Belfry Gossip
More Allsorts: Someone was hiding their big “O” birthday from us, but then the chocs and allsorts arrived. Surprisingly for the ringers they took a few weeks to disappear, but thanks to some glutenous individuals, including one of our young female learner ringers, they went.
Late Brides: Is it a privilege for a bride to keep the bridegroom waiting? Maybe, but ringers get somewhat annoyed and the organist has to find more voluntaries to play. So why are they late? One recent excuse was, “The hairdresser took longer on the bride’s hair”. Traffic hold-ups, excessive photoshoots etc. can delay a prompt start but after all, it is the bride’s day. In the distant days of more than one wedding on a Saturday, a delay at the first wedding could cause later problems. A message to all brides, please be on time!
Holidays: We cancelled one Friday practice when several ringers were going to be away – some in Kent, others on the continent, but Sunday Service ringing was maintained, albeit with reduced numbers. That’s really what ringing is all about.
Learners: After missing an odd practice, it is surprising and very pleasing to see the progress of our young learners. To be able to ring without a more experienced ringer hovering around the rope is a tremendous step and boost in confidence. All our learners are either nearing that stage or past it. Progress in any activity can be anything but smooth; some weeks more progress is achieved while the odd week sees frustration at lack of progress. All are doing well. Tom, the more experienced learner may well have rung his 25th quarter peal by the time Gossip is published. Well done Tom. Holly has now joined us on Sunday mornings to ring for service, now that’s a real achievement.
Barbecue: Hot, hot, hot and that wasn’t just the charcoal, but the weather. Shade was the essence and the fair skinned found it easily in Brenda and John’s garden. The odd gazebo came in handy. Food and drink were thoroughly enjoyed with plenty of reminiscing and with Alan slaving over the hot cinders, our food was cooked to perfection. Talking of get togethers, Tintinnabulum was pleased to accept an invitation to the choir barbecue in Margaret and Roger’s Newton Road garden. We all make music.
Annual Outing: This was held on August 21st and at the time of compiling this report, we were still looking forward to it. The attractive market town of St. Ives (Cambridgeshire) was to be the first tower, followed by some places you may well have heard about or even visited, Bluntisham, Over and Swavesey. Further info in next month’s Gossip. Tintinnabulum can remember his first ringers’ outing in 1954. Having learned to ring with others from Rushden at St. Mary’s Higham Ferrers, we all joined the Higham ringers on their annual coach outing. The venue was East Anglia and after the horrendous East Coast flood damage. There were some characters on board, notably Anderson Y Tyler, a brilliant ringer from Irthlingborough. Standing about 4 feet 10 inches with a cloth cap and a bushy moustache, Andy was the village blacksmith. He could neither read nor write but he could ring and drink. He, with others would ring at the first tower between 11 and 12 o’clock, then while the rest of us were ringing and lunching at the next tower, they disappeared to the nearest hostelry. Joining us later, ready to move on, the coach conversation became louder. Three more towers would be visited and then the question was asked, “Where’s Andy?” A silly question.
Rushden then took over the organisation of coach outings and many members of the congregation would join us. They found Andy “interesting!” We travelled miles and without motorways. Having had a full day’s ringing at about six churches, the day always concluded with a slap up meal. On one occasion we had finished ringing at Hereford cathedral, enjoyed an organised meal and left the city soon after 11pm. You can work out the time we arrived back in Rushden. Drivers in those days were not limited to the number of hours at the wheel and we always had Yorks coaches. Now we have car outings!
Striking Competition: We came unstuck in the Branch competition held at St. Mary’s Bozeat in June. For the first time in many years we were placed 2nd. We now have a blank area on the wall of the ringing room and will have to wait twelve months before we can set about regaining the shield. In September the Peterborough Guild holds the annual 8 bell competition for Branch representative teams. This year we are at Long Buckby. News of that, later.
Heritage Weekend: This has now been well publicised and the weekend commences on Thursday September 9th until the 12th. Included in the many events will be escorted visits to the ringing room and for the brave and more adventurous, a climb to see the bells. Well that is the plan but there are several other ringing activities on during that weekend. Should be fun.
And Finally: Just to put it about that four of our ringers have now attended one of the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties. Her Majesty appreciates bell ringing!
Tintinnabulum www.stmarysringers.org.uk