March 2002 Issue 15

Contributions for Issue 16 are needed before March 26th, 2002

Ringing on the 50th Anniversary of the Queen's Accession

Whereas a band of ringers from all over Derbyshire ascended the tower of St. Peter's, Derby, and therein did ring a true and complete peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples (Mr J. J. Parker's 12 part peal) in fine style, it being 2hrs 49mins after the start that the bells were brought round to the great joy and satisfaction of all those who heard this fine performance.

The ringers that accomplished this feat stood as follows:

Gordon Halls, who was unable to ring due to ill-health, would like to be associated with this peal. When Gordon received his MBE from the Queen, he told her that he rang for her Coronation and that he hoped to ring for her Golden Jubilee.

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Not only Pancakes from M Starkey

At Ashbourne Shrovetide means more than just tossing pancakes. There is of course the ancient game of Shrovetide Football to watch and/or take part in depending if you were born an “uppard, a downard” or indeed join the “hug” if you feel brave enough. Over recent years the bells of St Oswald’s have usually pealed out over the town before the Shrove Tuesday game.

This year Prince Charles was expected to “turn up” the Ash Wednesday ball, but with his Aunt dying the previous Saturday he cancelled his visit. We had already dusted-off the method of the day “Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Delight Major” so in the circumstances we decided to ring the peal half muffled. The peal took 3 hrs 10m to ring and was 5056 changes in length.

Taking part were:-

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Nine Men (& Women) and a Dog ... from M Starkey

The date Saturday January 26th, the time 9.30 am, the place Marple in Cheshire. Nine stalwart ringers stood outside the detached tower in the cold and rain waiting for the keyholder to appear. In no time at all we were inside in the warm and the bells were resounding to Plain bob triples and Cambridge Surprise minor.

On to Bredbury where before we were allowed into the tower we were ushered into the church hall to drink coffee and eat biscuits – very welcome indeed. This tower was unusual in that we entered the ringing chamber through the workings of the church organ. Methods here included Grandsire Triples and Stedman doubles with 4,6,8 behind.

For lunch a panoramic view of Greater Manchester was offered from our dining table in the Hare & Hounds atop Werneth Low. A pity the grey Mancunian skies denied us the spectacular view it no doubt is on a clear summers day.

St George’s Hyde gave us the chance to ring call changes with a few named ones that were new to us all including “Jokers” 17652438. Stedman triples came round here too which always puts a smile on peoples faces.

Most of us proceeded next to St Paul’s Stalybridge whilst other “misguided” souls went to Holy Trinity. They soon rejoined us though and after initial consternation at this ring of bells we soon got used to them and rather enjoyed our time there. Our District Ringing Master also enjoyed a mental challenge here; nothing to do with conducting but he may be less inquisitive next time he spots an unusual door?

Mossley over the border out of CDG territory, was a late addition after Fred Pembleton had declared Mottram in Longendales bells unringable. Here tens of thousands of lottery money has been spent on the bells but it’s a pity they are so hard to hear above the noise of the rope guides! Here the local Tower captain enjoyed his first efforts at trebling on more than six bells though prior to this he had rung Oxford Treble Bob Minor inside with us.

All in all it was an excellent day. If you happen to catch sight of the programme for this event next January be sure not to pass up the chance of coming along.

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In Memoriam

Derbyshire ringers joined in a half-muffled peal of Cambridge Surprise Maximus rung at Melbourne on 10 Feb that was jointly dedicated to the memory of Princess Margaret and to the memory of Rev. R D St John Smith.

St John Smith used to be Rector of Darley Dale before he retired and he was also a keen ringer. He was a Central Council Representative for our Association from 1969-74. Before he came to Derbyshire he was President of the Lancashire Association for many years and some people came from Lancashire for his funeral. His three children all ring.
P Halls

(A Sunday quarter peal for service at Brailsford was also rung half muffled in memory of Princess Margaret).

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STRIKE NOT from M Banks

We have been having a bad time at our regular Friday quarter peals. At Clifton we were locked out, at Basford the late arrival of a band member scuppered our ringing plan, and at Stapleford a touch of method madness proved our undoing.

It was time to invoke risk management techniques to guarantee success at our next Friday attempt. “Let’s ring a method which all of us know well. Hmm, OK we will ring Grandsire Triples”. “How about choosing a tower where the bells are easy to ring and in mechanically excellent condition? Just a minute, doesn’t the Technical Director of our local bell hanging company ring at Long Eaton, these bells should fit the bill. We need to be sure that the band arrives on time, however”. Yes, we will arrange shared transport with a navigation expert in each car. With such meticulous planning we could land a quarter peal band on the moon!

Well here we all are, the full band has arrived at Long Eaton with 10 minutes to spare and the vicar has let us in to the tower. Two major hurdles achieved, our risk management plan is already working well. "Let’s raise the bells."

There seems to be a large gap between the treble and the tenor, "pay attention everyone and let’s get the striking good!” The bells are up now but wasn’t there something strange about the tenor? A couple of swings of the tenor are rewarded by silence. Hmm, it’s a good job that there are bell maintenance experts in the band – this should be easy to fix!

The experts spring nimbly up the tower stairs and switch on the bell chamber light. A toothless yawn from the tenor says “GOT YOU AGAIN”. The adjustable spanner and split pin on the frame give testament to the theft of the clapper!

Oh well, it will be Friday the 13th in September; surely our luck will have improved by then!

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Six & Eight Bell Practices

Since the District Ringing Master has his own practice to run on Mondays, Jane Boden has offered to continue running the Six Bell Practices at Brailsford each month. On February 8th an informal meeting took place after the practice to discuss the aims of the practices and to put in place a programme for the coming year.

Resulting from this a range of methods have been suggested that it is hoped will be potentially useful for the ringers that regularly attend and that might give something a little bit different for the more expert attendees. Details of the programme will be sent to each tower as usual.

Why don’t YOU give it a try, you don’t have to attempt every method suggested, just try something that stretches you. If you are able to turn in the tenor you will be made especially welcome.

Saturday 23rd February saw the first of what is hoped will become a regular event, a District Surprise Major Practice. The venue was Belper and the time 2 o’clock. Fourteen hardy souls braved the snow and the gale that afternoon and were amply rewarded. For those who wanted to take their first steps there were plenty of opportunities to ring the treble and the chance to master Cambridge lead by lead.

For those who wanted something a little more advanced, Rutland, Yorkshire and Bristol were rung, and some of the experts rang 4-spliced. The afternoon was rounded off by refreshments - the catering was superb, it was worth turning up for the cream scones and fruit cake alone - and a discussion of a programme of practices for the next three months. See diary dates for March & April.

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Advance Notice

Successfully ringing a quarter peal can be a big step forward in developing your skill and improving your ringing, and obviously the most likely place to achieve this is your home tower. If people in your band want to ring a quarter peal and need help to achieve it then the answer is to contact Alec Humphrey as soon as you can. In October, from Sunday 6th to Sunday 13th there will be a quarter peal week and if you can fix a date and time within those eight days (yes, we know that it is not a week really), then we will endeavour to find the extra ringers that you might need to help make it possible.

If you wish to ring a quarter away from your home tower, then on Saturday 12th October there is to be a quarter peal day. The culmination of this day is to be a meal at an appropriate water-hole, so if you enjoy the social aspects of ringing, or if you like the satisfaction of successfully completing a quarter peal, ensure that the form that will appear in your tower is filled in and returned.

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Diary Dates: March 2002 - April 2002

March 9th - District Striking Contest, to be held at Winshill (Method) and Hartshorne (Call Changes). General afternoon ringing at Repton & evening ringing at Etwall.
March 18th – Six bell practice at Brailsford at 7:30. Methods – Single Oxford Bob, Kent & Oxford TB Minor.
March 23rd – Surprise Major practice at Duffield from 3:30 to 5:30, ending with a drink and discussion. Methods – Cambridge, Rutland & London.
April 13th – District Training Morning at Brailsford. Plain Bob Minor from 10:00 to 12:30. Contact Gill Hughes
April 13th – District Ringing Meeting at Worthington (3) Leics., from 6:30 – 7:00. Melbourne (12) 7:30 – 9:00. Why don’t you give this meeting a visit?
April 15th – Six bell practice at Brailsford at 7:30. Methods – April Day Doubles, Oxford TB & Cambridge S Minor.
April 20th – Annual General Meeting at Creswell.
April 27th – Surprise Major practice at Belper from 2:30 to 4:30 ending with a drink and discussion. Methods – Cambridge, Lincolnshire & London.

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