Question: How do I follow the three page special penned by Tintinnabuum last month?

Answer: In the interest of deforestation I keep this month’s contribution short. (at least that is my excuse) and largely concentrate on updates.

Firstly: Weddings: we have rung for one more which took place on Easter Saturday. We extend our best wishes to the happy couple.

Secondly: Top Secret: We successfully rang a quarter peal of Yorkshire Surprise Major as a compliment to Anne Riley for her 70^th birthday.

Thirdly: Easter Ringing: We rang the bells half-muffled for forty-five minutes on Good Friday morning to accompany the March of Witness. Unfortunately we did not actually achieve a quarter peal (there are very strict rules about what counts and what doe not!) but we were informed, by a ringer’s wife who had taken part in the March, that the mournful sound of the bells was much appreciated.

Incidentally, Archers’ fans will be aware of the sad quality of the sound of half-muffled bells have heard a short burst of such ringing before Phil Archer’s funeral. But was Shula ringing? I am indebted for this information to the Ringing World as I am also indebted in being able to reinforce the connection between bells and beer mentioned last month with regard to the change of post-practice watering hole to the Swan at Newton . Indeed, so strong is the connection that a Maximus Bibendus writes ‘Beer Matters’ on a regular basis in the Ringing World and has my non-ringing husband avidly scanning its pages.

Fourthly: We did attempt a peal of Double Norwich in memory of Meg Boatright on Sunday April11^th. All went well for two hours and twenty minutes and then it simply fell apart! However, we hope that those of you who heard the ringing enjoyed the sound of Meg’s favourite method.

We hope that we will be more successful in two other event this month. The first is the quarter peal arranged for St George’s Day on April 23^rd; the second is the Guild Six Bell Striking Contest whichis being held on April24^th at Lois Weedon ( a name which, like Mavis Enderby in Lincolnshire always sounds more like a person than a place!)

And finally - overheard in the belfry, ‘They hadn’t really read Belfry Gossip because they did not know what happened to the frog’! Remembering Tintinnabulum’s other life (and mine too!) - do be careful to read Belfry Gossip thoroughly as you may be tested!