BELFRY GOSSIP

We were delighted to ring one of our Sunday evening quarter peals in July for the late Hayden Crowe, who served in the United States Forces and was based at Podington during the last war. Like many locally based U.S. Servicemen he married a local girl – Edna Wright, whose relatives still live in Rushden. We look forward to meeting her when she visits this country in September.

We recorded the ringing of Stedman Triples on cassette tape and together with one of our commemorative certificates, forwarded them to his widow in the States.

As we left Rushden on a dreary, wet Saturday morning on the Battle of the Bastille Day (July 14^th), we wondered whether the laden skies would ever clear for our half day outing to the beautiful part of the county to the south west of Daventry. Some ringers stayed behind in Rushden to ring for a wedding, whilst the rest enjoyed an excellent pub lunch at Hellidon, before attempting the 5 bells of the village church. Fortunately the wedding ringers joined us just in time to have a quick ring and by now the sun had made an appearance to brighten the day.

Onto Staverton, another delightful Northamptonshire village, where we were made most welcome. The last time some of us rung at this tower was for a Peterborough Guild Striking Competition.

At Flore, where some of us eventually found the church, a mother brought her two year old son to show him that ringers, who were making all this noise, were really human and indeed quite friendly. Apparently a few nights previous, he would not settle at bedtime while the local ringers were having their weekly practice, so his father took him from his bed, clad in pyjamas, down to the belfry. There, he met the local ringers and was able to see who was making all the disturbing noise. Alas back to bed but still would not settle. Having met us, have we cured his insomnia?

The villagers of Nether Heyford had just enjoyed their church fete and we were greeted with a most welcome cup of tea before attempting the 6 bells in the church opposite.

By now picnic time had rolled round – how welcome would we be at Althorpe House, or the Park, or somewhere more down market, we wondered? In the end we settled for various spots including the waterways marina at Whilton.

Our final ring of the day was at Whilton itself, the only 8-bell tower of the outing. However, as we were feeling rather weary by now, the ringing time was reduced. The traditional end of outing drink was enjoyed by all and then it was homeward bound to Rushden.

Despite five of our ringers enjoying a ringing holiday, we were able to muster a band to ring a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples for Chris and John Tye’s Ruby Wedding. This proved to be the hottest Sunday of the year and John didn’t even turn up with any liquid refreshment! We now look forward to ring for Jean and John Tombling’s similar anniversary at the beginning of September.

This year the date of our full day’s outing has been changed from June to the month of September, which will mean travelling home in the dark. We are planning to ring at towers in the Abingdon and Wantage area. Ringing outings require a considerable amount of organising. The ringing times at some churches are not always easy to arrange – there may be other ringers visiting the same church, or weddings and other events being held, making ringing prohibitive. Pam, our efficient secretary, puts a great amount of time in organising the outings and we are greatly indebted to her. More about our full day’s outing in November’s Gossip.

September also sees some of the Rushden ringers joining the band representing the Wellingborough Branch in competing in the Peterborough Diocesan Guild’s 8-bell striking competition being held in our own Branch at Earls Barton.

By the time you read this report we will have enjoyed our annual ringing evening followed by dinner at the Thornhill Arms in the village of Rushton.