Belfry Gossip for September 2009

As I write this, with the rain lashing down outside, I wonder, as I am sure do you and the rest of the country, what happened to the hot summer we thought the Met Office had promised, the so called ‘barbeque summer’. Sadly this year the weather did not even manage a barbeque Sunday on July19^th as the annual ringers’ barbeque, hosted by Brenda and John Dixon, was force indoors by the rain. However, as they say, a good time was had by all and the Dixon’s new carpet emerged unscathed.

We were luckier with the weather on July 13^th, the date of the Wellingborough District 6 Bell Striking Competition held at Mears Ashby, for although the evening was cool it was at least dry and quite sunny. Six teams representing six churches in the District with members drawn from Sunday Service bands took part. The teams were somewhat surprised when a seventh scratch team, with no particular affiliation, presented itself. However, the organizers were kind enough to let this team ring although, of course, they could not compete. The judges were Pat Albon, from Sharnbrook, and Simon Sweeney, from Irthlingborough and Sharnbrook; some of you may know him better as the organist at Newton Bromswold. The Rushden team comprised Bob Whitworth, Brenda Dixon, Alan Marks, Sarah Hedgcock, Jim Hedgcock and Simon Dixon and they come first with 14 faults. Second was Moulton (20), third Irchester (25), fourth Bozeat (45), fifth Yardley Hasting (60) and sixth Grendon (77),

The Northants Midweek Group met in August to ring at Bromham in Bedfordshire. The church is somewhat unusual on two counts, it is dedicated to St Owen and is set, very attractively, in parkland. This makes it a good choice for August, a less good one for, say February. The bells, are very pleasant sounding, a variety of methods were rung and overall it was a very enjoyable afternoon It was good to see that a number of ringers from the Bedfordshire Association have become supporters of the group particularly since ringers often seem unwilling to ring outside their own Association.

If you heard the bells ringing on the evening of Tuesday 14^th July and thought we were ringing for Bastille Day you would have been wrong! A group of us, including Pam, rang a quarter peal of Spliced Surprise Major (the sort of ringing you really have to think about!) in celebration of Pam and Paul Bailey’s Pearl Wedding Anniversary; after the ringing we toasted them in bubbly and wish them many more happy years together.

Last month, in writing about our learners (who should perhaps be called Apprentices or Improvers now) Tintinnabulum mentioned the Sherbourne Bell Award, a scheme for recording progress whereby learners colour in bells. There is one bell which only Linda has coloured in so far, that is the one labelled ‘Break a Stay’. I should add that a stay has nothing to do with Victorian corsets but is a gatepost-sized piece of wood which keeps the bell mouth up when it is not being rung. She was very surprised when it happened since it causes the rope to flail madly, but Alan stepped in and calm and order was restored. As with falling off a horse or bike the best thing to do is to ring again soon so you do not loose your nerve; Linda duly did this and appears none the worse for her fairly unusual experience.

Looking ahead to September, the Guild has Summer Festival (and Striking Competition) on September19. More about that next month.