Ringing World 5138 (16 October 2009)
Front Cover: Whitechapel trophy for new London 12 bell contest
How do you start a London 12-bell competition?
1. Commission a trophy from your local bell foundry
2. Choose a date that seems to fit
3. Invite some bands ...
Of course it’s never that simple, but is it? Here could follow a list of the difficulties encountered, but there are too many positives for that.
Essex Trophy 2009 – report and results
This year’s Essex Trophy 10-bell ringing competition was hosted by the Kent County Association of Change Ringers at St Leonard’s Church, Hythe on Saturday, 12th September.
Following the Lufkin trail – a tribute to Frank by Anne Fannin
I am still very wet behind the ears when it comes to bell ringing, having only been at it for 2½ years. How I wish I had rung years ago. But there is little point in moaning about it – I am just thoroughly enjoying myself now, tearing my hair out – getting it wrong- and just occasionally getting it right.
Recently I have been grovelling around the family trees and I find a family link on my mother’s side to bell ringing through the ages, and I am now wondering if it possible to pass on a bell ringing gene!
From Across the Pond
A round-up of reports from towers in the North American Guild of Change Ringers
Shall we begin with an American history lesson? This month’s tower spotlight is shining on the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts, which houses the oldest change ringing bells in North America. Every American schoolchild is familiar with the first lines of one of Henry Wadsworth
Letters
EH and structures - David Struckett
Fewer bells cast than ever - Mark Regan
Heritage suggestion - Philippa Whittington
Go Stedman - Lynn Hallam
Extreme thanks to a really lovely couple - Hilary Brooks
From the E-Lists A round-up from the internet compiled by John Camp
Did the story about the bride who had demanded her money back from the wedding photographer because the photos were so awful send a warning to ringers?
The Holmer tower outing
Saturday, 8th August 2009
We left Holmer at 8am in a, well, interesting, minibus, expertly driven by Karen (W.) and headed north up the A49 in the direction of Shrewsbury. Conversation was not quite sparkling at this stage of the morning although “Are we there yet?” was mentioned once or twice.
Obituary
Myrtle Amina Champion
U is For Ungettable by Simon Linford
The White Rose Shield
As many of you will know, The Yorkshire Association currently has the most regular teams in the National 12 bell contest outside London. Indeed, Yorkshire teams have won 3 out of the last 6 eliminators, although none of them have, recently, managed to reign supreme, (York were last to do it in 2002).
Leeds Lasses Recipe for Success
by Wendy Bloom
Ingredients:
* Take 13 brave women from Leeds Parish Church (LPC) Sunday Service band
* The inaugural White Rose Shield 12 Bell Competition on August 22nd 2009
* The bells of LPC, Ossett and Ripon Cathedral
* Team-building T-shirts
Chelsfield Surprise Major – home at last
Look to, treble’s going, she’s gone! These words, that are all too familiar to ringers, usually signify the start of ringing. But at St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield on Tuesday, 10th February 2009, it signalled the lowering of the treble down the tower, never to return! We had already seen the casting of three new bells at Taylors Eayre and Smith, Loughborough, on Thursday, 8th January and the process culminated on Friday, 20th February with the completion of the augmentation of the bells from six to eight.
Bell Boys on Radio 4
BBC Producer Michael Surcombe tells has been working on a programme for Radio 4 about the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. This is likely to be broadcast for the first time at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 3rd November.
