Issue 17, May 2002
News, Information and Trivia for Ringers in the Derby District of the DDA
Issue 17, May 2002
Look
To!
If you read The Ringing World
you may recall the phrase
“The Ringing World : you really
DO make it what it is ... So please keep that copy coming in.”
Many thanks to those who contribute
to Strike Notes, but I need more of you!!
Contributions for Issue 18 are needed before June 3rd, 2002
Address for Strike Notes :
, 51 The Plain,
Brailsford, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 3BZ
District
Meeting 13th April
SNIPPETS
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Maintenance
Tip
History
Corner
GORDON
HALLS’ 71st BIRTHDAY
A
RINGING PUZZLE
Diary
Dates: May 2002 - June 2002
The evening ringing was at Worthington and Melbourne. Worthington was an experience! One report of the ringing reads: ’... Seven Association Members and an assortment of five other ringers visited a tower named after a local brew in order to stand in what appeared to be a brick cupboard attempting to ring three bells, the heaviest of which weighed only 2 cwt and which some thought rang as easily as lumps of tripe on pieces of elastic’. Another reporter contented themselves with the statement that ’‘The three bells at Worthington were not particularly easy to control, being very light with very small sallies – like a mini ring really, but most people managed to ring them, some very well indeed.’
By 7:30 a good crowd of ringers had arrived at Melbourne, with a very good attendance from the local band, so people who are not accustomed to ringing on 12 bells had some valuable support. Twenty four people attended. In addition to rounds and call changes, Methods rung included Grandsire Cinques, Stedman Cinques and Plain Bob Royal.
There was a short business meeting in which nominations were invited for Area representatives for the remaining three areas. Graeme Hughes was elected as rep for Duffield/Belper/Brailsford/Mugginton/Osmaston. Area 4 (Cathedral/Derby St Lukes/Derby St Peter/Breadsall), and Area 6 (Melbourne/ Ticknall/ Repton/Winshill/ Newton Solney), are to be discussed further by ringers in those areas.
Three new members were elected to the Melbourne tower – Harry Stewart, Philip Dobby and Maggie Dobby.
The final part of the evening was spent at The Bluebell – a very refreshing water hole.
Items of old bell related news, taken from local publications
From ‘The Ashbourne Telegraph’
April 28th 1916
THE LATE SIR ARTHUR HEYWOOD
By the lamented death of
Sir Arthur Percival Heywood, of Duffield Bank and Dove Leys there is removed
another well known and esteemed gentleman from our midst. Although his
main interests lay on the Staffordshire side of the Dove in this neighbourhood,
yet he showed not a little interest in various movements in Ashbourne,
and was often seen at amateur theatricals and functions organised for charitable
objects. He was president of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary in 1895 of
which institution he was a lifelong friend and generous supporter. A vigorous
churchman, he was a frequent speaker at Diocesan and other conferences,
and a great helper in the business of the Diocese. He was also keenly interested
in agriculture, and was particularly enthusiastic in his efforts to popularise
the light railway for transport purposes. His death deprives us of a country
gentleman of high character, many activities, and much usefulness.
From St Luke’s (Derby)
Parish Magazine May 1920
WAR MEMORIAL
We trust all the parishioners
will give a ready and a generous response to the appeal which is to be
made to them immediately for the War Memorial. The Vicar would like to
see the tablet in it’s place before he leaves the parish. The heroic dead
will not make an appeal in vain to those who are alive and free as the
result of their great sacrifice.
We are deeply grateful to
Mr. H. Palfree, who has presented us with a most beautiful silver-gilt
chalice (which was dedicated and used for the first time on Easter Day)
as a memorial to his son. Mr Palfree is also giving us a very generous
start towards the big War memorial we are undertaking – namely, the re-hanging
of the Church bells. This work will cost £1,000, and Mr. Palfree
is giving us £180 towards it. The Vicar has a few other promises
of assistance, but he appeals to the parishioners to do their share in
this matter.
There is a brass plaque in the ringing chamber stating that the re-hanging of 1923 was indeed the Great War Memorial.
Bell ropes should be set with the bottom of the salley 5 ft 6 inches from the floor. This is about nose height for an average person. Be prepared to adjust the rope up or down by two or three inches to distribute the wear on the rope where it passes through the garter hole in the rim of the wheel. The height of the salley with the bell down should be the same as with it up. If the heights are substantially different the garter hole in the wheel is wrongly positioned.
Until 1985, the tenor bell at St. Peter’s church in Derby was one which had been cast in 1769 by Thomas Rudhall. However, during the course of a peal of Stedman Triples, it became obvious that the tenor had cracked. This had happened as a result of the clapper of the seventh bell coming out earlier in the year and causing a small chip to be made in the tenor. This chip developed into a crack. The bell sounded dreadful and St. Peter’s ringers decided it must be replaced and set about raising the money to buy a new bell. The new St. Peter’s tenor was cast in 1986 by Eijsbouts of Holland.
This fell on April 15th. At the St Peters Annual Tower Meeting a discussion took place about finding some way of honouring Gordon and Matthew Wiltshire suggested naming a method after him. Gordon's birthday provided the perfect opportunity to do so. A specification was issued - a right-place method that could be rung on either ten at the Cathedral, or on eight at St Peters. John Heaton found that the task was not quite as easy as he had thought, but did eventually come up with a method.
Pam Timms organised the Cathedral attempt and Alec Humphrey that at St Peters, both found that almost everyone they asked was eager to ring in the attempts. When arrangements were in place Gordon and Pat were informed so that they could have the opportunity to patrol the city listening to us. Pat thought the name suggested suitable and Gordon remained the personification of modesty. On the day itself, unfortunately the peal at St Peters was switched to Yorkshire Surprise after false starts, but Don Morrison of Boston, Massachusetts heard about the ringing and dedicated their quarter peal to Gordon's birthday.
At All Saints Cathedral, Derby,
in 3 hours 16 minutes, 5040 changes
Inimitable Gordon Halls Delight
Royal, composed and conducted by John E Heaton:
At St Peters, Derby, in 2 hours
57 minutes, 5152 changes Yorkshire Surprise Major,
composed by Anthony J Cox,
conducted by John V Chadwick:
ACROSS
1 Calls methods for unmarried
people (7)
7 Smallest bell by three (6)
8 No thanks - new Diocesan
Association makes special notes (7)
10 Sense variation in plain
course (5)
11 Rounds end - finish overdone
(5,3)
13 Do this in getting ahead
of another bell (3)
14 Poetic Irish principle
(4)
15 If you need one, this is
it! (4)
16 An aid to higher ringing
- “Bob” to mix ends (3)
18 Deputy church warden made
sins unreliable (8)
20 What one does behind in
bed late (3-2)
22 A possible aid for long-haired
ringer - strangely, in earth (7)
23 Steer wildly - model on
road (6)
24 Change damnest method (7)
DOWN
1 Sacred ringer (7,4)
2 Without dried leaves inside,
it’s not easy (2,3)
3 Comes down on edge or fall
(8)
4 Obstructs choir seats (6)
5 Knew old method (4)
6 Abrupt movement from fluid
weight (7)
9 Change Lord Mayor (11)
12 Low type of dancing shows
the way (4,4)
14 Compasses for numbers of
bells (7)
17 Major rowing teams (6)
19 Note four bell method -
but not American (5)
21 Holiday letter missing,
we hear (4)
Diary
Dates: May 2002 - June 2002
May 11th Horsley and
Arthur Ashby Cup Finals at Horsley.
May 18th District Meeting.
Evening ringing at Appleby Magna (6) 6 - 7 pm and Netherseal (8) 7:30 -
9 pm
May 20th 6 bell practice
at Brailsford - 7:30 pm. May Day Doubles, Kent TB & Cambridge S Minor
May 25th 8 bell practice
at Belper – 2:30 – 4:30. Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Ashstead.
June 8th Walk
& Ring
June 17th 6 bell practice
at Brailsford - 7:30 pm St Simons & St Martins Doubles, Oswald Delight
Minor
June 22nd Party in
the Park, Chatsworth