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Bell Ringing at All Saints Church Staplehurst

Monthly Reports from 2002

December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002

June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002

Current Bell Ringing page

December 2002

On 9th November six of our ringers entered the district Call Change Striking Competition held at Maidstone St. Michael. Six teams from the area competed in the competition, which judged the best ringing (and least clashes of bells). Staplehurst came fifth only 9 points behind the leaders and 9 points ahead of the last team. With three under 15's and the youngest ringer overall in our band (who entered the competition for the first time) we were well satisfied with this result.

We shall be ringing for the Christmas services, except midnight on Christmas Eve but we shall be ringing in the New Year.

Simulator Practice

During winter months Staplehurst hold additional practices on Thursday evenings. At these practices the bells are rung normally with the clappers tied and the sound is simulator generated within the tower. This is so that we can practice or ring methods especially with ringers who have only just learnt the “blue line”. In this way we can initially iron out all method mistakes without initially worrying too much about the striking and so not “annoying the neighbours”.

All ringers are most welcome to these and our open ringing Tuesday practices.

Sue Bassett

November 2002

At the Annual District Meeting on 12th October, our Tower Captain, Chris Bassett, was elected as Chairman of the Maidstone District of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers, to which august body our ringers belong. Roy Barclay was re-elected as Publicity Officer (which he has held for many years and continues to do a sterling job). To see some of Roy's work, a visit to www.kcacr-maidstone-district.org.uk is a must or to read The Belfry magazine issued Quarterly. Roy's son, fourteen year old, Richard Barclay, has been elected as one of two District Ringing Masters. There can't be many organisations where adults are told what to do by teenagers, but we feel Richard is well up to the task. The annual district meeting was followed by ringing, evensong, a delicious tea and more ringing. Our ringers rallied round and provided an excellent and traditional “bell-ringers” tea, which was unsurpassed in recent times. The afternoon and evening's activities were rounded off in true bell-ringers' style by a visit to “the other place” across the road.

9th November will hopefully see some of our ringers enter the district Call Change Striking Competition to be held at Maidstone St. Michael. It is hoped that sufficient young ringers will be available to enter a teenage band as well as an adult (or ladies and gents bands too). Something not many towers can achieve.

Sue Bassett

October 2002

Some of our ringers will be joining those from Hythe for a joint half-day outing on 5th October in the Canterbury/Wye area. Having joined us for our tower outing earlier this summer, a return invite from the Hythe ringers was readily accepted.

Additional ringing at Staplehurst in October will take place on Saturday 12th at various times during the afternoon for the Maidstone District Ringers' ADM and a Peal on Saturday 19th (when the bells will probably be rung continuously for about 3 hours). There will also be ringing for two weddings on 5th and 26th.

Sue Bassett

September 2002

Additional ringing in September includes two weddings on the 6th and 14th, visitors on Friday 13th (10.00 - 10.45 a.m.) and a Peal on Saturday , September 28th (when the bells will probably be rung continuously for about 3 hours).

Sue Bassett

August 2002

Additional ringing in August begins with a wedding on 3rd, followed by a Silver Wedding Peal on 10th and a Quarter Peal for the installation of our new Rector on 28th. Peals and Quarter Peals are the traditional ways in which ringers mark special occasions. Having rung for our own wedding 25 years ago followed by friends ringing a peal for us, Tower Captain Chris and I will be ringing together with some of the original band to mark our Silver Wedding Anniversary.

Usual ringing times are 7.30-9.15 p.m. on Tuesdays for practices and on Sundays at 9.15-10 a.m. and 5.45-6.30 p.m. prior to services. Anyone interested in learning more about ringing may visit the tower on a Tuesday evening, but please telephone first as space is sometimes limited! Tel: 01580 891917.

Sue Bassett

June 2002

To mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee, members of the Staplehurst band will be ringing non-stop for approximately 45 minutes (a Quarter Peal) prior to the joint churches Service at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday 2nd June.

On Saturday 8th June six Staplehurst ringers will be taking part in the final of the striking competition at East Malling against four other bands from the Maidstone District. The successful band will represent this District in the County striking competition in September.

To help progress our method ringing repertoire, a practice of “Surprise” methods will be held on Saturday 29th June from 11.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. The surprise is not that we don't know what we will be ringing but the style of method, which is rather more complicated than the basic “plain” methods we generally ring.

Sue Bassett

May 2002

Along with most other ringers in the country, muffled and half-muffled ringing took place last month to mark the passing of HM The Queen Mother. At Staplehurst the bells were rung half-muffled as a mark of respect from the Sunday immediately after the announcement of The Queen Mother's death (except for the wedding the following Saturday). A fully-muffled quarter peal of Grandsire Caters was rung on Sunday, 7th April and another quarter peal, rung half-muffled, was rung following the funeral on the Tuesday evening.

The peal on Saturday 13th April was rung by visiting ringers who were most complimentary of our bells. They rang Stedman Caters in 2 hours 53 minutes, which was fast and extremely well struck. Our local band also aspires to good striking and the “A” team is now through to the final of the striking competition to be held in June. At the Maidstone District Ringers' Meeting on 13th April, Adam Brady and Stuart Scrace were elected as Junior Members of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers. Both boys are progressing well with their ringing and learning fast, as are Daniel Brady who rang his first quarter peal and Richard Barclay as first time conductor. Well done to our junior ringers who are making such positive progress and becoming very useful and reliable members of the band.

Usual ringing times are 7.30 to 9.15 p.m. on Tuesdays for practices and on Sundays at 9.15-10 a.m. and 5.45 to 6.30 p.m. prior to services. Additional ringing this month will occur on Saturday 11th May between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. when local ringers from the Maidstone District will be practicing Surprise Major methods. A quarter peal is likely to be rung prior to the wedding of one of our ringers on Saturday 18th May.

Anyone interested in learning more about ringing may visit the tower on a Tuesday evening, but please telephone first as space is sometimes limited! Tel: (01580) 891917

Sue Bassett

April 2002

At the ringer's AGM it was agreed to return to Tuesday evening practices as from 2nd April. Chris Bassett as Tower Captain, Patrick Harrisson as Vice-Captain, Shirley Norfolk as Secretary and Andrew Brady as Steeple Keeper were all re-elected to their posts as they are doing such a wonderful job.

The band continues to thrive and new methods (bell ringing music) are being learned and practiced. Two teams of 6 ringers each have both won through the first stage of the local district knock-out Striking Competition. We are the

only

band in this district to be able to field two teams.

Usual ringing times are now 7.30-9.15 p.m. on Tuesdays for practices and on Sundays at 9.15-10 a.m. and 5.45-6.30 p.m. prior to services. Additional ringing during April will occur on Saturday morning 6th April (some ringers are making a training video); a Peal attempt (non-stop ringing for about 3 hours if they are successful) will be rung on Saturday afternoon 13th April; a Quarter Peal (non-stop ringing for about 45 minutes) has been requested by some Maidstone ringers on 27th April from Noon.

Sue Bassett

March 2002

For Brians' induction at Hythe both a Quarter Peal and a Peal were rung with joint Staplehurst and Hythe bands. Interestingly enough the Hythe ringers also have 10 bells, they are a very sociable band and their after practice refreshments are also taken in a King's Head public house. So for Brian it should be like “home from home”.

The Bellringers AGM will be held in the tower on Thursday, March 7 when the tower officers for the next year will be decided.

On Saturday, March 9, there will be a peal attempt in the morning lasting about three hours.

Other ringing during the month will be normal Thursday practice nights and before Church services.

Shirley Norfolk (Tower Secretary)

February 2002

On Sunday, December 23rd 2001, a quarter peal was rung before the Christingle Service. The quarter was 1260 changes long and consisted of five different methods: Stedman, St. Simon's, St. Martin's, Plain Bob and April Day.

On Saturday, February 16 there is the possibility of a training video being made in the belfry between 9.30 am and 3.30 p.m. If this goes ahead the bells will be rung in sessions lasting approximately 5 minutes at 10 minute intervals during this time.

Other ringing during February will be the usual Thursday practice nights and before Sunday services.

Shirley Norfolk (Tower Secretary)