Congratulations also to all those who achieved other 'firsts':Vicky Hocker and Heather Phillips (Port Sunlight) first Grandsire Triples, Heather also scoring in Cambridge Surprise Minor; Clare Edwards (Neston) Plain Bob Doubles; Dave Hocker (PS), treble to Cambridge Surprise Major.
Apologies to anyone omitted but the above were all that the editor had received before the 'print deadline'.
The Branch 6-Bell Striking Competition took place, not at Capenhurst as planned, but at Bidston. This year, for the first time, there was a prize to be won... The Alexander Martin Shield, a handsome trophy kindly donated by Alec himself. It must be said that the turnout was disappointing with only 5 teams representing just four different towers but the light-hearted and friendly competition was much enjoyed by all present. Judge Tony Foster placed the bands in the following order:
1. Port Sunlight 8 faults
2. Bidston 11.5
3. 'Sunlight Spice' 13
4. Oxton 'B' 13.5
5. Wallasey S Nicholas 15
So a very close competition in the end!
Some detail...
Oxton 'A' had to scratch because of an incomplete team, this
after the 'B' team had already rung! Might they have won their
own tower captain's trophy? We'll never know! 'Sunlight Spice'
was an all ladies band including 10-year-old Emma Hocker ringing
in her first competition, her sister Vicky (15) and Heather
Phillips (14). Bidston band included 12-year-olds Samantha
Skillen and Rachel Griffiths both in their first competition.
So, despite the small number of teams, things are looking up
with such young and eager participants. But where are the
boys???
Guild 6-Bell at Hartford
Different stuff this with the winning bands from each of the five branches participating. Nevertheless, it was enjoyed by all. Won by Macclesfield S Michael (39 faults) with Wirral Branch representatives Port Sunlight being placed third with 67 faults. For those less familiar with such events, the higher number of faults in the Guild competition does not mean the bands rang worse! It simply means the judge marks harder, with minor blemishes and unevenness in the ringing attracting fault marks.
The Branch Committee is currently assessing the scale of the task in terms of the need to recruit and train ringers where towers are presently understaffed - or even have no ringers at all. Ring in 2000 provides an excellent opportunity for public relations but, ironically, in recent weeks there has been some adverse publicity associated with the escapades of a certain Midge Mather. The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has responded by issuing a memorandum to all 'Ring in 2000' Co-ordinators, the salient points of which are reproduced below.
All ringers, but Tower Captains especially, are urged to be prepared with the following answers should they be approached by the media or complainants.
Bellringers are sensitive to the problems that bells may cause those living nearby.
They try to avoid complaints by taking one or more of the
following actions:
Last July I was invited by Randle to partake in a Quarter Peal with him and four others at Burton, which was successful. On leaving the tower, I mentioned to Geoff Hough, the Verger who looks after the tower, that the clappers should be done as soon as possible as one or more could come out soon. I said we could do the work for them. Within a fortnight, we had been given the O.K. to go ahead and do the job.
Some of you may remember that the treble at Burton had an exceedingly short handstroke which made it difficult to ring. This was found to be due to the garter hole being in the wrong place. In fact, there were two garter holes, neither of which was correct. In addition the ground pulley was three inches too low! On 28th July, we made a start by removing the 6 clappers and treble pulley box (subsequently scrapped) and a new one installed made up from one given by Whitechapel Bellfounders when working at Neston. The original 5 bells by Rudhall's (1724) had been re-hung in a cast iron H-frame by Taylors in 1892 who supplied the new treble. All were fitted with new clappers, staples and Hastings stays. At some time in the past, the original lignum vitae bushes had been discarded and white metal, as used by engineers for shaft bearings, substituted. 'Out of sight is out of mind' so they were never lubricated! Subsequently they came to have a 'rattling good fit'! The resultant hammering loosened the bushes so that they just fell out when dismantled! New, very hard wearing 'Tufnol' bushes and stainless steel pins were fitted with new nuts, washers and split pins. This arrangement does not require any lubrication.
The top half of the treble wheel was brought home, the two garter holes filled in and a new one cut (in the correct place!) and two half bobbin rope leads made.. Each bell was lifted from its plain bearings and the oil wells cleaned out. After re-assembly, each bell was rung up to check for even clappering. No adjustment were needed. The job was finished on 17th September and are now in good order, the treble being much easier to ring. The bells have since been put to use for a wedding.
Overall some 11 'students' attended at least one of the classes although only one could manage all three. To the 'experts' in attendance it was evident that real progress was made by the students, young and old(er) alike! The 'Hunters' were Brenda Boyce and daughter Catherine, Peter Charnley and Hayley Whitfield, all from Wallasey S Nicholas, Jean Barclay and Lauren Shield (Eastham) while the 'Bobbers' were Phyll Whitfield (Wallasey S Nicholas), Emma Hocker (Port Sunlight), Clare Edwards and David Jones (Neston) and Jaime Dawson (Bidston). Thank you to the three 'Ringing Masters' Tony Foster, Sue Sparling and Alex Martin who took charge of the actual ringing at each of the three sessions, to the other 16 helpers drawn from 7 different towers in the branch. Towers providing the most help were Oxton (7), Heswall (4) and Port Sunlight (3) but the help of all has been much appreciated by the Course Co-ordinator and students.
We look forward to seeing graduates of the Summer School continue making progress by regular attendance at practices in their own and other towers, where they will be most welcome. We trust they have been encouraged by the efforts of the Branch in what is recognised as one of the more difficult phases of learning bell-ringing. We will, however, peruse the quarter peal pages and peal columns in future issues of The Ringing World in eager anticipation!
But only about 1 in 6 ringers in the Guild have joined the scheme so the Guild Committee is urging you for your support. The aim is to swell the numbers to 200. For little more than the cost of a pint you can stand a chance of winning the first prize next time. A GBP4 donation qualifies you for the next two draws - at the Guild AGM and Half Yearly meetings. You could even win twice! And don't forget that you can make a donation to the BRF at any time. Why not donate GBP5 from wedding fees? Now, where have I heard that before?
| Return to Wirral Branch Home Page | Last updated 9 Aug 1999 | Page maintained by Peter Humphreys |