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!
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
June is doing a great job in shepherding Aaron along with her so that both will achieve their Level 5+ award concurrently
Latest qtr, St Martin’s Bob Doubles: bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1292254
Well done both
Helen
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
Results of 8 bell Inter-island. Judge Jack Page. Test piece Little bob major (WHWsH) x 2
Jack outlined that he had had plenty of opportunity to ring the bells at Wells. They had limited odd-struckedness, & that it was very easy to ring them too slowly. He had been worried that his vantage point in the kitchen would have permitted him to recognise the voices of the ringers but he was pleased to report that although he could hear the bells clearly, he couldn’t recognise any voices
Team A (Gsy): The team started confidently, their practice time had all been put to good use. The was much good ringing from various individuals – the 8 set a good beat and the 7 worked well with the 8, however the band needed to ring better together. In particular they needed to make sure that their leading wasn’t too quick and that the bells really reached the back at the end of the change. They recovered well from 2 method mistakes. Peal time 3hrs 4 mins
Team B (Ay): Peal time here 3hrs 5mins. This team spent the practice time NOT ringing Little Bob but then they appeared to learn it as once the practice time was finished they did ring Little Bob. They produced some pleasant ringing, the tenor set a good pace which was matched by the 6 & 7. Clip avoidance at the back was the tactic employed by this band which did result in the bells slowing down, the treble rang well which kept the front moving nicely
Percentage scores : A 65% & B74%. Winners were Alderney
Aaron collects the trophy from Jack Page on behalf of the Alderney band
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
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:
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:
