Ringing World 5179 (30 July 2010)

Front Cover: A Grand Day Out in Yorkshire by Tina Walker
I’ll do it, how hard can it be? We, on the committee, suddenly realised there were only 4 weeks to go and so far had nothing arranged for the York Branch yearly ringing outing! The Secretary was immersed in his exams, the Ringing Master was up to her eyes in work, so I offered to arrange it. I have been on many outings in my time and always enjoyed them. A minibus, a few towers, email out a notice and Bob, as they say, is your uncle! Advice came flooding in, book a bus now, leave the bus till last, get names in now, ask for names by the weekend before, go north, go south … Hmm!
So, with a little help from my friends and a starting point from James, a cunning plan was hatched.

Knighton, Leicester, ringers’ outing 2010
It was a bright day when nine ringers set out from various points at various times, for a hectic and noisy but enjoyable day of bell ringing; Knighton, Leicester’s annual outing. Unfortunately some of our regular members were unable to come. The sun shone but it was nippy and we especially felt it at Ratby SS Philip and James, perched right on top of a hill. Nice views!

A ‘peal’ in four parts by George Pipe
The editorial team has sent out a call for some more contributions. Here are four considered trifles which I hope will be of interest and amuse.

Thirty-five not out
Whilst sounding like a headline that an England batsman would be proud of, this piece refers to another English pastime and the rather lengthier contribution that Cliff Izzard has made to it. Cliff has just retired as the Tower Captain of Kempston church in Bedfordshire. So what’s unusual about that you may ask? Well, the answer is that Cliff has served this church and its band of ringers continuously for 35 years, combining the duties of Ringing Master, Tower Captain and Steeple Keeper in order to keep Kempston at the forefront of Bedfordshire Association

Letters
“Thinking the Unthinkable” - Bruce Purvis
Protecting children - Alan T. Reade
A dreadful mistake – déjà vu - Henry Pladdys (Dr)
EH and bellringing - Richard Johnston
Today’s lesson - David Willis
Delivery of The Ringing World - Brian Buswell
Alderney Bob Doubles - Peter J. R. Bevis

Sketches of ringing and bells in Oxford
These pictures were all sketched by Weimin He (surname pronounced ‘Her’), a Chinese artist who is currently artist-in-residence attached to the Oxford University Estates Directorate (OUED). The aim of his current residency is to produce a body of graphic works recording the historic redevelopment of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (ROQ) (the site of the former Radcliffe Infirmary) for use by various departments of the University of Oxford.

Obituaries
Sheila Elizabeth Begg, Jack Sims (An appreciation)

The unveiling of the Great Paul case in Loughborough Market Place
A glorious Monday, 28th June saw the cast-iron case, in which the outer profile of Great Paul of St Paul’s Cathedral was moulded, take pride of place outside Loughborough Town Hall. What a contrast with the cold wet February morning when the case sections had been removed from the foundry to ‘a secret location’!

Thought for the week
By the time you read this it will have, probably, faded from your memory – I refer to the National 12 Bell Competition held at Crediton back in June. I, for one, have been to Austria and Switzerland and back since that memorable event. However, a group from our ‘neck of the woods’ went for the first time and what an enjoyable day it was apart, apparently, from a little controversy over the nature of Pasties!

Oh dear, what can the matter be?

The Editor on Lundy Island with the Kensington band in May