Belfry Gossip
For the Queen’s Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June, it was fortunate that work on the tower had not reached the degree to which ringing would have to be halted. With the delay in obtaining the necessary replacement blocks of iron stone from Norfolk, ringing took place during the Jubilee weekend. Two successful quarter peals were achieved together with some wedding and service ringing. A commemorative list of all the Rushden ringers taking part in the Jubilee ringing is now hanging in the belfry.
The builders
are most co-operative in allowing ringing to take place whenever reconstruction work allows. They have been given a list of the dates of weddings where couples have requested the ringing of bells and we will endeavour to ring whenever it is possible. However there may be some last minute ringing cancellations and consequently some unhappy brides and bridegrooms.The annual Les Priestley Memorial Peal due to be rung in June was cancelled because of the restoration work.
The plans for the proposed upstairs ringing room are nearly complete. Delay was caused by the need to obtain a long enough drill to ascertain the thickness and density of the stonewalling where the proposed doorway from the helical stairway will lead to the new room. Should the P.C.C. agree to this scheme and the cost, it would make sense to put the work in hand as soon as possible while ringing is curtailed for the tower and spire repair work and be able to reclaim some V.A.T before the regulations change again in March 2003.
Sadly the organised peal to be rung at the end of May at St. Mary’s Felmersham for the village Jubilee Celebrations was cancelled. Whenever peals are successfully attempted, the ringers pay an amount of money per rope to the host tower, known as "a rope fee". Usually this varies from between £1 and £5 with the usual amount being about £2. This money goes towards the payment of any necessary maintenance of the bells and/or the replacement of ropes within the tower. The amount of "rope fee" being asked for by the Felmersham tower captain was quite exorbitant and the ringers quite rightly refused to pay the amount. This peal had been agreed by the Felmersham P.C.C. and publicised within the village. The cancellation must have caused much sadness within the community. The majority of the band would have been Rushden ringers!
It was great to have Brian Hodgkin ringing with us during his brief stopover in Rushden at the end of May. With no bells available for ringing in Papua New Guinea, Brian had not touched a bell rope since he and the family last visited St. Mary’s. However it’s good to know they are back in the U.K. in 2003 on furlough and hope to be with us during our own Golden Jubilee celebration weekend in June. Both Brian and Val used to ring at Rushden and Higham Ferrers.
The annual Report of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers was recently published and yet again St. Mary’s has topped the list of towers for quarter peal ringing for the year 2001. Virtually all our quarters were rung for Sunday services and that’s what ringing is all about. St. Mary’s Peterborough was placed 2nd with the Cathedral in 3rd position.
July is the month of good weather!!
Certainly whenever the ringers hold their annual barbecue, the weather is usually very warm and dry. We hope this year will be no exception. This is one of our social activities of the year when we can enjoy each other’s company and singe one or two sausages. Perhaps this year we may be able to linger a little longer if ringing is still curtailed.In June our captain was hoping to notch up his 1000th quarter peal rung at St. Mary’s over the many years, but at the time of compiling this report there was some doubt because of the restoration work.
At the end of the month, some of our ringers will be joining with others for a week’s ringing holiday in Somerset. We hope they have an enjoyable time, with good bells, good ringing, good weather and good sustenance. And to everyone planning a holiday whether near or far, have a good break.
Next month’s Gossip:
Wellingborough Branch striking competition result; annual outing report; our captain’s 1000th quarter and progress on the proposed "upper room".