BELFRY GOSSIP

Our annual dinner at the Thornhill Arms in Rushton, preceded with ringing at the village church, proved a most successful and enjoyable evening. Nineteen of us sat down to a welcoming meal, with Meg paying for the first round of drinks in celebration of her big 0 birthday earlier in the year. The captain arrived late and his wife didn’t make it – who will have a son breaking his collarbone on such an evening?

We were delighted to ring a quarter peal of Plain Bob Minor in August enabling Liz to successfully complete her first quarter peal at the first attempt. She duly received her free copy of the Ringing World, our weekly national journal, and at the next Wellingborough Branch meeting will also receive a commemorative certificate. Congratulations Liz.

What with broken bones, damaged tendons and shingles, our ringers have been suffering recently – but the show must go on.

Our thanks are extended to Jean and John Tombling for providing some goodies and drinks after we had rung a well struck quarter peal for their recent Ruby Wedding – a most welcome gesture.

Thank you also for some generous donations we have recently received from various people, we are most appreciative. Unfortunately ringing is one of those activities which can be quite expensive. A new tenor rope, that’s for the largest bell, has recently been purchased at considerable expense to replace one which was showing severe signs of wear and so any donations are put to replace such items.

Our ringing for the 10.30a.m. Harvest Festival Service was a little thin on the ground. With more retired people in the belfry, holidays are taken at different times, but fortunately we were able to muster enough ringers for the evening quarter peal. Tom, who lives in Essex, regularly visits his elderly aunt in Hargrave and he joins our band for the occasional evening quarter peal. He helped to swell our numbers.

Having mentioned retired people in the belfry, now is the time to advertise our need for some more ringers. If you are already a ringer and have moved into the area, we would be delighted to welcome you – we cater for all standards. The Queen’s Golden Jubilee next year will be an opportunity for newly trained ringers to join in our celebratory ringing, so if anyone would like to learn the ancient art in a modern setting, do make yourself known at the belfry door or call in on a Friday evening between 7p.m. and 9p.m.

At the time of compiling this report, St. Mary’s is providing the majority of ringers for the representative Wellingborough Branch band competing in the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Ringers 8 bell striking competition being held at Earls Barton – we wish them well.

In September we welcomed the Clerical Guild of Ringers to St. Mary’s on one of their organised outings, similar to the ones we very much enjoy. They comprise of retired canons and reverends, together with canons and priests still in office – quite a friendly bunch.

Way back in the 17^th Century, Guilds, Associations or Societies of ringers were formed. Most of the societies were territorially based. The Oxford Society for example, was founded in 1733 and the Oxford University Society in 1871. Among the first County Associations was the Guild of Devonshire Ringers, founded in 1874. The oldest society, The Ancient Society of College Youths, to which several of our own ringers are members, was established in 1637. Early associations with a specifically diocesan affiliation include the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association, founded in 1878. There are presently guilds based on professional or other affinities – clergy, medical, police, telecommunications, Royal Air Force and even teachers, just to name a few.

The Peterborough Diocesan Guild was formed on January 5^th 1924, combining some old territorial associations including the Central Northants, which covered our area.

The news from the USA of the terrorist attack brought a cancellation of our Friday evening practice. A half-muffled quarter peal was rung in memory of all those devastated or killed in the terrible atrocity.

Next month, a report on our annual full day’s outing and lots more.