Belfry Gossip
Meg Boatright: A week before Meg left Rushden, she enjoyed a farewell drink with some of the ringers at our "after ringing gathering" at the Chequers, Yelden. Meg is quite partial to a good cider – or two. She also bade a final au revoir at ringing on the Friday before she travelled north on the Saturday . By now she has settled in, found her feet and made some new friends. We have made contact with the local ringers around Lytham St. Anne’s, in the hope they may pop in to see her and occasionally include her in any of their social activities. They have responded positively.
On moving to Rushden, both John, her late husband and a former curate at St. Mary’s in the late 40’s, and Meg soon involved themselves in the life of St. Mary’s. A formidable preacher, John made it clear that sermons should be short and straight to the point. For a short time, he became our Chairman and on his death, Meg readily stepped into that position. Tintinnabulum does not wish to anticipate or prejudice decisions, but Meg could well become our Chairman – Emeritus.
Meg had learned to ring at her last parish in Cornwall and soon threw herself into our ringing activities and worked at her ringing, even travelling to Northampton each Saturday morning to improve her bell control and at the same time, encouraging others to go with her. Quarter peals soon followed and she set a target of ringing 100 quarters before her 80th birthday – successfully accomplished. Her enthusiasm for the art became infectious and she attended both Branch and Diocesan meetings. She became a member of the Ladies Guild of Ringers and although Meg did not take part in Striking Competitions, she would always come along to support our teams. Meg was also a loyal member of the Airforce Guild (John being a former chaplain to the Air Force) and regularly attended and enjoyed very much their weekend ringing outings. She always looked forward to ringing at St. Clement Dane’s church in London for the annual Changi service.
Visitors to the ringing chamber were always welcomed by Meg and she would soon engage them in some topical conversation.
After her slight stroke, nearly 12 months ago, Meg found herself hospitalised until she eventually came back to Barwick House. Although her ringing days were ended, she was determined to climb the steps to the ringing chamber and on many Friday evenings she would struggle up to be with us and engage in conversation or simply to sit quietly listening to the ringing. Friday evenings will not be the same, but we all wish her well in her new surroundings and she will constantly be in our thoughts and prayers, particularly as each month before the evening quarter peal, we read the prayer which she composed for us. We successfully attempted a quarter as a send off for her.
Striking Competition: Most of the team representing the Wellingborough Branch in the September Diocesan inter Branch 8 bell Striking Competition, held at St. Sepulchre’s in Northampton, were ringers from St. Mary’s, but sadly this year we could only manage 3rd position behind the Kettering and Towcester Branches. Well at least we shan’t have to dust the trophy and have it engraved!
First Quarter Peal Congratulations: Our captain, who has rung over 1000 quarters at St. Mary’s, found his name placed in the column of the Ringing World for those ringing their first quarter peal. Well remember it was his first as a conductor!
Kettering’s New 12 Bells: The new ring of twelve at SS. Peter and Paul, was dedicated by the Bishop of Peterborough at a packed special service of evensong at the end of September. At a cost of £130 000 the Whitechapel Bell Foundry has replaced the old ring of 12 with a completely new ring of 12 and in a new frame. How is that amount of money raised in a relatively short period of time?
Tintinnabulum