Front Cover: Holme Lacy – The tercentenary of the bells by John Eisel and Bill Nash
Despite all the hype after recent flooding events, building on a flood plain is not a new phenomenon. The mediaeval suburb of Hereford which lies south of the river Wye floods regularly, if not often, and has recently been provided with flood defences at great expense. A few miles further down the river, there were similar problems at Holme Lacy, but many, many, years ago the village was moved from the riverside meadows to the top of a ridge above, leaving the church and the former vicarage surrounded by what are thought to be the earthworks of the deserted mediaeval village.

Stephen Clarke’s dummy handbell project
The reference to dummy handbells in "From the e-lists" (p.682) resulted, as so often happens, in one of our readers being able to offer practical experience of the issue.
Once upon a time, before USB ports, I was attracted to the idea of using dummy handbells with Abel change-ringing software. There were some suggested designs in the Abel Help Files and instructions for the construction of the interface needed to connect "bells" to a computer. However, I didn’t like the idea of using wood and bits of coat hanger and I resolved to make something that would feel like a real handbell in use.

Letters
Gift Aid rules - Andrew Davey
Stephen Wood remembered - Nick Simon
Fire escape? - Shirley Slade
Central European Association – scope for new members? - Laith Reynolds
Child Protection - Peter Trent
Vicious spirit - Gregory Morris
The System worked - Colin Spreadbury
Were you affected? - Libby Laurence
12 Bell Final - Simon Holden
Response to Anne White - Jackie Roberts

Q is for Quex by Simon Linford

Ringing and Money by Steve Coleman
10. Enjoying the Thought
My wife and I aren’t rich exactly, but we’ve got a house and we’ve saved a bit – and ringing doesn’t cost much – and somehow it looks as though there’ll be Inheritance Tax to pay when we’re both gone. So we’d like to leave £30,000 or so to belfry restoration – or perhaps give it while we’re still alive – so what’s the best way with all that?

Obituaries
John Hinton, Raymond "John" Vardy, Ian Robert Knox, Harry Earle

From the E-Lists A round-up from the internet compiled by John Camp
John Colliss reminded W&P Guild members who wanted to ring something for the first time that they couldn’t all ring the second.

A tale of Malcolm the Navigator
It is a universally acknowledged truth that, in bell ringing as in life, navigation is important. Unless we navigate our way correctly through the rows of changes all will quickly come to grief. Navigation to ringing rooms can sometimes present a challenge; then there is the finding of remote towers, increasingly aided now by that seductive voice from the dashboard. There might even be the successful navigation from bar to seat with a round of drinks.