Extra ringing on Alderney

A group of 12 experienced bellringers from Reading were on-island from Aug 17 – 24th. 11 of them and Helen McGregor rang a peal of Yorkshire S Max at St Anne’s on Weds afternoon Aug 21st.. They also rang 3 full peals on Wells Bells and a peal on handbells in their rented house – St John’s but they also supported a number of training initiatives for the local ringers

 Over the last 2 summers the Alderney ringers have been teaching Jane Trought’s grandaughter  – Ines Picchioni – to ring & she rang her first ever quarter peal with the visitors. Peter Bevis rang a quarter peal of Yorkshire S Max, Aaron  rang in 2 quarter peals AND a full peal on Wells Bells. Philippa Arditti called a 720 of bob minor, June Banister, Victoria McAllister, Aileen Wilson, Heather Winder & Donald Hughes all took the opportunity to consolidate their advanced methods – with a special practice to concentrate of Cambridge minor, a qtr peal of St Simons’ bob triples and an advanced practice for Cornwall , Cambridge major, DNCBM & Stedman triples

 All of this group – along with at least another 24 other ringers – will be returning to Alderney in August 2020 for another week of extensive ringing

Photo is of band that rang the peal at St Anne’s

Alderney Fayre

The St Anne’s ringers ran a very successful stall at the island Fayre on Sunday 25th August. Locals and visitors were all very interested in the story behind our Remembrance peal board, the model bell was put to good use to describe the workings and we rang handbells all afternoon – explaining what is plain hunt and then we enjoyed some bob minor, Cambridge S minor, Bourne S minor and DNCBM:-)
HMMcG

Open Day on Alderney

Over 40 visitors came to enioy our open day on 7th August. Our wonderfully large ringing room lends itself perfectly to Open Days, with plenty of room for full explanations using a model bell and a slow motion video. We had dropped the front 6 and gave demos on the back 6 – one ringer on handstroke and one on backstroke, then one ringer ringing both strokes, then rounds, a call change and finally some plain hunt which was always greeted with applause:-). Donald was able to give a potted history of the bells to everyone who climbed up to see them, Helen gave a go to interested adults & children were encouraged to come to Wells Bells for their turn. Tea and cakes proved popular downstairs too!

UK novices on Alderney

Novice bellringers from Warwickshire, Edinburgh, Cumbria, Dumfries and Winchester travelled to Alderney for a week of intensive tuition July 22 – 26th. The course was designed by Helen McGregor to provide ample opportunity for the novices to get to grips with the fundamentals of bellringing. Making very good use of Wells Bells, the simulator and handbells and with occasional access to St Anne’s bells the novices have made great strides in their understanding of the structure of methods and their ability to deliver them whilst ringing. The very experienced Alderney bellringers provided invaluable support and encouragement throughout the week, assisting with explanations and providing steady ringing enabling the students to practice their Kaleidoscope ringing, early hunting, raising and lowering. Alderney ringers Helen McGregor and Aileen Wilson are both qualified tutors with the Association of Ringing Teachers and very much enjoyed delivering the very first ‘Improve your Bellringing’ course on Alderney.
Photo: L-R, Helen McGregor, Lynne Sydes, Ziggy Jenkins, Neils Benatur, Aileen Wilson, Philip Geary & Chris Lamb

Alderney ring on Guernsey 22nd June

8 members of the Alderney band spent a very enjoyable day on Guernsey on Sat June 22nd. We rang at all 4 Gsy towers, St Simon’s bob triples at TC, Reverse Canterbury at Vale, Grandsire Caters & Cambridge major at St Pierre du Bois,Cambridge & Ipswich S Minor at Forest………………all made possible with the friendly support of some TC ringers.

Jane made us a delicious lunch, we borrowed Duncan’s car – it all made for a great day out. Thank you for having us xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Local Band Peal of Bristol Maximus

In preparation for the upcoming local Alderney peal of Bristol Surprise Maximus, Helen volunteered to be first to practice the method. She reports that it is not too tricky and we hope that eleven other members of the St Anne’s Sunday service band will be ready to join her for the next one – in Alderney – before too long. One down, eleven Bristol Max to go.