside for Bob Triples: 3 & 5. 100th Q: 4. Rung after meeting short for Major.
Wigginton, Oxon, 7th Mar, 1382 Cambridge S Minor: Michael Austin 1, Daniel Austin 2, Sally Austin 3, Claire Tarrant 4, Heather Bletchly 5, Graham Clifton (C) 6. First of Minor and of Surprise for Dan Austin. With the band's best wishes to Mark Tarrant & Constance Young of Oxford and Sarah Conway & Patrick Romanelli of Montreal on their recent engagements.
Salford Priors, Warks, 17th Mar, 1280 Double Norwich Court Bob Major: Michael Gray 1, Chris Mew (C) 2, James Ingham 3, Karen French 4, Michael Dane 5, John Nicholls 6, Robert Reeves 7, Richard Lewis-Skeath 8. For St Patrick's Day.
Badsey, Worcs, 28th Mar, 1344 Plain Bob Major: Freda Cleaver 1, Angela Roskelly 2, Chris Povey 3, Roger Hunt 4, Claire Penny 5, Matthew Kemble 6, David Roskelly 7, Martin Penny (C) 8.
(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)
David Hammond fell and broke his hip recently, so was carted off to hospital to have it repaired. He was, of course, on crutches for a time. Amazingly he has been into Willersey's Ringing Chamber very recently. This is quite a feat, as the steps up there are narrow and not the easiest. Hopefully this is an indication of David's progress and not him tackling more than he should at this stage! Best wishes for a full recovery, David.
Until I received details of the April Mid-week tour from Isobel, I was unaware Jill Roberts had suffered a heart attack. Isobel had included in her email a short message from Jill: Thank you all ever so much for your get well card and best wishes, it is wonderful to have so many kind friends. I made a good recovery from the heart attack, but unfortunately picked up a chest infection, which I'm just getting over. Everyone has been quite amazingly kind, and I can't speak highly enough of the NHS care here and at the JR (John Radcliffe Hospital). I am now retired from going on outings, but hope to see some of you sometime. Best wishes and thanks. Happy memories! Jill. Best wishes from all of us for a speedy recovery, Jill.
Daniel Austin appears to be going places ringing-wise at the moment. He rang his first quarter of Stedman Triples at Great Tew on 31st January, and then a week later at Wigginton rang inside to Cambridge S Minor, his first of Minor and of Surprise. Congratulations Daniel. Keep it up!
New members: Mark Newbury of Childswickham, and Sylvia and Paul Smith of Dumbleton. Welcome to the Guild!
There is to be a 'ringers' wedding' at Hinton-on-the-Green soon. Although not Guild members, those who've been to the Saturday evening practices at Hinton-on-the-Green will have met Ringing Master Nick Frost and fellow ringer Sheila Marshall. Sheila and Nick have announced they are to be married on 4th July. This will be one wedding for which Nick will not have to arrange bells, as there will be plenty of ringers who will be very happy to partake. Congratulations, Sheila and Nick.
Roger Hunt has sent in the following report:-
'Bret bells out of action'. An eerie silence has descended on the village of Bretforton at the beginning of March. No merry pealing on a Thursday night or the striking of the church clock to comfort those not able to sleep. At last the Diocese issued the long-awaited 'F' word and so the bells are undergoing a mini-overhaul and some TLC. The octave is being fitted with ball bearings as the original plain bearings were almost life-expired and also the remains of the iron staples (from which the clappers originally hung) are being drilled out to avoid potential corrosion and cracking to the crowns of the bells. The TLC comes in the shape of a complete redecoration of the bellframe and fittings! More details will be published in the next issue.
Pebworth: no change here yet, other than a decision to obtain an alternative quotation for replacing the tenor's cracked headstock.
Moreton-in-Marsh Ringing is currently suspended due to an unsafe weather vane at the top of the spire. The builders have been contacted, who have put flying scaffolding on the spire and seem to have stabilised the very top. At present there is no progress report or indication of a date when ringing will commence again.
An arsonist attacked St. Eadburgha's Church, Broadway, overnight between Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th April. Flammable liquid was poured over the centuries-old entrance door and ignited. Luckily the fire did not spread beyond the door, but the interior has a covering of soot from the smoke. Specialist vacuuming can remove the soot, but the door was wrecked. The arsonist similarly attacked the doors of the Lifford Hall, library, the Police Station and Barn Close Surgery, but the latter didn't catch fire. St Eadburgha's is out of action while the damage is repaired, so no ringing there for until at least June.
Stella Southam reports that she has heard from a lady whose Great, Grand Uncle (her words, Stella says) was Alfred John Partington of Longborough. The lady saw Stella's article in the April '13 Newsletter when researching her family history, and Stella has passed on the details that Alfred's name appears in the CCCBR Memorial Book.
Lastly, congratulations to Isobel Murphy on gaining a History MA.