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.
Left to right: Helen McGregor, Peter Bevis, Helen Wells, June Saint, Richard Harris, William Read, Justin Read, Stephen Rossiter, Aaron Hallett, June Banister, Hannah Read, Louise Read, Mariko Whyte, Aileen Wilson. Grateful thanks to photographer Paul Wells
Ay & friends outing to New Forest
Mariko used her local knowledge to very good effect in arranging our outing to the New Forest for weekend March 23/24th. Aaron, June, Stephen, Aileen, Helen & Peter were delighted to be joined by Justin, Louise, Hannah, William & Richard from Jersey also Paul & Helen Wells and June Saint from UK – a real dream team:-)
We visited Christchurch Priory, (27cwt , 12), Hordle (7cwt, 8) & Hinton (9cwt , 5). Lunch in the Smugglers Inn then Milford-on-sea (12 cwt , 8) and Brockenhurst (4cwt, 8) – all our excellent ringing (call changes, Stedman triples, Bob triples, Grandsire triples, DNCBM, Cambridge S Major & 4 spliced,) bore fruit at Ringwood:
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On Sunday we met with local ringers in Bournemouth for service ringing at 3 churches and then we were joined by John & June Wells for another great quarter:
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A wonderful weekend – thanks Mariko & Stephen for all the arranging:-)
Rung to celebrate the birth of Elija Peter Roberts
At practice tonight we had cake to celebrate Aaron’s 15th birthday today:-) Aaron has recently started ringing our tenor for triples and tonight for the first time he turned it in – plain hunt on 8 – very well indeed, what a great way to spend your birthday:-)
Also rung tonight was a touch of spliced Little bob major and Cambridge major – a first for our band
Helen
Wow – what a week – starting last weekend with a great Ipswich practice, & a qtr of little bob major, then an opportunity to ring the tenor for bob major – thanks Duncan:-)….handbell practice on Monday night had us ringing more little bob major – then – tremendous – qtr of spliced S minor in hand – a first for us all:-)
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A qtr of Double Court Bob Minor at TC went very well indeed …with more firsts….then followed by the TC practice – which was most adventurous…half courses of Cambridge Major and 3 leads of Bristol:-)..what great fun….
And finally a cracking quarter in hand of Plain Bob Major.
thanks for having us Duncan – Helen, Peter & Aileen x
Here on Ay we are too reliant on the same ringers putting in the bobs. Next year the Alderney band will attempt more qtrs with novice bob callers at the helm. Starting the ball rolling Helen will attempt to call Cambridge S Minor on Sat Jan 19th….other ringers will have a go at Stedman Doubles, bob doubles, bob minor & grandsire doubles through the year – wish us luck:-)
The Alderney band hosted their first ever training week for UK novice ringers from Nov 24th –Dec 2nd. The pilot scheme saw Chris Lamb from Cumbria and Philip Geary from Edinburgh come to Alderney for a week of intensive bellringing training. Led by Helen and supported by the entire Alderney band Chris and Philip rang at the CI Ringing Centre every day, joined the local band for their regular practice sessions, had an extra bellringing session at St Anne’s and also rang there for a Sunday Service. Over the course of the week the 2 novices made great improvements to both their handling and their method capability. The hugely successful week concluded with both men securing their very first quarter peal – a milestone for any ringer.
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2 further qtrs were scored the following day cementing their success. They have already booked their place on the next course which will be held in July.
Photo L-R: Trevor Blades, Chris Lamb, Philip Geary & Jane Trought
Armistice Day 2018 – For the last 4 years the Alderney ringers have rung half-muffled on the 100th anniversary of the death of every Alderney casualty in WW1. Today we rang half muffled for Service and then open in the afternoon and then again at 7.05pm. Included in today’s ringing were 3 new recruits – Bobbie, Jeremy & Olo – they had been in training down at Wells Bells and made the transition to St Anne’s Service Ringing for the first time today
8 of us rounded off proceedings with dinner at Mai Thai – see photo. L-R = Jeremy, Aileen, Helen B, Trevor, Bobbie, June, Helen McG & Peter. This November is our Bells 5th Birthday – the first Service ringing on our new 12 was Remembrance Day 2013, we have come a long way:-)
Helen
