ANNUAL REPORT AND NEWSLETTER OF THE

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS

MAY 2004

Welcome to the Society Newsletter for 2004. The last year has been another one marked by firsts and records and we have no intention of slowing the pace. Great plans are afoot for the rest of this year and preparations for 2005 have already started. At the time last year’s Newsletter was being put together the Society’s National 12 Bell Contest Team had recently come a close second to the Birmingham band in the eliminator at Stourbridge. This appeared to be a good omen after our poor showing at Winchester and our hopes for the Final at Surfleet were high. The Master, Dickon Love, organised a strong campaign with enough, but not too much, practice. As reported elsewhere, the Final was a great day with impressive organisation, loads of beer and wonderful weather. We were drawn last, which is always nerve-wracking (if good for the following day’s hangover) and a fierce standard was set from early on. The Brummies were clear front runners, with an excellent if (we thought) beatable touch. In the event, despite giving it our best shot, we did not quite get there and the result was a repetition of Stourbridge, if not slightly closer. As always, we live to fight another day and with this year’s Final on our home ground of St Mary-le-Bow we will be looking to

give the other contestants a run for their money. A slightly disturbing feature is the fact that this year we came a close second in the eliminator to the Cumberlands. Not a result we are hoping to repeat in June. A few weeks later than usual, to fit around University term times, was the Country Meeting in Cambridge. In recent years we have been very lucky with the weather for this event, with endless sunshine through the day. This time, however, it looked as if we had lost the knack. The Tuesday before the Meeting we were at Peterborough for our Out of Town Practice. This was an enjoyable occasion, well supported by local Members and those from further afield. Unfortunately, the weather was dismal and we feared the worst for the following weekend. As has become the norm, the Meeting was preceded by several days of peal ringing in and around Cambridge organised by the Senior Steward. Chris Kippin girded his loins and donned his walking shoes and set off on foot from London, with some younger but less brave Members walking from Newmarket. When it arrived the day of the Meeting was glorious, with warm sun tempered by freshness as a result of the previous rain. The Master arranged a programme of ringing in the City, whilst the Secretary and Treasurer held a Meeting of the

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Administrative Sub-Committee in one of the local pubs. The Business Meeting was held in St John’s College. The Minutes proved too much for Mr Kippin, boredom and fatigue triumphing over sore feet as a slow, sonorous and highly rhythmical snore accompanied the proceedings. Undoubtedly the highlight of the whole weekend was Dinner in the magnificent setting of the St John’s Great Hall. Excellent food and drink were enjoyed by all present and the speeches were just the right length (zero). Afterwards the company enjoyed the College Port and other beverages in the bar and al fresco gymnastics on the lawn. Barely a month later, we were embarking on another, even more ambitious, Country Meeting project. On 10th September a party gathered at Heathrow Airport to board Qantas Flight 2 for Bangkok and Sydney, with an onward connection to Wellington, New Zealand. The Society’s first tour of Australia and New Zealand had begun. Simon Linford wrote an excellent article about the trip after our return and I will not attempt to rival his eloquence. For me, the high spots were an excellent peal at Christchurch Cathedral in which the Dean appeared in the belfry towards the end to enjoy the finish (which nearly came earlier than we bargained for); a long weekend in Sydney, which included several peals for Society Peal Weekend and an Informal Dinner attended by many Australia and New Zealand Members; meeting Fred Smeaton, elected 1935, in Adelaide; the 16 bell peal at Perth, with some members of the band digging deep and doing something I suspect they never thought was possible, and finally the Business Meeting in Swan Tower. The Society has been fortunate enough to enjoy several overseas tours over the last 10 years, the “down under” trip being preceded by visits to the USA and Canada. On all of these we have been met with wonderful hospitality and we hope to reciprocate this in 2005, when we are inviting all of our Members from outside the UK to participate in a tour of the UK. We hope that many of our Members in this country will also be involved in this project. No sooner were we back from Australia than it was autumn and the Anniversary Dinner was upon us. This was our last Dinner at the location which has been our home since 1998, Chartered Accountants’ Hall. The caterers seemed determined to thank us for our custom and to make us wish we were staying. Dinner weekend this year had a St Paul’s Cathedral theme to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Cathedral bells on All Saints Day 1878. On Friday night, probably for the first time ever, all of the City 12’s plus St Lawrence Jewry were in action for peal attempts (unfortunately, those at St Paul’s itself and St Mary-le-Bow were lost). On Saturday, the Dinner was preceded by a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, with the Society’s mace shining beautifully in front of the Nave Altar. After the meal, Speakers included the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Rev’d John Moses, who made somewhat derogatory remarks about the Master’s attempts to play what the Dean described as “his 18 inch dickeridoo”. The toast to the Society was proposed in masterly fashion by Cathedral Ringing Master, Paul Mounsey.

In November, Dickon Love handed over to Colin Newman, who as well as ringing is into rugby and good living. His Email address (colin@thepubagain) gives a bit of a clue. Among events planned for Colin’s year are a Country Meeting in York and the Anniversary Dinner at our new location, The Tower Thistle Hotel. The Election Meeting saw over 100 Members present and an exciting contest for Junior Steward. Stephanie Warboys was elected by a good majority and joined the Officers on Top Table. The other Officers were re-elected, although Stan Mason, who was first elected to office 50 years ago, announced that he would not be standing again in 2004. As many of you know, this is my last year as Secretary of the Society and, therefore, my last year as editor of the Newsletter. The last five and a half years have been some of the most enjoyable of my ringing career, even if it has been hard work. To serve the Society in any capacity is an honour, Secretary is particularly special. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the very many Members who have made this job a pleasure and to wish my successor every success, whoever he (or she) may be.

Phil Rogers

Swan Tower, Perth, where the Society held its first ever Business Meeting in Australia

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Master’s Report 2004

When I was elected as Master in November 2003 the Society was in a very healthy state. I stated in my opening comments at the Election Meeting that I would be aiming to build upon the successes of my predecessors and continue to move the Society forward. So how are we getting along? The achieved aim of practice nights last year was to ring the ORABS (Orion, Rigel, Avon, Bristol & Strathclyde) methods. This year’s goal is to add Phobos and Deimos, which has been successful so far. Attendance at practices continues to be good, with numbers rarely falling below 30, which is very encouraging. If you are not a regular at the practice but

are going to be in London on a Tuesday night, do come to see us. Last year was another record year for peals, and this year looks set to continue in the same way, as the total is already ahead of where we were this time last year. These peals are not just rung by the London based Society but by large numbers of Members around the world. It is often said that the Society does not do enough for its country members. However the country members, along with those in London are the Society. The only protocol to follow is that any official ringing events (not including peals) are done with the blessing of the Master of the day. So, with that in mind, if you want to arrange something, let me know, and if you would like some support I will be happy to see what I can do. This is your Society so make it work for you. We have already had the Informal Dinner this year, another excellent occasion at Davy’s of Creed Lane, and again a sell out. Yet to come we have the Country Meeting, which this year will be held in York, one of my favourite towns in England where I feel you cannot fail to have a good time. The Country Meeting dinner is to be held in the National Railway Museum, following on from recent years of having it at ‘different’ and interesting venues.

This year the Society hosts the National Twelve Bell Striking Competition at St Mary-le-Bow. This is an event I am always very enthusiastic about, not just from the ringing point of view and the aim of the team winning the competition, but also the social side of this fantastic event. This is one of the few occasions where you get to socialise with friends you don’t see from one year to the next. I am very much looking forward to the rest of my year as Master of this fine Society, and hope very much to meeting as many of you as possible at a society event during this time. As I mentioned when I was elected to this post, it is an honour and a privilege to serve the Society in the capacity of Master. If I can help move the Society forward with its activities only a small amount it will have been worthwhile, but let’s go further, push the boundaries and most of all, have fun.

Colin Newman

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THE 217 PEALS RUNG IN 2003/2004 Information compiled by Philip Saddleton, Peal Recorder Date Tower Method Cond 13/11/2002 Evercreech, Som, S Peter London No.3 Surprise Royal JC 16/11/2002 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Bristol Surprise Maximus SAC 16/11/2002 Southwark, Surrey, Cathedral of S Saviour Cambridge Surprise Maximus ROH 16/11/2002 Quedgeley, Glos, S James Stedman Triples JRR 17/11/2002 S Sepulchre without Newgate Bristol Surprise Maximus JNH-D19/11/2002 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Royal (4m) TFC 20/11/2002 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Orion Surprise Maximus SAC 23/11/2002 Kenninghall, Norf, S Mary the Virgin Spliced Surprise Major (8m) AMB 23/11/2002 Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffs, S Giles Bristol Surprise Maximus DJB 23/11/2002 (H) Worcester, 64 London Road London No.3 Surprise Royal DCB 26/11/2002 Hinton On The Green, Worcs, S Peter Ullesthorpe Surprise Major GCH 27/11/2002 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Stedman Cinques AJWT 01/12/2002 Worsley, Manchester, S Mark Cambridge Surprise Royal JB 01/12/2002 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques CHR 04/12/2002 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques MWJR07/12/2002 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (8m) JNH-D08/12/2002 Birmingham, Parish of S Martin Bristol Surprise Sixteen MPAW08/12/2002 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Spliced Surprise Maximus (4m) ROH 18/12/2002 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PABS 27/12/2002 (H) Holybourne, Hants, the Vicarage Plain Bob Royal WSC 28/12/2002 Bishop's Stortford, Herts, S Michael Superlative Surprise Major AMB 31/12/2002 (H) Cawood, Yorks, Garth Cottage Stedman Triples DJP 01/01/2003 Manchester, the Town Hall Cambridge Surprise Maximus MWJR04/01/2003 Meldreth, Cambs, the Holy Trinity Spliced Surprise Major (25m) SJLL 04/01/2003 Guilden Morden, Cambs, S Mary Spliced Surprise Major (26m) SJLL 08/01/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 11/01/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (10m) JNH-D18/01/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) SAC 21/01/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (4m) RL 22/01/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Cambridge Surprise Maximus RJWT 29/01/2003 (H) The Counting House, Cornhill Stedman Cinques DCB 30/01/2003 (H) Queenstown, NZ, A-Line Hotel Plain Bob Maximus RBS 01/02/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (11m) JNH-D02/02/2003 (H) Dunedin, NZ, Southern Cross Hotel Stedman Caters BFLG 05/02/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Stedman Cinques SMA 08/02/2003 Weston Longville, Norf, All Saints Cambridge Surprise Minor PSM 08/02/2003 Barford, Warks, S Peter Surprise Minor (7m) DCB 10/02/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Ariel Surprise Maximus SAC 12/02/2003 (H) Auckland, NZ, Airdale Hotel Plain Bob Major BFLG 15/02/2003 Beverley, Humbs, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (4m) JSW 15/02/2003 Kilkhampton, Corn, S James Greater Superlative Surprise Major RCS 16/02/2003 Birmingham, S Martin Bristol Surprise Sixteen RWP 18/02/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (6m) RL 19/02/2003 Banwell, Avon, S Andrew Cambridge Surprise Royal JHF 22/02/2003 Llandaff, S Glam, Cathedral Bristol Surprise Maximus JSW 22/02/2003 Exeter, Devon, Cathedral of S Peter Stedman Cinques RWP 23/02/2003 Melbourne, Derbys, SS Michael & Mary Yorkshire Surprise Maximus JC 26/02/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Caters DCB 01/03/2003 Towcester, Northants, S Lawrence Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D08/03/2003 Wye, Kent, SS Gregory and Martin London No.3 Surprise Royal JC 12/03/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PABS 15/03/2003 Coventry, W Mids, Cathedral of S Michael Bristol Surprise Maximus JSW 17/03/2003 Dublin, Christ Church Bristol Surprise Sixteen JSW 19/03/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Pudsey Surprise Maximus DCB 22/03/2003 Weston Longville, Norf, All Saints Surprise Minor (7m) RIA 22/03/2003 S Michael, Cornhill Yorkshire Surprise Maximus MST 27/03/2003 (H) S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Caters DCB 09/04/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Bristol Surprise Maximus JC 13/04/2003 Moreton Pinkney, Northants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Minor (41m) NJB 14/04/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques MWJR16/04/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 19/04/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Orion Surprise Maximus SAC 21/04/2003 Winchester, Hants, Cathedral Bristol Surprise Fourteen SAC 21/04/2003 Bristol, S Mary the Virgin, Redcliffe Spliced Maximus (6m) DEH 21/04/2003 S Paul's Cathedral Cambridge Surprise Maximus PNM 23/04/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Cinques & Max (2m) SAC 23/04/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 26/04/2003 Llanbadarn Fawr, Dyf, S Padarn Llanbadarn Fawr Delight Royal JHF 26/04/2003 Beddington, Surrey, S Mary the Virgin Stedman Caters MVC 27/04/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques PNM 28/04/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Spliced Maximus (5m) JNH-D29/04/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (8m) RL 03/05/2003 Bickley, Kent, S George Cambridge Surprise Major DRL 03/05/2003 Sheffield, S Yorks, S John Evan, Ranmoor Stedman Caters BHT 04/05/2003 Chesterfield, Derbys, S Mary & All Saints Triton Delight Royal MJH 04/05/2003 Shoreditch, Middx, S Leonard Spliced Surprise Major (19m) AJG

Date Tower Method Cond 05/05/2003 Southwark, Surrey, Cathedral of S Saviour Zanussi Surprise Maximus DGH 06/05/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Caters and Royal (4m) DEH 10/05/2003 Frome, Som, S John the Baptist London Surprise Major DPH 10/05/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Cambridge Surprise Maximus MST 12/05/2003 Wellesbourne, Warks, S Peter Yorkshire Surprise Major GCH 17/05/2003 Maidstone, Kent, All Saints Stedman Caters DPH 19/05/2003 Garston, Mers, S Michael Pudsey Surprise Major LJM 23/05/2003 Ashton under Lyne, Lancs, S Peter Cornwall Surprise Major JB 24/05/2003 Painswick, Glos, S Mary the Virgin Spliced Surprise Maximus (4m) DGH 24/05/2003 Liverpool, Pierhead Stedman Cinques SAC 24/05/2003 Halifax, W Yorks, S John the Baptist Bristol Surprise Maximus JNH-D24/05/2003 Macclesfield, Ches, S Michael & All Angels Cambridge Surprise Maximus JEA 24/05/2003 Sedbergh, Cumb, S Andrew Sedbergh Surprise Major PCR 24/05/2003 Carlisle, Cumb, Cathedral Yorkshire Surprise Maximus JB 25/05/2003 Midsomer Norton, Avon, S John the Baptist Stedman Cinques DJP 25/05/2003 Rotherham, S Yorks, All Saints Spliced Surprise Maximus (4m) SAC 25/05/2003 Ambleside, Cumb, SS Mary & Anne London Surprise Major FRS 25/05/2003 Garston, Mers, S Michael Cambridge Surprise Major PLF 26/05/2003 Cirencester, Glos, S John the Baptist Bristol Surprise Maximus JC 26/05/2003 Bristol, S Mary the Virgin, Redcliffe Cambridge Surprise Maximus MWJR26/05/2003 Chester, Cathedral Yorkshire Surprise Maximus PCR 26/05/2003 Broughton In Furness, Cumb, S Mary Magd. Cambridge Surprise Maximus JNH-D31/05/2003 Grundisburgh, Suff, S Mary the Virgin Stedman Cinques SAC 31/05/2003 Exeter, Devon, S Mark Bristol Surprise Major MJH 02/06/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques MWJR02/06/2003 S Paul's Cathedral Stedman Cinques SAC 02/06/2003 Westminster, Middx, Abbey Spliced Surprise Royal (4m) JNH-D04/06/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques DCB 05/06/2003 Hagley, Worcs, S John the Baptist Ullesthorpe Surprise Major GCH 07/06/2003 Leicester, Cathedral of S Martin Spliced Maximus (9m) JNH-D07/06/2003 Wandsworth, Surrey, the Holy Trinity Stedman Triples PABS 11/06/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Stedman Cinques MJP 14/06/2003 S Lawrence, Jewry Stedman Triples Silent 17/06/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (8m) RL 18/06/2003 Northallerton, N Yorks, All Saints Stedman Caters ASB 22/06/2003 Towcester, Northants, S Lawrence Stedman Cinques MPAW30/06/2003 Reigate, Surrey, S Mary Magdalene Pudsey Surprise Major JWH 05/07/2003 Amersham, Bucks, S Mary Bristol Surprise Maximus JSW 06/07/2003 Birmingham, S Martin Yorkshire Surprise Sixteen SJLL 06/07/2003 Bermondsey, Surrey, S James Spliced Surprise Major (23m) PNM 07/07/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D09/07/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques DCB 12/07/2003 Liverpool, Pierhead Bristol Surprise Maximus SJLL 12/07/2003 Manchester, Cathedral Spliced Surprise Royal (4m) RIA 13/07/2003 Stockport, Manchester, S Mary Bristol Surprise Royal JSW 17/07/2003 Dalton In Furness, Cumb, S Mary Superlative No.2 Surprise Royal PN 23/07/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Stedman Caters ASB 27/07/2003 Loughborough, Leics, Foundry Bristol Surprise Major RBS 31/07/2003 Meldreth, Cambs, the Holy Trinity Bristol Surprise Major PNM 31/07/2003 Cambridge, Our Lady & the English Martyrs London Surprise Major AJG 01/08/2003 Wisbech, Cambs, SS Peter and Paul London No.3 Surprise Royal CGN 01/08/2003 Ickleton, Cambs, S Mary Magd. London Surprise Major PNM 01/08/2003 Soham, Cambs, S Andrew Stedman Caters CHR 01/08/2003 Midsomer Norton, Avon, S John the Baptist Cambridge Surprise Maximus JHF 09/08/2003 Southwark, Surrey, Cathedral of S Saviour Stedman Cinques SAC 09/08/2003 Kensington, Middx, S Mary Abbots London No.3 Surprise Royal PNM 12/08/2003 North Tawton, Devon, S Peter Cambridge Surprise Major WB 13/08/2003 (H) St Albans, Herts, 9 Falstaff Gardens Bristol Surprise Maximus JNH-D16/08/2003 Westminster, Middx, S Martin-in-the-Fields Stedman Cinques SWP 17/08/2003 Hillmorton, Warks, S John the Baptist Spliced Surprise Minor (41m) JSW 17/08/2003 Birmingham, S Martin Yorkshire Surprise Sixteen PNM 20/08/2003 Broughton In Furness, Cumb, S Mary Magd. Stedman Cinques ASB 24/08/2003 Ossett, W Yorks, Holy & Undivided Trinity Bristol Surprise Maximus DGH 25/08/2003 Burton, Ches, S Nicholas Minor (9m) SMA 25/08/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Yorkshire Surprise Maximus PR 31/08/2003 Chislehurst, Kent, Annunciation of BVM Spliced Surprise Major (4m) PR 04/09/2003 Byfield, Northants, the Holy Cross Cambridge Surprise Major RIA 06/09/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D07/09/2003 Walworth, Surrey, S Peter Spliced Surprise Major (25m) PNM 08/09/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques MWJR08/09/2003 Senouillac, France, Chateau de Martinel Yorkshire Surprise Major MPAW13/09/2003 Wellington, NZ, Cathedral of S Paul Yorkshire Surprise Maximus BHT 14/09/2003 Christchurch, NZ, Cathedral of Christ Cambridge Surprise Maximus PR 16/09/2003 (H) Christchurch, NZ, Cathedral Plain Bob Major PCR 17/09/2003 Gardenvale, Vic, Aus, S James Surprise Minor (8m) BHT 17/09/2003 Melbourne, Vic, Aus, S James Bristol Surprise Major PCR

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Date Tower Method Cond 17/09/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Stedman Cinques SAC 17/09/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 18/09/2003 Melbourne, Vic, Aus, Cathedral of S Paul Yorkshire Surprise Maximus SJLL 19/09/2003 Malvern Link, Worcs, S Matthias Bristol Surprise Major MWJR20/09/2003 Sydney, NSW, Aus, Cathedral of S Andrew Bristol Surprise Maximus JSW 20/09/2003 Sydney, NSW, Aus, S Philip,Church Hill Spliced Surprise Major (4m) PR 20/09/2003 Towcester, Northants, S Lawrence Cambridge Surprise Maximus JMT 20/09/2003 Englefield, Berks, S Mark Superlative Surprise Major JRM 20/09/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Lincolnshire Surprise Royal CJD 20/09/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Orion Surprise Maximus JNH-D20/09/2003 Longcot, Oxon, S Mary the Virgin Spliced Surprise Major (6m) JRR 20/09/2003 Great Baddow, Ess, S Mary the Virgin Spliced Surprise Major (4m) PNM 20/09/2003 Blagdon, Som, S Andrew Yorkshire Surprise Major RAMN20/09/2003 Northallerton, N Yorks, All Saints Yorkshire Surprise Royal RWL 20/09/2003 Withycombe Raleigh, Devon, S John Kenilworth Surprise Royal MECM20/09/2003 Whitby, N Yorks, S Mary Cambridge Surprise Royal JB 21/09/2003 Bristol, S Stephen the Martyr Stedman Cinques TPE 21/09/2003 Oxford, Magdalen College Stedman Caters JP 21/09/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D21/09/2003 York, S Martin le Grand Yorkshire Surprise Major RWL 21/09/2003 Marsden, W Yorks, S Bartholomew Yorkshire Surprise Royal JEA 22/09/2003 Sydney, NSW, Aus, S Mark,Darling Point Ealing Surprise Major DJB 22/09/2003 (H) Sydney, NSW, Aus, Cathedral Plain Bob Major BHT 22/09/2003 West Grinstead, W Suss, S George Cambridge Surprise Minor SMA 23/09/2003 Sydney, NSW, Aus, the Basilica of St Mary Cambridge Surprise Maximus BHT 24/09/2003 Adelaide, S Aus, S Francis Xavier Yorkshire Surprise Maximus SJLL 25/09/2003 Adelaide, S Aus, Cathedral of S Peter Grandsire Triples KGG 25/09/2003 Alloa, Clack, S John Evan. Bristol Surprise Major MJC 27/09/2003 Guildford, Surrey, Cathedral Stedman Cinques DPH 27/09/2003 Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, All Saints Bristol Surprise Maximus PNM 28/09/2003 Perth, W Aus, the Swan Tower Yorkshire Surprise Sixteen SJLL 28/09/2003 Mosman Park, W Aus, S Hilda of Whitby Yorkshire Surprise Major PCR 29/09/2003 Perth, W Aus, the Swan Tower Stedman Cinques PCR

Date Tower Method Cond 29/09/2003 Perth, W Aus, Cathedral of S George Cambridge Surprise Major PCR 30/09/2003 Perth, W Aus, the Swan Tower Cambridge Surprise Maximus JSW 04/10/2003 Exeter, Devon, Cathedral of S Peter Bristol Surprise Maximus DPH 07/10/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (5m) RL 08/10/2003 Walthamstow, Ess, S Mary Lincolnshire Surprise Royal JHF 11/10/2003 Solihull, W Mids, S Alphege Yorkshire Surprise Maximus DRL 11/10/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D15/10/2003 (H) Caversham, Berks, 38 Priory Avenue Spliced Surprise Royal (4m) DCB 15/10/2003 Bathwick, Som, S Mary the Virgin Cambridge Surprise Royal JC 15/10/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 19/10/2003 Towcester, Northants, S Lawrence Bristol Surprise Maximus AWRW20/10/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Bristol Surprise Maximus JNH-D22/10/2003 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques DCB 25/10/2003 Gloucester, Cathedral Bristol Surprise Maximus JC 25/10/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D31/10/2003 S Sepulchre without Newgate Cambridge Surprise Maximus AJG 31/10/2003 S Michael, Cornhill Cambridge Surprise Maximus JB 31/10/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Bristol Surprise Maximus DGH 31/10/2003 S Lawrence, Jewry Spliced Surprise Major (8m) RL 01/11/2003 Hillingdon, Middx, S John the Baptist Lincolnshire Surprise Major KAS 01/11/2003 S Giles, Cripplegate Stedman Cinques SAC 01/11/2003 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques SMA 01/11/2003 Fulham, Middx, All Saints London No.3 Surprise Royal RL 01/11/2003 Oxford, S Thomas the Martyr Stedman Caters MAB 01/11/2003 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Yorkshire Surprise Maximus FRS 01/11/2003 Chiddingstone, Kent, S Mary the Virgin London Surprise Major TMP 02/11/2003 Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, All Saints Yorkshire Surprise Maximus FRS 04/11/2003 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Spliced Surprise Royal (10m) RL 05/11/2003 (H) The Counting House, Cornhill Stedman Cinques PNM 07/11/2003 S Paul's Cathedral Stedman Cinques PNM 08/11/2003 Warnham, W Suss, S Margaret Stedman Caters CHR 08/11/2003 Liverpool, Pierhead Rigel Surprise Maximus DGH

Peals rung at 124 Towers, led by London, St Mary le Bow 13

London, St Sepulchre without Newgate 11

Bishopstoke, Hants, St Mary 9

London, St Giles, Cripplegate 8

South Croydon, Surrey, St Peter 8

Birmingham, St Martin 4

Towcester, Northants, St Lawrence 4

438 Members took part, led by

Total Tower Hand

Rung Cond Rung Cond Rung Cond

39 2 38 2 1 Dickon R Love

38 17 28 11 10 6 Paul N Mounsey

36 22 14 Michael P Moreton

34 4 34 4 Philip Rogers

34 2 34 2 David J Baverstock

33 7 33 7 James Clatworthy

32 27 5 Paul L Carless

32 32 Gwen Rogers

31 31 David J Dearnley

29 29 Alan D Flood

29 29 Victoria J M Halliwell

28 18 24 17 4 1 John N Hughes-D'Aeth

26 14 26 14 Stephen A Coaker

26 7 26 7 Simon J L Linford

26 26 Mark A Humphreys

26 26 Stephanie J Warboys

25 3 25 3 Andrew J Graham

25 25 Susan L Apter

Year to November

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

Sixteen 6 2 1 1 1

Septuples 1

Fourteen 1

Sextuples 1

Maximus 67 57 37 28 16 16 20 27 30 16

Cinques & Max 1 2 1 1

Cinques 25 22 14 15 12 10 10 9 18 9

Royal 28 29 23 25 12 10 12 16 15 9

Caters & Royal 1 1

Caters 9 12 14 20 11 5 10 7 7 3

Major 43 52 50 27 21 13 19 31 19 23

Triples 4 7 8 9 6 4 2 9 5 9

Minor 8 5 6 5 3 3 4 7 2

Doubles 1 1 2 1 1 3 2

Total Tower 193 188 156 130 84 61 74 104 106 75

Sixteen 1

Fourteen 1 1

Maximus 2 1 5 6 1 1 5

Cinques 12 7 9 9 11 15 14 8 2 4

Royal 3 4 1

Caters 3 3 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 2

Major 3 2 4 1 1 2

Triples 1 1

Minor 1 1

Doubles 1

Total Hand 24 18 19 15 20 20 18 13 6 11

Total 217 206 175 145 104 81 92 117 112 86

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COUNTRY MEETING 2004: YORKOnce again, we offer a Country Meeting in one of England’s great cities, which is also a major centre of ringing. The Meeting itself will take place on Saturday 17th July, with a programme of peals and other activities taking place in the days leading up to the weekend. We have established a tradition in recent years of holding the Country Meeting Dinner in places which combine fine dining with special settings, including colleges in Oxford and Cambridge and Worcestershire

Cricket Club. This year is no exception as we are planning to hold the dinner in the National Railway Museum. There will be plenty of real beer on tap and the opportunity to visit the exhibits during the course of the evening. Members are reminded that York is a very popular location during the summer and are strongly recommended to book their accommodation as soon as possible. Please see the section below. More information will be given on the Society’s Email Distribution Group nearer the time.

PEAL WEEKEND A reminder that in 2000 it was decided that the annual Peal Weekend would be fixed for the weekend centred on the third Saturday in September. Accordingly, Peal Weekend this year will be held from 17 to 19 September. Peal Weekend is an event which has gone well recently but where we could probably do better. We do

not try to organize all attempts centrally because we believe that this should be an occasion when Members around the world do their own thing.

We very much hope that there will be a large number of attempts. Attempts advised before 14th September will be given notice of at the Meeting on that night and posted on the Society’s Web Site.

OUT OF TOWN PRACTICE In recent years we have started holding one of our Tuesday practices outside our usual area of the City of London and Southwark. We are intending to hold another Out of Town

Practice this year, on 3rd August. We are planning to hold the Practice at Reading, where the ring of 12 bells has recently been restored.

Please come and join us on the night if you can.

NATIONAL 12 BELL CONTESTThis year’s Final will be held at St Mary-le-Bow on 26th June and hosted by the Society. We are hoping to make it a true Society occasion, with attractions including a special brew from Fullers and other events. As well as the Society band,

competitors will be the Cumberlands, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Birmingham, Bristol, Melbourne, Oxford and Towcester. Whether you are competing or not, please try and be there.

367th ANNIVERSARY DINNER

The Anniversary Dinner will be held at a new location, the Tower Thistle Hotel, close to Tower Bridge, on Saturday 6th November. Following last year’s St Paul’s Cathedral theme, we are majoring on St Mary-le-Bow this year with planned speakers including the Rector, Rev’d George Bush, and the Tower Secretary, Mark Regan.

The table configuration at the Hotel will differ from recent locations in that it will be round tables of 10. Members are encouraged to make up their own tables, perhaps taking the opportunity to encourage Members who rarely attend or prospective new members. Accommodation at the Tower Thistle and other hotels in the area is available at competitive prices through Reservations 2000 (please see below).

ACCOMMODATION FOR SOCIETY EVENTSWe have arranged special accommodation deals for Society events with Reservations 2000, a company run by Janet Hill, daughter of Society Member, Trevor Bailey. Members who have used the service already speak highly of it

Accommodation is available at competitive rates for the Country Meeting, 12 Bell Contest and the Anniversary Dinner. For details please contact Reservations 2000 on 020 8547 0601, quoting the Society, or obtain an online booking form by Email from res2000@res2000.co.uk or the Society’s Web Site.

DATES FOR YOUR 2005 DIARYEvents already planned for 2005 include: 21st May, a striking contest for Members of the Society at Evesham which we are hoping will be a festival of high quality 12 bell ringing; July, Peal Tour of the Channel Islands; 20th

August to 4th September, UK05, tour of the UK for Members resident overseas including Country Meeting on 27th August; 17th September, Peal Weekend.

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NEW MEMBERS The following were elected and welcomed as new Members in the year to November 2003:- Margaret E Morton of Nantwich, Ches Rhiannon J Matthews of Neston, Ches Clive G Smith of Urmston, Manchester John F Mulvey of Tamworth, Staffs Tessa Beadman of Guildford Cathedral Robert B Woodhead of Parktown, Johannesburg David Maynard of York Val A Andrews of Westhoughton, Lancs Richard M Warwick of Pillaton, Saltash Janet E Rothera of Chelmsford Cheryl Gosling of Horley, Surrey Jeffrey Knipe of Shepton Beauchamp, Som Katie E M Lane of Wordsley, Stourbridge Robin J Newsome of Liverpool Paul J Tiebout of Liverpool Paul B Hunter of Liverpool Samuel M Austin of Liverpool Rose Hancock of Glasgow Andrew Kelso of Edinburgh Henry D Coggill of Oxford

John A Hall of Steeple Bumstead, Essex Keith N Buckingham of Raithby, Lincs Rebecca L Sugden of Birmingham Keith R Wakefield of Tunbridge Wells Richard H Hopper of Barton-on-Humber Charles S Wilson of Stratford-upon-Avon Stephen M Jones of Cambridge Philip Ruff of Worcester Nicholas D Soanes of St Mary Beverley Christopher D Young of Hovingham, York Matthew J Young of Hovingham, York Iain J Anderson of Reigate, Surrey Richard A Smith of Cambridge Michael T Childs of Leeds, Yorks Robert H Childs of Leeds, Yorks Deborah Hay of Christs Church, Mandurah, WA Andrew Chin of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne,Va Simon E Adams of Yardley Christopher M Bennett of Sheffield Susan J Watson of Birmingham

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ OBITUARY The following are the Members to whom tribute was paid at Society Business Meetings in the year to November 2003:-

C Kenneth Lewis MBE of Altrincham, elected 1951 P Leslie Pearce of Bristol, elected 1962 Roy K Mowforth of Penkridge, Staffs, elected 1936 Ernest J Rowe of Seven Hills, NSW, elected 1949 A John Illingworth of Monks Kirby, elected 1970 Donald Peers of Bromborough, Wirral, elected 1967 David R M Heighton of Norwich, elected 1960

Frank E Darby of London SW15, elected 1924 Clive Buswell of Twyford, Berks, elected 1995 Thomas Cullingworth of Maidstone, elected 1944 Arthur B Cooper of Kirk Ella, Yorks Alec Gammon of Marston, Oxford, elected 1961 Geoffrey Fothergill of Westhoughton,elected 1970 Charles Clegg, of Bilsborrow, elected 1949

______________________________________________________________________________________ MILESTONES We congratulate the following 14 Members who celebrated 50 years’ membership in 2003:- John Ashcroft Benjamin E W Colley Ralph G Edwards Graham R Eyles Michael J Horsman Dr Christopher M P Johnson Basil Jones

Dr John R Ketteringham MBE Prebendary Brooke K Lunn, Master 1973-4 Frank C Price Eric Sutton Ian W Taylor Ivor H Trueman Ernest J Wells

And Vernon J Benning who achieved the even greater distinction of 60 years’ Membership. Finally, we were delighted to “rediscover” Rev’d Anthony F E Trotman, who was not on the Society’s mailing list until recently, and who celebrated 70 years’ Membership in 2003. Rev’d Trotman is now our senior known Member. We were very pleased that Vernon Benning, Basil Jones and John Ketteringham were able to attend the 366th Anniversary Dinner last November. Other Members present with over 50 years’ membership were Stan Mason (67), Jim Bullock (62), Jeff White (56), Michael Chilcott (55), Philip Hudson (53), David Kingston (52) and Jim Phillips (51) .

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From the Library

The visit to Australia and New Zealand last year is well documented, and it is obvious the participants thoroughly enjoyed the tour and were well satisfied with the peals rung. However in the eighteenth century members of the College Youths also had a memorable visit ‘over the water’ but in those days it was by stagecoach and sailing boat - a far cry from the jet set of today. The following account is taken verbatim as written by Joseph Monk in his notebook which is held in our library.

St Mary at Carisbrook, Isle of Wight. On Friday evening, September 28th 1770, the under mentioned Members of the Society of College Youths left London, arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon and the next morning embarqued for the Island on board a vessel provided by the Gentleman of the Isle, where(after ringing a course of cinques on the sea) they safely arrived and proceeded to Newport where they met with a hearty welcome. Monday morning Oct.1 being appointed for celebrating the opening of the new Bells they proceeded to Carisbrook, found the steeple decorated with Flags & Streamers and Booths erected to accommodate the numerous concourse of people who had assembled from all parts of the Island to partake of the Festivity of the day. After dining with the principal Gentlemen of the Isle

(under a large temporary building erected for that purpose in the Garden) they again proceeded to the Steeple and completed a true and excellent peal of 5040 Bob Major receiving the highest encomiums from all the hearers, spent the evening in high glee, and next day taking leave of the Gentlemen (from whom they had received the most polite attention) went to Cowes took the Packet Boat for Southampton, and (after ringing another course of Cinques upon the Sea) arrived safe at that Port, Wednesday morning set out for London and arrived the same evening at the Barley Mow in Salisbury Court. The satisfaction this Society gave to all parties was very genteelly acknowledged by the Gentlemen of the Wight, who expressed a strong desire to detain their visitors a longer time, and by sending to Town a handsome Basket of Game. The performers were, Joseph Monk Treble Thomas Bennett 5th Samuel Adams 2nd Edmund Sylvester 6th Jn Cadman 3rd Wm. Hills 7th Geo. Meakins 4th Thos. Sylvester Tenor The peal was called by George Meakins And completed in 3hrs and 10 minutes.

Jim Phillips

The Masters of 300, 200 and 100 Years Ago

As regulars at the Society’s Anniversary Dinner will know, the last formal part of the proceedings traditionally comprises a toast, proposed by the Master and drunk in silence, to the Fragrant Memory of the Masters of 300, 200 and 100 years ago. The Librarian produces details of the Masters to whose memory the toast is to be drunk. Unfortunately, at the 2003 Dinner, whilst the toast was drunk, the biographical details managed to get mislaid. This is what the Master would have said:- 1702-03, Samuel Childs. He joined the Society in 1688 and became a steward in 1697. Very little is known about him. 1802-03, Not known.

1902-03, John W Golding. He joined the Society from Southwark in 1898 and became a member of the famous Rochester Row band, ringing his first peal at the age of 17. He took part in the first silent peal of London in 1901 and rang in the 3 peals of London, Cambridge and Superlative in 3 counties in one day. He took part in the silent peal of Stedman Cinques at Cornhill in 1913. He rang 4 peals at St Paul’s Cathedral, including the 10th to Treble Bob in 1904 and the 9th to single handed Cambridge in 1925. A fine heavy bell ringer, he took part in peals of Surprise Major on the back eights of Southwark, Cornhill and Bow and was in the first ever peal of London Surprise Royal. He suffered from asthma, which gradually got worse, and he moved to Brighton in an attempt to obtain some relief from the illness. He attended the Tercentenary Dinner but died from asthma on January 6th 1939, aged 58 years. He rang 165 peals, including 22 on handbells.

A Tribute to Rodney Meadows

The death of Rodney Meadows from a heart attack in the early hours of Friday 15th March 2002, at the age of 77, came as a shock to all who knew him. In memory of Rodney, John Ketteringham has compiled a Tribute which includes articles written by him in a Ringing World series entitled 'Belfrymanship' and also includes a speech delivered by Rodney at a Henry Johnson Dinner entitled 'The Great Debunker'. These are preceded by the oration given by

Jeremy Pratt at Rodney's funeral and an Address by the Honorary Secretary of the Delius Society and two reminiscences by members of that Society. The full text of the Tribute can be found on the following web page: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.ketteringham/rodney.htm It can also be made available to anyone who would like a copy bound with a manila cover on receipt of a remittance for £5 including postage from John Ketteringham, 27 Bunkers Hill Lincoln LN2 4QS

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New Members If the Society is to continue to progress, it is essential that we have a steady influx of good new Members. Existing Members are encouraged to seek out suitable candidates and propose them for Membership. We are occasionally asked what qualities are looked for in potential Members. It is important that we get the balance right. Set the criteria too high and we risk turning away good people. Set them too low and we risk devaluing the perception of the Society in the exercise. The Rules state that candidates for Membership should be over 14, not a member of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths and have rung a tower bell to at least a quarter peal in a standard method or methods. They add that they should be “suitable persons who will uphold the standards and traditions of the Society”. The first 3 requirements are matters of fact. The remainder are questions of judgent, which require an assessment of each candidate to be made by the decision making body, which in our case is the Society’s Business Meeting. This article sets out broad guidelines for the information of proposers and seconders of candidates. They should not be seen as hard and fast rules but guiding principles to take into account. First and foremost, there is an expectation that candidates will be good ringers. The quarter peal qualification was introduced many ago when there was a suggestion that the Society might elect prominent people who were non-ringers. This may seem a bizarre idea today but it was a route adopted by many livery companies and at least one ringing society. Our forebears did not want to go down that road and inserted a rule to ensure that all Members would be ringers. These days it is unlikely that someone would be elected who had only rung one quarter peal. The standard which we are looking for cannot be precisely defined but it would include the following elements:- O The ability to strike well; O Experience of ringing well on 12 or more bells is an

advantage, but not essential. We have many excellent Members who do not ring on 12;

O The ability to ring complex methods is also an advantage but is not essential. Better to ring Stedman Triples well than to fire about in Bristol Maximus;

O There should be a record of achievement in ringing. This may be an impressive peal total but it could also be a history of service in other ways, for instance by serving as an Association officer, training learners, bell maintenance etc.

O In assessing candidates’ abilities, opportunity will be taken into account. Ringers in remote locations often have less opportunity to ring advanced methods than those in major centres and it would be unfair to apply uniform standards. We would, however, expect all candidates to be respected ringers in their local environment;

O For younger candidates in particular, potential is taken into account as well as actual achievement. However, even younger ringers are expected to have achieved a reasonable level of competence when they are elected.

As well as ringing ability, we are looking for people who will fit in with the Society’s general ethos. This is even more difficult to define than the ringing standard. It includes the ability to get on with other ringers, to enjoy social events and to uphold the reputation of the Society by acting in a responsible way. It also expected that candidates will be keen to join. We would not want people to be pressurized into joining against their wishes, say to make up a band for a Society peal. The decision as to whether to elect someone will involve weighing up all of the above factors and arriving at a balanced decision. Proposers and seconders have the prime responsibility for ensuring themselves that a candidate is suitable and, particularly when candidates are unlikely to be known by Members at the Meeting, additional support from local Members helps. Rejection of proprosals by the Society’s Meeting is rare but nobody should be encouraged to believe that election is a mere formality. Proposals should confirm that candidates meet the formal requirements and give brief details as to their ringing achievements and general character. The Rules encourage candidates to be present at their election meeting where possible, although it is recognized that distance may be a problem. Where candidates live within striking distance of London it helps if they can attend some Society Practices before they are proposed. Out of Town Practices and Country Meetings are an opportunity for prospective Members based outside London to ring with the Society and the Anniversary Dinner is an ideal setting to see our social side. As with any judgmental process, when candidates for Membership are proposed there will not always be total agreement in individual cases and some decisions may be taken which some Members disagree with. Total consistency is not practical and some would argue that it is not even desirable. There is no perfect mechanism, but many of us believe that our current approach offers the best way of tackling this important part of our activities.

Phil Rogers

A rare shot of the Secretary with a long legged bird eating out of his hand.

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CRIPPLEGATE 1954 – 2004

St. Giles’ Cripplegate circa. 1935 – photograph from the ASCY Library Fifty years ago a new ring of twelve bells was installed at the church of St. Giles without Cripplegate, to replace those destroyed during the Second World War. On the night of 24th August, 1940 bombs were dropped on the City of London for the first time, hitting the north door of St. Giles and overturning the statue of John Milton, which in those days stood in the churchyard. Far more serious was the damage sustained, later in the year, on the 29th December. In a single night of incendiary bombing, over 1400 fires were ignited in the City of London. Every street from Moorgate to Aldersgate was destroyed and only the walls of the Guildhall stood. When the conflagration threatened St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Winston Churchill ordered that every effort should be made to save it, and through the Herculean efforts of the Fire Services, including the St. Paul’s Fire Watch and the London Fire Brigade, it survived becoming a symbol of hope in the midst of the Blitz. It was a bad night for the Society in which, not only were lost the bells of St. Giles’ Cripplegate, St. Brides’ Fleet Street, St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Vedast’s Foster Lane but also handbells, Minute Books and other documents stored at the Coffee Pot, where a meeting had been held a week earlier. The fire at St. Giles was so severe that the cement caught alight and all that remained was the shell, the arcade in the chancel, the outside walls and the tower. In the tower remained only the bell frame. The famous 18th century clock was completely destroyed, four bells melted in the heat and eight fell to the ground where they lay until removed to Whitechapel early in 1949.

A wartime postcard showing what remained of the church after the raid. The first proposal for recasting and hanging the bells is dated 7 July 1942 at a total cost of £1999 4s 11d. In June 1942 Tobruk fell to the Germans, and in September they entered Stalingrad. Not surprisingly, the bells were left lying at the foot of the tower until the war was over. The post-war restoration started 3rd December 1948 when the Clerk to the Cripplegate Foundation wrote to Messrs Mears & Stainbank “I am desired by the Vicar and Churchwardens to ask you to remove the eight bells now lying at St. Giles Church Cripplegate for breaking up and melting down”. In March 1950 Messrs Mears and Stainbank were invited to meet the War Damage Commission to discuss reinstatement of the bells and frame. They proposed a new ring of 12 bells, with a tenor weighing 35/36 cwts., “of the best possible tonal quality .. accurately tuned on the five-tone harmonic principle”, but another three years passed before an order was placed. By June 1953 the bell frame was “fixed and ready to receive the bells”, but the appeal launched earlier in the year had not raised the required £5182. Mr. Albert A Hughes, of Mears and Stainbank, rescued the situation by offering to “go straight away with the job” if paid for metal and materials, waiting “if necessary, a year or two” for the balance. The Vicar and Churchwardens accepted his offer and the bells were cast and installed the following year. The trial ringing took place on Friday 27th August 1954 and “everyone was agreed that the bells were beautiful and the go was perfect”. The only criticism was that “the bells are too noisy in the immediate vicinity of the Tower, and also that the acoustics inside cause a certain amount of echo, and the notes are inclined to run into each other. This makes it rather difficult for the ringers to distinguish their own bell in change ringing”. The concrete ceiling above the bells was blamed and Mr. Hughes suggested that “an absorbent ceiling be suspended from the two hoisting girders, and also that the boarding to the windows be covered inside with Cabot Quilting”. In 2004 rockwool is used instead of Cabot Quilting, while an absorbent ceiling remains on the wish-list. In January 1955 Alan Ainsworth attended a joint meeting of the Middlesex and London County Associations, at which he rang the treble and 9th, noting in his tower records “Good tone and go." A year later Michael Moreton moved to London. He remembers the

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Wartime postcard showing the view of St. Giles’ from London Wall. tower surrounded by rubble, and ringing the bells while local youths fired air gun pellets at the windows, showering the band with fragments of glass. The first peal was not rung until February 1960 a year before the restoration of the Church, and three years before work commenced on the residential complex we know as the Barbican. It was 5040 Stedman Cinques by the Society, composed and conducted by John Chilcott, rung as a Golden Wedding compliment to Mr. & Mrs. A A Hughes. Another 45 peals were rung between 1960 and 1974, but no more for 19 years because the bells were considered too loud. In December 1993 the Steeplekeeper, Brian Diserens, prepared a proposal for repairs to the bells and improvements to the Ringing Chamber. Two years later this was incorporated in a more ambitious proposal, which added improvements to the sound control and even considered moving the Ringing Chamber upstairs to the Clock Room. In October 1995 a meeting took place between tower officials, ASCY Officers and the Rector of St. Giles’ to discuss the proposal. It was agreed to share the costs 50/50 between the parish and the Society and to tender for work immediately, with completion planned for 1997. Hayward Mills were awarded the contract for work on the bells and the Senior Steward progressed a specification for the sound control. Before work could commence, approval was required from the Diocese of London, The City of London Corporation and English Heritage. Consent was not received until February 1997. Work finally commenced on 20th. April 1998. The water tank remains in the corner of the Ringing Chamber, and the rope draft was not reduced by a move to the Clock Room but the circle was improved and the go of the bells enhanced by removing pulleys and reducing the “draw”. The sound control was improved enormously and since the work was completed 29 peals have been rung. Five years later the remaining 50-year-old clappers and pulleys needed urgent attention. Whites of Appleton were invited to inspect the installation, their recommendations were accepted and the Society voted to pay for the works from its Bell Restoration Fund. In February of this year 4 members of the Society, Messrs. John Taylor, David Baverstock, Martin Cansdale and Jim Hardy, assisted Graham Clifton from Whites to lift all twelve bells, to check and re-grease their bearings, to fit re-bushed clappers and finally to tighten, as necessary, all

The bells in 2002 before rockwool was nailed to the inside of boarding over the louvres in 2003. other ringing fittings leaving the bells “true-striking” and “in good order for full circle ringing”. Fifty years on the bells still go well and sound magnificent. Regular practices are held by the Society and the Middlesex CA. Ringing for the Parish Eucharist, from 9.30am to 10.00am on the first Sunday of each month, has been restarted and visiting ringers are always welcome. We will, of course, be celebrating the anniversary. A Ringers’ service followed by an informal dinner at the Red Herring, Gresham Street, is planned for Wednesday 2nd. June. Tickets for the dinner are available, at £15, from the tower secretary and all are welcome at the service or the pub (again Master).

St. Giles today.

Gwen Rogers Tower Secretary – St. Giles Without Cripplegate

With thanks to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for permission to quote from correspondence in their archives.

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PRACTICE SCHEDULE 2004 Practices are normally advertised in the last Ringing World of each month and on the Society’s Web Site. May 4:B 11:C* 18:N 25:B Jun 1:P 8:C* 15:G 22:C 29:S Jul 6:P 13:B* 20:P 27:G Aug 3:O 10:N* 17:B 24:P 31:S Sep 7:P 14:G* 21:N 28:B Oct 5:TBA 12:C* 19:G 26:S Nov 2:P 9:B* 16:N 23:P 30:S Dec 7:C 14:G* 21:G 28:B B = St Mary-le-Bow N = St Sepulchre, Newgate C = St Michael’s Cornhill P = St Paul’s Cathedral G = St Giles, Cripplegate S = Southwark Cathedral O = Out of Town, Reading * Denotes Meeting Night Meetings and normal pub venue (except Southwark) The Counting House, 50 Cornhill, London EC3. SOCIETY OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS 2003/4 Master Colin G Newman Secretary Philip Rogers Treasurer Andrew N Stubbs Senior Steward Simon J L Linford Junior Steward Stephanie J Warboys Librarian A James Phillips Trustees John S Mason David E House Peal Recorder Philip Saddleton Web Master Dickon Love TOWER SECRETARIES St Mary-le-Bow: Mark Regan, 64 London Road, Worcester, WR5 2DY. Tel 0797 1573688 Email markregan@arcubus.com St Michael’s Cornhill: Tony Kench, 75 Little Britain Apt 51, London EC1A 7BT. Tel 020 7796 2656 Email ark@globalnet.co.uk St Giles Cripplegate: Gwen Rogers, 193 Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1QN. Tel 020 8778 6308 Email x_5152@yahoo.co.uk St Lawrence Jewry: David Baverstock, Flat 3, St George in the East, Cannon Street Road, London E1 OBH. Tel 020 8980 0562 Email david.baverstock@kcl.ac.uk St Sepulchre: Katie Town, 43 Weavers Way, Camden, London NW1 0XF. Tel 020 7387 0810 Email Katie.town@roh.org.uk PEAL FEES The peal fee remains £1.50 per rope to be forwarded to the Secretary or Treasurer within 2 months, together with details including composition. Advance notice of peals is given at Society Meetings if advised in time. The Society’s Peal Book, which was about 7 years behind, is currently being written up to date.

CORRESPONDENCE Please send to the Secretary, Phil Rogers, 193 Lennard Road, Beckenham Kent, BR3 1QN. Tel 020 8778 6308. Email secretary@ascy.org.uk. Items for the Web Site should be Emailed to the Web Master, Dickon Love (webmaster@ascy.org.uk). ASCY ON THE WEB The Society’s Web Site is at www.ascy.org.uk. The Site gives regular updates on Society activities as well as contact details for Members, Society peals back to 1968 and much other information. Pictures of Society events are particularly popular and occasionally controversial. SOCIETY EMAIL NEWS SERVICE The Society maintains an Email news service, which is free to Members. Subscription is via the web site or by sending an Email request to the Secretary or the Web Master NEWSLETTER FINANCE This Newsletter is made possible by the contributions made by Members. Total production and postage costs of last year’s Newsletter were £809.60. Members’ contributions totalled £765.15. We are very grateful to the many Members who contributed. It would be preferable if we could at least break even this year and additional contributions are encouraged. We regret that it is not possible to acknowledge donations individually but they are very much appreciated. MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS We are always on the lookout for good new members. Proposals are welcome at any Business Meeting or by letter to the Secretary. The Rules state that candidates should be over the age of 14, not members of the Cumberlands, have rung at least a quarter peal in a standard method and be “suitable persons who will uphold the traditions and standards of the Society”. Candidates and their sponsors are encouraged to be present at their election meeting if possible, although we recognise that distance may rule this out. Proposals should be accompanied by the full postal address (including postcode) of the candidate(s). The Membership fee remains one payment of £25. More details on proposing new Members are given on Page 9. MAILING LIST If you know of any Members who are no longer in touch with the Society please let us know. Thanks to all of those Members who have identified “lost Members” and sent in their details. SOCIETY HISTORY An updated edition is being prepared. Would any Members aware of errors in the book please let us know. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A big thank you to all those who have helped to put this Newsletter together over the last 5 years, including contributors, technical support and envelope stuffers. Your efforts have been much appreciated.

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