Ringing World 5153 (29 January 2010)

Front cover: Restoration at St Bartholomew’s Church, Lostwithiel, Cornwall by Simon Brewer
Starting two years ago and following the previous quinquennial inspection report, we were advised that there were severe water problems in our tower and steeple. What we didn’t know, was the effect of that on our bells.
During the preliminary examination of the inside of the tower, our architect reported that the rolled steel joists (RSJs) supporting the bells were severely delaminating at the ends going into the damp wall. The recommendation was to cut and weld or bolt back the sections of the frame in situ. The architect took the view that his responsibility was to produce a satisfactory, but cheap way of repair and renewal.

Keele Ringing Courses 2009 by Rowena Gay
As I begin to write an account of our ringing courses for 2009, I remember how excited we felt in February and March as the applications rolled in. Considerable interest was shown in the Surprise Major course, to the extent that we decided to run an overflow repeat course in September. The keynote was happy expectation and the prospect of plenty of hard work as June (Skills Course), July (Surprise Major), August (Six-Bell, two mixed groups) and September (Surprise Major) marched towards us from the far horizon.

Letters
US ‘Christmas’ bell stamps - Michael Day
A well-stamped bell - Jack Worrall
A Bedfordshire legend - Michael Stephens
Stephen Ivin’s first peal - Cliff Izzard
Ringing World ashtray - Mary L. Mann.
Jingle Bell Rock - Rosemary Charles
A very familiar tune - Shane Saunders
Another string to their bows? - Mark Wilson
An extra leg? - Alan Barber
“Doncaster Pattern” canons – John Baldwin

Obituary
David J. Pink

Full Circle – An underground handbell movement by David Maynard
It’s not every day that you can persuade people to turn out and ring two quarter peals before work; but then again its not every day that an iconic part of London’s infrastructure undergoes significant change. The idea of ringing some handbells on the Circle Line has been suggested on various occasions that I can remember, but with a similar degree of seriousness as the “Nine before Nine” peal day project, adding a 2-mile sea-loch swim to the “Inverary Triathlon” and wearing Napoleonic cavalry uniforms to prestigious ringing dinners. (Please do contact me if you would like to take part in any of these!)
The shock news that from 13th December, Circle Line trains will no longer follow the well worn ways of the wheels on the bus and instead trundle backwards and forwards between Hammersmith and Edgware, like subterranean super-glow-worms indulging in some metropolitan marathon relay race, changed all that. Out came the diaries as it became apparent that if we didn’t do it now, we never would.

Thought for the week
On warm summer days, my parishioners can see me riding my rather ridiculous motorbike to Church. I say “ridiculous” because in this day and age it seems a curiosity. I bought it when I was 17 (I have just had my 61st birthday) and thought it then the height of “cool”. It had un upswept exhaust, and looked far more menacing than its mere 65ccs.

Mary Bliss steps down as Gloucester’s bells adviser
It is well nigh impossible to avoid the hackneyed phrase ‘end of an era’ when speaking of Mary Bliss’s retirement from her long and distinguished period as bells adviser for the Diocese of Gloucester.
Mary was recruited in 1972 by the legendary Archdeacon Walter Wardle, who had been hugely assisted by her advice in the equally legendary saga of the Stinchcombe bells, which culminated in a Consistory Court hearing in 1971.