The Ringing World 5274 (25 May 2012)
Eight new bells installed below old three in tallest Saxon tower of the Tyne Valley
by Barbara Sutton
Ovingham is a small village on the River Tyne half way between Newcastle and Hexham. Steeped in history, its Grade 1 listed parish church has witnessed Saxon, Medieval and more recent 18th and 19th century events. Three bells, Katherine 1370, Andrew 1505 and the youngest, cast by Taylors in 1879, had hung silently in the 1,000-year-old tower for many years. A new Priest in Charge, Canon Michael Nelson previously of Hexham Abbey, came to St Mary’s. He encouraged the Steeple Keeper at Hexham to look at and perform some remedial work on the three bells and they were then chimed for services and weddings.
Letters
A cautionary tale! – Richard Major
Apsley Enders – G. R. Fielding
Bookbinders – Alison Hodge
Diagrams – Francis A. Johnson
First quarter by Japanese ringer – Sue Marsden
Jubilee Jamboree Jumble – Giles Field
Please Sir! – Graham Nabb
Will this motion float? – Chris Frye
Diamond Jubilee Compositions on page 548
The Henry Johnson Dinner 2012
by John Fielden
The 124th Henry Johnson Commemoration Dinner was held once again in the magnificent surroundings of Birmingham’s Council House on the now traditional last Saturday in February. 104 members and friends of the St Martin’s Guild enjoyed a splendid meal which was edging towards fine dining standard. The chairman for the evening was Phil Barnes, one time resident of Birmingham and a now member of St Paul’s Cathedral band. The Handbell ringing – exactly thirty years since the first peal in the method at St Philip’s Cathedral – was two leads of Orion.
The 40th Tewkesbury Shield
by David Bagley
The Tewkesbury Shield competition was born out of the 1971 Festival of Tewkesbury which marked the two anniversaries of the consecration of Tewkesbury Abbey in 1221 and the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. The first competition was held in June 1973, making this year’s competition the 40th. The test piece was a plain course of Yorkshire Royal, and the judges were Paul and Kate Flavell.
Five Rings comes to Birmingham by Chris Mew
As part of the New Music 20X12, the Cultural Olympiad programme, the Birmingham Conservatoire staged a number of musical events on Sunday, 6th May including three ‘performances’ of Five Rings Triples at St Paul’s Church in the Jewellery Quarter. The piece was composed by Howard Skempton of the Conservatoire, had been premiered at Kingston-upon-Thames and also rung at the New Year by the Warwick band.
Masters of the Sussex County Association by Kathy Howard
Christine Baldock, a ringer at Hailsham in Sussex, has now put together a pictorial record of all those who have served the Sussex County Association in the office of Master. When the Sussex Association was formed in 1885 it was not seen as necessary to have a Master, its running was left to the General Secretary, George F. Attree. However when Attree stood down the office of Master was created and he was duly elected to it.
Essex Association AGM
by Tracey Southgate
It was reassuring to see a busy ringing room at Chelmsford Cathedral on the morning of our AGM. There was standing room only as old friends and new made the most of ringing on higher numbers. During the service Master, Brian Meads and Association Chaplain Revd Ian Jorysz read from Numbers 9 and Luke 4 respectively. The choir from Boreham sung the anthem Lead Me, Lord by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. It was wonderful to hear us all in such fine voice for some rousing hymns.
PR for all by John Harrison
We take part in a very public activity, but we are normally hidden from view. Most non-ringers know little about ringing and nothing about ringers – some even think the bells are rung by a machine. Yet the sound of ringing has a special place in most people's minds and there is a vast pool of potential goodwill for us to draw on. We rely on the non-ringing community so it is in our interest to foster our relationship with the public.
Obituaries
Irene Mary Isobel Burton
Andrew Pollock
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