Ringing World 5152 (22 January 2010)

Front Cover: St Helen’s Benson, Oxfordshire by John Tchighianoff
Benson lies about 11 miles south of Oxford close to the River Thames and is a sizeable village with good facilities and several shops. Formerly known as Bensington the name was contracted to Benson sometime in the 17th Century. In the coaching era Benson was an important staging post on the main road and there are several former inns in the village.

Society of Cambridge Youths Dinner Day 2009
Report by Phil Orme, photographs courtesy of Cecilia Pipe, Philip Earis & Phil Orme
The Cambridge Youths do not hold a dinner every year but 2009 has been an historic one for the 285-year old Society with the installation of a new ring of 13 bells at the Society’s home church of St Mary the Great or “GSM” as it is fondly known. A dinner was therefore in order where we could celebrate this momentous achievement.

Letters
Wot, no handbell practices? - John Harrison
Viewing and listening stations - J. Williams
Welsh place names - Jack Worrall
Re David Hilling’s letter - Jim Hedgcock
Bells from days of the Raj - George Medd
Ringing hymns - Michael Haighton (Revd)
Ringing World ash tray – Neil Skelton
And another one … - Pat Halls
Belfry enlightenment – Peter Wenham

Obituary
George E. Feirn

Three Days at the Devon County Show
Glorious weather, a miniring, possible new recruits and the squeal of pigs at the far end of the tent; it could only be the Devon County Show. For three days in May a rota of dedicated volunteers from the Devon Guild and Association manned the Frank Mack Miniring, giving demonstrations and handling lessons to people of all ages and engaging with a number of lapsed ringers.

CD Review
Lost and Found 4: Change ringing on Handbells
Change ringing on handbells combines all the good bits of tower bells without any of the bad aspects. One of the key benefits of handbell ringing is that the striking tends to be absolutely top-class, and remains like this for extended periods.

Thought for the week
“Well stricken in years” is the Bible’s polite way of saying old, and this is what too many bellringers are apparently considered to be. In this somewhat ageist society those who are “over the hill” are almost accused of taking part in a criminal activity.

Listen to your striking!
Talented music teacher and accomplished member of the band at St Peter’s Church, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Miss Catherine Heathcote moved temporarily to Lamberhurst in Kent when appointed as music teacher at Fordcombe Village Primary School, near Tunbridge Wells.

Christmas handbell busking in Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh Guild of Change Ringers has undergone something of a revival over the last few months, with both the tower bell and hand bell ringing groups seeing a significant increase in membership since the start of the semester in September.