Reading Branch News Michaelmas 2012 No. 106 Mortimer wins John Butler trophy Page 5 Shiplake hosts Training Days Page 7 Ringing for the Olympic flame Page 9 Olympic ringing on the radio: St Mary & Shiplake Pages 10-14 News from St Mary & St Laurence Page 14 Branch outing gets steamed up on Watercress line Page 15 Lens Loons go carousing in Essex Page 16 Caversham/Mapledurham outing - and new baby Pages 18-19 Jubilee peals and quarter peals Page 20 Bernard Groves’ 5,000th peal - other special ringing Pages 21-23 St Mary wins striking competition Page 4 St Mary’s team: June Saint 1, June Wells 2, Louise Ellis 3, John Manley 4, Peter Ellis (C) 5 with Dominic, John Wells 6
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Reading Branch News
Michaelmas 2012
No. 106
Mortimer wins John Butler trophy Page 5
Shiplake hosts Training Days Page 7
Ringing for the Olympic flame Page 9
Olympic ringing on the radio: St Mary & Shiplake Pages 10-14
News from St Mary & St Laurence Page 14
Branch outing gets steamed up on Watercress line Page 15
Lens Loons go carousing in Essex Page 16
Caversham/Mapledurham outing - and new baby Pages 18-19
Jubilee peals and quarter peals Page 20
Bernard Groves’ 5,000th peal - other special ringing Pages 21-23
St Mary wins striking competition Page 4
St Mary’s team: June Saint 1, June Wells 2, Louise Ellis 3, John Manley 4,
21 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm
24 Higher Numbers Practice - St Laurence, Reading 1 pm to 2.30 pm
March 4 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 to 9 pm
9 Branch practice, St Giles (8), Reading
21 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm
The Reading Branch newsletter is written for and by members of the Branch and
contributions are always welcome. However, the views expressed therein are those
of the writers and not necessarily shared by the Editor or Branch Officers.
Editorial round-up
Lots of ringing has taken place during the summer of 2012 - and into
September. First for the Jubilee, some of which was reported in the
last issue - Jubilee ringing at Goring and Streatley is on page 20 - then
for the Olympics - see pages 9 to 14. On 8 September the Branch
Striking Competition took place at Nettlebed - see next page.
4
Shiplake Ringing Centre has hosted several Training Days, two of them organised by Branch Chairman Ann Osborne, wearing her Training Officer hat. See page 7 for Cyril Crouch’s report. Reading Branch joined St Mary for their annual outing - and it was quite a steamy occasion! See page 15. Lens Loons went to Essex University this year for some quiet carousing - see page 16 for Josie Irving’s report. And Caversham and Mapledurham had a local outing together during the August Bank Holiday weekend - see page 18. And now for some lovely news: Olivia Taylor was born on 5 September - see page 19. Congratulations to her parents Jo and Alex Taylor and grandparents Gill and Roger Hopkinson. Sadly, Gill has her leg in plaster after a fall - we hope it is soon mended. Congratulations to Bernard Groves, who rang his 5,000th peal at St Laurence on 23 June. This splendid achievement, and other special ringing, is reported on pages 20 to 23.
St Mary wins 2012 Branch Striking Competition
The Reading Branch six-bell striking competition took place at St
Bartholomew, Nettlebed, (six - 5-3-17) on a sunny afternoon, Saturday
8 September. For the third year running, it included a competition for
novices. Three novice teams competed for the John Butler Trophy.
They rang alongside the six teams who were competing for the branch
Topper Trophy.
(Nettlebed church is the place for social events: on 29
September the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa attended a
wedding there. And - to quote tower captain Ralph Elmes the -
“scruffy bellringers” were invited to the reception, and toasted the
happy couple with champagne.)
Branch competition:
Congratulations to St Mary, Reading, who won the Topper Trophy
for the third year running. St Mary will go on to represent the branch
at the Oxford Diocesan Guild six-bell contest at Tadmarton, Banbury
Branch, on Saturday 6 October. See the front page for a photo of the
winning team. See next page for a photo of the Tilehurst A team,
who came a fairly close second. Photos of the other teams are on the
back page.
5
Tilehurst A: l to r: Jo Shepherd 1, Jo Druce 2, Colin Newman 3,
Colin Cairns 4, Giles Winter (C) 5, Chris Johnson 6
Novice Competition: Mortimer won the John Butler Trophy and
many congratulations go to them. Mortimer had not entered a team for
many years, so this was a very satisfactory outcome, and we hope to see
them again in the future. In the photo below they can be seen with their
numbered mats, to help them identify the bells in a strange tower.
Mortimer: l to r, Janet Carless 1, Carol Wheeler 2, Jackie McGee 3,
Jeremy Wheeler 4, Andrew Slater 5, Rex Haigh(C) 6
6
It was most encouraging to have three youngsters taking part: Kester
Jacob, Ella Wiles and Jack Page, all from Caversham. Jack Page also
rang in the branch competition.
The judges were Ken and Sue Davenport from Wokingham,
Sonning Deanery Branch. Afterwards, Ken read out the judges’
comments about each team, in the order in which they rang, and gave out
the results:
Team A (Nettlebed) 39 Faults - Ringing Doubles
Even leading; errors were mainly in the inside of the changes rather than
on the front or back, particularly at the lead ends to start with. One error
in a row (normally a bell that was slow) often led to another fault in the
same row. There was some hiatus in the next to last lead and the striking
never recovered.
Team B (Mapledurham) 84 Faults - Call Changes
Uneven leads. I got the impression the band was rushing the bells
because they were light and the band inexperienced on such light bells.
They had a good start but lost their way after a short while.
Team C (Tilehurst A) 25 Faults - Ringing Doubles
Faults were mainly caused by slow blows particularly in the handstroke
rows. The ringing was fairly even with no major mis-blows.
Team D (St Mary, Reading) 19 Faults - Ringing Doubles
Very good speed, fast even ringing. Some errors in the dodging but most
errors were rubs rather than clashes.
Team E (Caversham) 59 Faults - Ringing Doubles
Uneven leads led to uneven rows. Some slow backstroke leads. Most
faults were caused by bells being slow.
Team F (Caversham Novices) 86 Faults - Call Changes
Uneven with some closed handstroke leads. Although not possible in a
competition, need to establish good rounds before starting changes.
Team G (Goring) 30 Faults - Ringing Doubles
Took a long time to settle. Good ringing when settled and got better
throughout. In the better ringing the faults were rubs rather than clashes.
Team H (Mortimer) 71 Faults - Call Changes
Some good leads but lots of rows contained slight faults. Slower ringing
probably at a speed the band could manage.
7
Team I (Tilehurst B) 79 Faults - Ringing Doubles
The main problem was that the band could not decide on a speed to ring.
Again some closed handstroke leads.
Position Team Faults Ringing Order
1st St. Mary 19 faults Team D
2nd Tilehurst A 25 Team C
3rd Goring 30 Team G
4th Nettlebed 39 Team A
5th Caversham 59 Team E
6th Tilehurst B 79 Team I
Novice bands:
1st Mortimer 71 faults Team H
2nd Mapledurham 84 Team B
3rd Caversham Novices 86 Team F
Afterwards, Ann Osborne, Reading Branch chairman, thanked Ken and
Sue for their services. Ian Judd gave a vote of thanks to the incumbent
for the use of the bells and for the use of the school hall, and also to the
Nettlebed band who provided a splendid tea.
Training Days at Shiplake
Shiplake Tower Captain Cyril Crouch reports: What is going on in
Shiplake Church Tower? The answer is a lot more than most people
realise.
For example on Saturday 23 June eight under 21s from the
Reading area spent the day at the church having fun, improving their
bell ringing skills, learning about the history of bells, ringing methods
on handbells, challenging their observation with a quiz and enjoying
some very popular food! Due to the use of modern technology, all this
without anyone outside the church hearing a thing! The students came
from Caversham, South Stoke, Reading, Tilehurst and Shiplake. Helpers
came from a variety of other towers in the Reading area.
Two days before, we welcomed a group of 17 students from Sir
William Borlase School in Marlow, who have been studying bell ringing
as part of a maths project.
8
Recently two adults started to learn to ring our tower bells at
Shiplake, in addition to two others who began last summer.
We have some of the best facilities for teaching tower bell
ringing in the area and experienced tutors. If you are interested in
giving it a try, contact Cyril Crouch on 0118 940 2704, or look at our
Joanna Knight, Joyce Vernon, James Milford, Keith Vernon
14
Tower Captain Cyril Crouch reports from Shiplake: Imagine our
surprise when we received a call from Radio Berkshire asking us to host
a visit from Tony Blackburn at 07.30 on 23rd July. The purpose was to
find out about bell ringing. He interviewed Joanna Knight and Cyril
Crouch and even tried his hand at ringing a bell!
His researcher Marie Copley recorded the bells and the
interviews, broadcast later that morning on Radio Berkshire, as part of a
feature on bells, leading up to the Olympics opening ceremony on 27
July.
Four days later, on the day of the opening ceremony, in a live
interview, Tony asked Cyril about our ringing that morning, and it was
confirmed that Shiplake bells had rung at 08.12 that morning, with many
other bells across the UK, to mark the opening of the Olympic Games.
St Mary and St Laurence – September 2012
Tower Captain Peter Ellis reports: We have had a busy few months!
Chris Phillips’ report on our live performances on Radio Berkshire, for
the Olympics, is on page 10. We won the branch six-bell trophy at
Nettlebed (despite some serious competition from a number of bands) -
see page 4 - and we rang a peal at St Mary to mark the Diamond Jubilee
and another at St Laurence to mark the anniversary of Jim Diserens’
death. See below for Diana McClure’s account of our annual outing,
which featured several trains and the odd bell. So what is left for me to
write about in my report?
Well, we have done quite a bit of ‘Olympic’ ringing. Aside from
the ringing that was broadcast on the radio, we rang a quarter peal of
London Major when the torch relay passed the front of St Mary. We’ve
rung the performance of Five Rings Triples twice – once at St Mary for
the opening of the Olympics, and once at St Laurence on the first day of
the Paralympics.
At practices we have continued to grapple with ‘Reading
Alliance Major’. In fact we are starting to get on top of it, and there has
been mention of ringing a quarter of it. At St Laurence we have rung
lots of different methods on both 12 and 10 bells, with particular focus
on London Royal. One recent highlight was a quarter peal of Stedman
Cinques to celebrate significant wedding anniversaries - see page 22.
15
Looking ahead, we have our annual dinner in October which has
been organised by Antoinette Jackson and Ian Judd and promises to be a
very enjoyable evening. A number of
quarter peals have been arranged to mark
the occasion.
Reading joins St Mary for
Outing with a Difference
The Reading branch outing normally
takes place early in June. This year,
however, the Jubilee was being
celebrated in the first week of June, with lots of bell-ringing, so it was
decided that the branch would join the St Mary & St Laurence outing on
Saturday 7 July.
Peter Ellis organised the outing and - like everything run by
Peter - it was great fun and a little bit different. The first tower was in
Alton, St Lawrence (18-1-20),
a beautiful old church dating
back to 1070, with eight lovely
bells. After ringing there we
walked to the Watercress Line
(the Mid Hants Railway)
Station and caught the 10.50
train to Alresford - a half-hour
journey through beautiful
countryside. We travelled in
very old-fashioned carriages
pulled by a steam engine.
Most of the railway staff are
volunteers.
The train puffed its way
up to Medstead & Four Marks,
the highest railway station in
southern England (653 feet
above sea level), then on to
Ropley, the engineering centre
of the line - great excitement
Smoke gets in your eyes? Steve and
Michael Bennett. Photos: Chris Phillips
16
for the children, as we saw Thomas the Tank Engine in the shunting
yard - and then on to the attractive market town of Alresford. There
we rang at St John, the parish church of New Alresford, another
beautiful church with eight lovely bells (15-3-18).
We lunched at The Running Horse Inn in Alresford, which
serves local food and real ale. A good choice, Peter. Then we took
the train back to Alton, and rang at our last tower: All Saints. It’s a
nice bright church, built in 1873, on a busy road, with six new bells (6
cwt, cast in 2006) - and a tall band, to judge by the short ropes.
Access to the ringing chamber is quite exciting: up a long steep ladder
and then into the ringing chamber through a trap door, above the
entrance porch.
There we were joined by old friends: Steve Rossiter, Peter
Bevis and Helen McGregor and other Channel Island ringers, who had
been taking part in a Winchester & Portsmouth Guild eight-bell
striking competition at Hawkley. We had tea together, and then it was
the end of a lovely day of good ringing (Grandsire, Stedman, Plain
Bob, Spliced Surprise…) at interesting towers.
Thank you, Peter, for organising a great day out. The only
thing that could have been better was the weather: No group photo
was taken, because rain kept spoiling play.
Len’s Loons in Essex
On a cold, wet, winter (sorry summer) day in July a group of intrepid
ringers met to tour East Essex.
We were based at the University of Essex. We eventually
found our way onto campus, having been up and down a number of
dead ends and after trying to get through barriers by tailgating buses!
Discovered we weren’t all navigational novices - the map sent out by
the University was lacking in that the road needed didn’t appear to be
on it!
We were based in three flats in one house which allowed for
communal activities such as Playing Cards, Pass the Pigs, Carousing,
much discussion about the photo competition and just a little drinking.
We rang at 32 towers in all, with one lock out at Harwich - just
as well taking into account the amount of time it took to get the group
photo just right - group photo taken outside the only church we didn’t
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ring at!
Things of Note:
Most groany bell: third at Maldon
Most interesting access to ringing chamber: Great Bromley where
we were required to “walk the plank”
Nicest Light Six: Inworth
OS Maps vs Sat Nav? Pleased to report that OS won out on a
number of occasions.
The hospitality shown at a couple of churches where we were
supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits.
Favourite Roundabout – the “magic” (one oval, 5 mini) roundabout
Locked out at Harwich, l to r, standing: Colin Cairns, Ken
Baker, Mavis Crouch, Keith and Joyce Vernon, Cyril Crouch, Rosa and David Bardwell, Len Palfrey (Chief Loon) behind Jo
Druce, Ann Gardener, Michael Palfrey, Josie Irving, Sue Norbury, Stephanie May, Susie Black. Sitting or kneeling in front: Jo Knight, Harriet Thomas, John Harland - and, lying
down in front of Keith, Touche the dog
18
on the outskirts of Colchester
The number of Greats – Tey, Bromley, Bentley, Baddow, Holland
(not surprising that one intrepid navigator got confused - luckily driver
was on the ball) A number of ringers got through some firsts – including three leads of
Bristol It wasn’t all ringing – some of us took in the five bells at East
Bergholt and saw them being rung; tried to walk along a footpath
which was being used by ducks swimming; experienced the delights of
Cudmore Grove Country Park and rang Ashford Triples down the
beach (much to the amazement of some runners); watched Wimbledon
Men’s Final in the Student Union Bar; had fish and chips on the beach;
found some very nice eateries and caught up with a number of friends.
All in all a great week with good food, good company and some
interesting bells. Roll on 2014! [Loon tours take place every other
year] Josie Irving
Addendum from Len Palfrey: It was with great sadness that we learnt
of the sudden death of our mascot, Touche, only hours after getting
home from the tour. We will miss her enthusiastic greetings and
endless licks.
Caversham and Mapledurham joint outing
Ann Osborne very kindly offered to organise a local outing for
Caversham and Mapledurham. Finding a date that suited everybody
proved challenging: one ringer was very involved with the Light
Aircraft Association, some were away, one was having a baby and
moving house… In the end, 25 August, Bank Holiday Saturday, was
chosen as the date that suited most of us. We set off on what turned out
to be - for this summer and considering it was the Reading Festival
weekend - quite a sunny day.
Our first tower was at SS Peter & Paul, Checkendon (8 bells -
10-1-21). At first it looked as though it was a lock out, but fortunately
a man came to wind the clock. He very kindly let us in and we had an
enjoyable half hour ringing in that beautiful church.
Next stop was St Helen, Benson (8 bells - 14-1-22). The
ringing chamber is lovely, with a new carpet. The bells were rehung in
19
2009 and go very well - but some of us found the bigger ones rather
heavy. We were glad to cross the road to the Waterfront Café, where we
had a very good meal, sitting in the sunshine by the River Thames.
St Bartholomew, Nettlebed (6 bells - 5-3-17), the venue for the
branch striking competition on 8 September – see page 4 - was the next
tower. This gave the bands a chance to practise their test piece. As is
often the way, they rang much better then than on the day of the
competition.
The eight bells at St Mary, Wargrave (17-2-10), were quite
different from those of Nettlebed: much heavier and on plain bearings. It
is a lovely church in a beautiful setting, with a very pleasant ringing
chamber. We all enjoyed having a go at ringing there.
The last tower was St Mary,
Twyford (8 bells - 12-0-10), with an
octopus instead of a spider. The bells
there go very well, and it was a great
way to end the outing.
Many thanks, Ann, for taking
us to lovely local villages - and well
done Kester Jacob, aged 10, for
Lunch at Waterfront Café, Benson. Julie and James
Champion on the left, Christine Bisgrove at foot of the table, Kester Jacob & Ralph Elmes on the right, others half hidden
20
ringing so competently on bells that are much heavier than he is used to.
And the reason Jo Taylor did not come on the outing…
Many congratulations to Jo and Alex Taylor on the birth of their
daughter Olivia Mary on Wednesday 5 September 2012.
Olivia was born at Swindon Hospital, and weighted in at 8 lb 4 oz. She
showed great consideration for her parents, by arriving about a fortnight
after they had moved house, from Reading to Thatcham. Our best
wishes to the Taylor family.
Congratulations also to Olivia's grandparents, Gill and Roger
Hopkinson, who ring at both Caversham and Mapledurham. Jo will be
sorely missed in the Reading branch, especially at Mapledurham, where
she rang and was also the tower secretary
A quarter peal is being arranged at Caversham for Olivia, and
the proud Grandad will ring the tenor.
Roger Hopkinson took the photo of Olivia, on the day she was
born. He also took the photo at the Waterfront Café, Benson.
Jubilee Ringing at Goring and Streatley
St Thomas of Canterbury, Goring, Oxon, Monday 4 June 2012 in 2h
44 (8), 5152 Jubilee S Major, Composed: J Reeves
1. Ian G Judd 2. Christopher M Tuckett
3. Antoinette J R Jackson 4. Josie S Irving
5. June D Wells 6. Robin P D Middleton
7. E John Wells (C) 8. Nicholas J Clarke
Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
St Mary, Streatley, Berkshire, Sunday 3 June 2012,
1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor: 1. Ian Judd (C) 2. Antoinette Jackson
3. Josie S Irving 4. Andrea N Gilbert
5. Wendy Middleton 6. Robin Middleton
Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II
St Mary, Streatley, Berkshire, Sunday 27 May 2012,
21
1260 Plain Bob Minor:
1. Caroline Harwin 2. Antoinette Jackson
3. Jill Kirby 4. Ian Judd (C)
5. Wendy Middleton 6. Andrea Gilbert
Rung to mark the Berkshire Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee at St Mary, Reading.
Other ringing over the Jubilee weekend included ringing following the
unveiling of the new village sign and ringing 60 blows at both Goring
and Streatley at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday to herald the toast to the Queen at
the Goring and Streatley street party
Bernard Groves’ 5,000th peal
St Laurence, Reading, Berks, Saturday 23 June 2012, 5042 Cambridge
Surprise Maximus in 3 hrs 18 min (23), Composed Ian Butters (421).
1. Colin M. Turner 2. Brian Bladon
3. Katharine J Firman 4. Nicola J Turner
The Belfry Barge leading the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
at Chelsea on Sunday 3 June - photo by Richard Bisgrove
22
5. Helen J Piper 6. Bernard F L Groves (C)
7. Graham G Firman 8. Graham G C John
9. David G Salter 10. Peter Bridle
11. Roger J Crocker 12. Frank W Rivett
5,000th peal 6
Stedman Cinques for special Wedding Anniversaries
St Laurence, Reading, Monday 17 September 2012,
1306 Stedman Cinques:
1. June Wells 2. Sarah Barrett
3. Mary Friskney 4. Christopher Tuckett
5. Louise Ellis 6. Jack Page
7. Keith Anderson 8. Kelvin Britton
9. John Wells (C) 10. Robert Partridge
11 .Peter Ellis 12. John Manley
Rung as a compliment to Pauline and Kelvin Britton on their 35th
Wedding Anniversary that day. Also as a compliment to June Saint
and Stephen Rossiter on their 25th Wedding Anniversary last week,
and to Louise and Peter Ellis on their 10th Wedding Anniversary.
Three firsts in one quarter peal
St Laurence, Reading, Wednesday 4 July 2012
1260 Plain Bob Royal in 46 mins (23)
1. Susan E Davenport 2. Jack Page *
3. Elizabeth J Davenport 4. Steve C Wells
5. Tim R Forster ** 6. Graham E Slade
7. Kenneth R Davenport 8. Edward JW Manley (C)***
9. Jon P Tutcher 10. Stephen R Smith
First on 10 tower bells 2, First in method on 10 bells 5. First as
conductor of PB Royal 8. A Sonning Deanery quarter (with help from
Reading)
Jack Page’s first quarter peal on twelve bells
St Laurence, Reading, Sunday 8 July 2012,
1311 Stedman Cinques in 51 mins (22):
23
1. June Saint 2. June D. Wells
3. Edward J. Manley 4. Colin G Newman
5. Giles Winter 6. Jack Page * 1st on 12
7. Helen McGregor 8. Kelvin Britton
9. E John Wells (C) 10. Douglas J Beaumont
11. Stephen A Rossiter 12. Peter J R Bevis
Joanna Knight’s first Royal inside
St Laurence, Reading, Monday 16 July 2012
1282 Lincolnshire Surprise Royal, in 55 minutes (20)
1. June Wells (C) 2. Louise Ellis *
3. Giles Winter 4. Joanne Druce *
5. Joanna Knight ** 6. Kelvin Britton
7. Steve Smith * 8. John Manley
9. Robert Partridge 10. John Wells
First Lincolnshire Royal: 2, 4, 7.
First Royal inside: 5.
In Memoriam
Jim Diserens died on 7 September 2011, aged 79, in Germany; from a
heart attack, when he and his wife Helen were visiting their son Brian.
St. Laurence, Reading, Saturday 8 September 2012 in 3h19 (23)
5088 Bristol Surprise Maximus Composed: Noel J Diserens
1. David P Hilling (C) 2. Katharine J Firman
3. Brian Bladon 4. June D Wells
5. Patricia M Newton 6. Simon M Alford
7. Ronald F Diserens 8. E John Wells
9. Robert H Newton 10. Brian P Diserens
11. Andrew W R Wilby 12. Richard H Burton
In memoriam: Noel J Diserens, on the first anniversary of his death.
St Giles, Reading,
Saturday 8 September 2012 in 2h54 (14)
5056 Cambridge Surprise Major Composed: Noel J Diserens