| 17 Dec 06
| Congratulations to the Burton band who, today, rang what is believed to be the first Quarter Peal ever by a Burton Sunday Service band!
By ringing in a Peal of seven Surprise Minor methods at Thurstaston today, Deputy Branch Ringing Master, Peter Robson rang his most methods to a Peal.
Also, in Birmingham today, Geoff and Sue Sparling rang in a touch of Stedman 15. According to Geoff, they are still reeling!
| 31 Oct 06
|
You will probably be unaware, as indeed was your Web Master until late yesterday afternoon, that Geoff Sparling is in Arrowe Park Hospital, having undergone minor surgery.
It may seem trivial but his thumb had become infected last week but failed to respond to the antibiotics prescribed by his doctor. The infection began to spread and, on seeing his doctor again, was immediately admitted to hospital and underwent surgery the same day. Antibiotics and now being administered intravenously.
His ringing of a peal in London this week-end is, obviously, now not possible, as, for the present, is any ringing.
Update at 2:30 p.m.: Geoff is now home although will be returning to hospital tomorrow for a change of dressing. There was a chance of him losing his thumbnail but, fortunately, this proved not to be necessary. His biggest disappointment, arising from a constraint imposed by his antibiotic medication, is that he will not be able to participate, at the College Youths Dinner, in the more fluid courses!
| 30 Oct 06
| 'A Practical Guide to Belfry Maintenance and Repair' written and published by Tommy Morgan of Oxton was reviewed earlier this month (Oct 6) by John Eisel in The Ringing World (p 953). Since then Tommy has sold over 25 copies! If you would like a copy then simply phone Tommy on 0151-677 3591 and arrange for the exchange of a copy and your £5.50 (+ £2 p & p if posted).
| 28 Oct 06
| The second session of the Beginners' Bellhandling Course took place this morning, attended by 13 learners. In only their second visit to a ringing chamber, Tom Mountford (15 years old) and Jake Birchall (12) both of Holy Cross, Woodchurch, are now ringing unaided! Three others, all adults, are also ringing unaided, having previously started to learn in their own towers. These are Andrew Burrows and Sandra Williams, both of Neston, and John Baxendale of Oxton. All others attending are able to ring at least (separately) backstrokes and handstrokes while others are ringing hand and back under close supervision. In addition to the towers mentioned above, learners and beginners from Shotwick, Burton and Port Sunlight all made good progress. Watch this space! Today's tutors were Dave Hocker, Jane Davies and Peter Humphreys.
| 27 Oct 06
| The Beginners' Bellhandling Course commenced last Saturday morning at Port Sunlight using the Simulator. In all some 12 ringers attended, mostly adults, from Woodchurch, Oxton, Neston, Wallasey St Nicholas and Port Sunlight. The course seemed to be well received as all expressed a wish to attend future sessions. These continue EVERY Saturday morning until further notice. Anyone wishing to attend may join the course AT ANY STAGE. Today's tutors were Peter Hughes and Peter Humphreys.
| 7 Oct 06
| Congratulations to David Jones who, today, rang his most methods in a Peal - no fewer than 20 Surprise Minor methods!!
| 4 Oct 06
| 
| Congratulations to Sharon Williams and Marty Lyons of Eastham who were married at the parish church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin on Sunday 1st October.
A
Quarter Peal was rung the previous day as a compliment to the couple. This Quarter Peal was also the first to be rung as part of the Wirral Branch Quarter Peal Fortnight 2006.
(Photo courtesy John Collinson.)
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| | 26 Sep 06
| Congratulations to Peter Hughes who has rung his first Peal on 16, the first Wirral resident ringer so to do.
(Former Wirral ringers to have have achieved this feat are Jenny Sparling, Vicky Wilby nee Halliwell and, I believe, Andrew Graham)
| 20 Sep 06
| Former Oxton ringer Ruth Blackwell has rung her 1000th Peal, only the second Wirral ringer to achieve this landmark, the first being Ralph Edwards.
| 16 Sep 06
| Peter Hughes writes:
"Congratulations to David Jones and Peter Robson who today rang their
first Peal with the Ancient Society of College Youths at Wallasey St
Nicholas. The peal was organised as part of the Society's annual peal
weekend, which this year is being arranged on Diocesan lines. The
Wallasey peal was the contribution of the Chester Diocese."
| 13 Aug 06
| The Peal at Bromborough today was rung on the 125th anniversary of the First Peal in Wirral - Grandsire Triples on these bells with the same composition. It was also the first peal of Grandsire on the bells since 1902. The first peal was achieved including some Liverpool ringers whereas today's band were all Wirral branch ringers. Congratulations to all concerned.
| 19 July 06
| The Peal at Heswall on 1st July was rung as a wedding compliment to Victoria Halliwell and Michael Wilby. Victoria, an ex-Wirral ringer, first learned to ring at Port Sunlight where a Quarter Peal was rung on 5th July to mark the same event.
| 11 July 06
| A Quarter Peal rung at Eastham on 8th July was rung to mark the birth of a grandchild for Sharon Williams and as a 70th birthday compliment to Bob Ireland.
In the Guild 6-Bell Striking Competition held at Acton last Saturday, Wirral Branch representative, Port Sunlight, was placed a somewhat distant third, never-the-less the best result by a Wirral tower since 2000. See News Desk on Chester Guild Website.
| 15 May 06
| A Quarter Peal rung at Port Sunlight yesterday was a first on eight for Jane Davies. If you are bemused by the unusually large number of changes, this arose following a miscall and the need to recompose 'on the hoof' (but not by the conductor!) which extended the length by a whole course.
| 9 May 06
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| A Peal rung at Burton on Saturday 6th May was a first Peal for Jane Davies of Burton, St Nicholas. It is believed that Jane (seen left), who is also our Branch Treasurer, becomes the first ringer taught on these bells ever to have rung a peal. Congratulations!
Your Branch Secretary is too modest to say this was his 75th peal. Whoops, too late!
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| | 17 Apr 06
| A Peal rung at Chester Cathedral today was the first of Stedman Cinques as Conductor for Peter Hughes of Bidston to whom we offer our congratulations. Another Peal rung today, this at St Giles, Cripplegate was the third longest ever of Stedman Cinques at 13579 changes lasting 9h 19m (also the longest ever peal in the City of London) included Andrew Graham who learnt to ring at Woodchurch before moving next to Bebington. We offer him our congratulations. Both of these peals were rung with The Ancient Society of College Youths.
| 19 Mar 06 |
The Quarter Peal rung at Port Sunlight for Afternoon Service was also rung as a Silver Wedding compliment to David and Janet Speechley (m.20/03/81).
The band is pictured below.
| (L to R) Ernie Carvell, Brenda Humphreys, David Speechley, Sue Sparling,
George Phillips, Peter Humphreys, Geoff Sparling (C) & David Hocker.
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| | 18 Mar 06 |
Congratulations to our Geoff Sparling of Wallasey St Nicholas who, by ringing a Peal at Eastham today, has now rung peals in all Wirral Towers, only the third person to do so but the first to have rung all Wirral tenors to peals. The peal band is pictured below.
| (L to R) Peter Robson, Peter Humphreys,
Sue Sparling, Geoff Sparling, Steven Hughes & Peter Hughes (C).
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