DERBY DISTRICT QUARTER PEAL DAY

On Saturday 11th October thirty people participated in this year's quarter peal day. Ten out of twelve attempts were successful (wheels have since been set in motion to enable those who were in the two failed attempts to have another go) and there were nine ‘firsts‘. Afterwards 20 people assembled for an enjoyable meal and debriefing session at the Bonnie Prince at Chellaston. Thanks to those involved in the organisation and to all who took part.

Kegworth, Leics. 1280 DNCB Major.
Brian Tomlinson 1, Chris Willis (1st in m) 2, Gill Hughes 3, Sue Peach 4, Elizabeth Heaton 5, John Booth 6, Graeme Hughes 7, John Heaton (C) 8.

East Leake, Notts. 1260 Doubles, (3M/V).
Mary Venables 1, Chris Booth (1st in 3 M/V) 2, Mike Banks 3, Tim Bayton 4, Mike Willis (C) 5, Keith Baines 6.

Loughborough (Bell Foundry), Leics. 1260 Grandsire Triples.
Gill Hughes 1, Brian Tomlinson 2, Chris Willis 3, Alec Humphrey (C) 4, Sue Peach 5, Keith Baines (1st in m) 6, Mike Willis 7, Chris Booth (1st on 8) 8.

Rempstone, Notts. 1260 Grandsire Doubles.
John Heaton (C) 1, Jenny Booth 2, Teresa Vincent 3, Mary Venables 4, Rex North 5, Mike Banks 6.

Sutton Bonington, Notts. 1260 Plain Bob Minor.
Ian Sterritt (1st minor) 1, Richard Barnett 2, John Booth 3, Elizabeth Heaton 4, Peter Marriott 5, Tim Bayton (C) 6.

Quorn, Leics. 1280 Lincolnshire Surprise Major.
Elizabeth Heaton 1, Brian Tomlinson 2, Chris Willis 3, John Booth 4, Mike Willis (1st in m) 5, Pam Timms 6, Mike Banks 7, John Heaton (C) 8.

Markfield, Leics. 1260 Doubles, (4M).
Rod Pearson 1, Pam Timms 2, Chris Gilbert 3, Elizabeth Heaton 4, John Heaton (C) 5, Paul Lynch 6.

Shepshed, Leics. 1260 Single Oxford Bob Triples.
Chris Willis 1, Maurice Starkey 2, Mike Willis 3, John Booth 4, Steve Harpham 5, Alec Humphrey (C) 6, Tim Bayton (1st in m) 7, Keith Baines 8.

Breedon on the Hill, Leics. 1260 Plain Bob Minor.
Paul Lynch 1, Steve Harpham 2, Steve Durow 3, Chris Gilbert 4, Maurice Starkey 5, John Heaton (C) 6.

Castle Donington, Leics. 1272 Plain & Little Bob Minor.
Rod Pearson (1st in m's) 1, Mike Willis 2, Chris Willis 3, Sue Peach (1st in m's) 4, Graeme Hughes 5, Alec Humphrey (C) 6.

A Humphrey

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The Ones That Got Away!

Ringers who have never rung quarter peal, never mind a peal, sometimes think that those who ring quarters and peals are infallible and never suffer the frustrations and disappointments of lack of success. I thought I might write a few snippets to show that even the mighty fall at times!

As one who has rung many peals, I still feel apprehensive at times at the start of a peal – and acute disappointment when the result is failure. I have come home this evening having failed to call a peal – and so now seems like a good time to start writing! Of course, peals are lost for many reasons – lack of concentration on the part of one or more ringers, a fleeting mistake by the conductor, mechanical failure, interruptions from outside, simple absent-mindedness by any of the ringers, illness – even, occasionally, death. Sometimes the ringing is just not up to the required standard.

I thought I would write about some of the more memorable failures that I have either been in, or have heard about. In some cases I will change the names of those in the story so as not to cause embarrassment, but not in this first story.

This was to be my 2000th peal. That amounts to 6000 hours ringing at least. Not to mention the time spent travelling and that spent when peals were lost. There are 168 hours in a week, so 2000 peals would take over 37 weeks of non-stop ringing, day and night. Sheer madness! But my 2000th peal was an exciting prospect. I took time deciding who to invite in this special attempt – mainly people I had known for some time and with whom I had rung frequently, and for the most part, I chose those who had not rung on my 1000th peal. It was a good band. It was easy to choose the venue – where else but Derby Cathedral, my home tower of over 40 years. As I wanted to conduct it myself, I had to be careful about the method – it had to be one that was relatively simple to call. Lincolnshire seemed to fit the bill. Everyone assembled at the appointed hour. Photographs were taken, bells assigned.

In a peal of Surprise Royal, there are 14 courses. We set off and settled down to a steady rhythm. All progressed smoothly. Everyone knew the method and the composition was straightforward. Halfway came and went. The tenth course end rolled past, then the eleventh, the twelfth and the thirteenth. Last course, I thought, nearly there – we ring this much regularly on practice night! Halfway through the final course, I noticed the tenor suddenly sounded different. What could it be? I saw the ringers of the ninth and tenth look at each other! Yes, the tenor did not sound the same as usual – it was quieter. And then suddenly, there was an almighty crash from upstairs and the tenor did not sound at all. So that was that – failed clapper – no peal – gloom all round! There is no way you can tell that is going to happen, so it was no-one’s fault. But it was a memorable failure and just goes to show that you can never be sure of scoring a peal, no matter how important it might seem to be!

Pat Halls

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Impressions of my first peal
Part One

Terrific!

Well, terrifying actually to start with: we’re going to be ringing non-stop for 3 hours. Thoughts of ... physical fatigue? the sneezes? hunger? other bodily needs ... ?? We will be rooted to the spot, both hands full of bell rope, for a very long time. And what if I lose concentration on the method at some point? Ah well, have come as prepared as I can. A jail-like clang echoes around as the church is locked – just to prevent any disturbance to this afternoon’s business, you do understand. Six serious faces inside. We climb the ancient spiral steps to the ringing chamber.

Beauty!

The autumn sun streams in through the west window, picking out the coloured sallies. ‘Shall we turn the lights on?’ says one – eh? But of course it will be evening when we’re done, very sobering. I see another ringer neatly arranging a little stack of biscuits on a special hip-high pedestal – clearly I’m not as well prepared as some (but, if that’s 7 biscuits I spy, then perhaps this is going to be the conductor’s way of counting-down to the end?).

The bells are down. We ring them up, all very normal. We ring a few rounds to get the feel, fine. We stand the bells and make slight adjustments to rope length. Just like getting in the car – you want the seat and mirrors to be spot on from the start. The start, wow, this is it! I find myself saying ‘Treble’s going’ ... pulling over the balance point ... ‘she’s gone’ and there we go ... a few rounds, one (that’s me), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, one, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, pause, one, 2, 3, ... oh yes it’s sounding good, striking a nice even beat. ‘Everyone comfortable?’ asks the conductor. Assorted nods, winks, smiles, no one says ‘yes’, no one says ‘no’. ‘Go Plain Bob Minor.’

No turning back now. I hold up over number 2 and the familiar first change rings out ... 2, one, 4, 3, 6, 5 ... we’re off, I’m hunting out in second place already, next change over number ... ... 4, yes, into third place ... 2, 4, one, 6, 3, 5, pause (oh yes, nice pause), 4, 2, 6, one (here we are already in fourth place over no. 6), 5, 3 ... This is beginning to feel GOOD. Breathe.

The clock says six minutes past three. What? No! I must, must, NOT look away from the ropes, just keep counting places, where was I? Six – no, that was minutes, three – no, that was clock too. Sweat. Luckily there’s a rhythm to this, oops! that pull must have been in fifth place? (I hope), keep ringing slow and yes we’re up into sixth place over number 3, phew, close one, hope no one noticed, speed up a bit for my second blow in sixth place ... yes! followed by that important little pause that puts a beat into the ringing and hopefully ‘makes it’ for anyone willingly (or less willingly) listening outside. OK, lesson learned very early on – just concentrate – and we’re quickly at the end of the first lead; that is, treble (me) back into first place, as in rounds.

This is where the method (Plain Bob today) clicks in so that we don’t endlessly repeat the plain hunt that we’ve all been doing so far. But this is my first full peal so they’ve given me the ‘easy’ bit: while everyone else has various place-making and dodging work to do, mine is ALL plain hunting – ‘just’ count up to sixth place and back down to first – all the way through. Simple. Just like all those practice sessions.

David Truman
Originally submitted to Striking Features, the Ely D.A. Ely District newsletter
Part Two will follow soon.

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History Corner

The single bell at Quarndon is hung for full circle ringing. It was cast on 20th January 1874. There used to be two bells at Quarndon; they were traded in when the present church was built and the new bell replaced them.

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