This was held in Shrewsbury on 13th January. Some sixty members took the opportunity to ring on the fine twelve at St Chad's church. This was followed by the service led by our ringing Bishop and accompanied by John Gibson of Upton Magna on the organ. The ample tea, provided by the local ringers, was duly demolished and then Bishop Alan dealt swiftly and efficiently with the business of the quarterly and annual meeting. Both were blissfully uncontroversial.
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An encouraging number of new members were elected: Thomas McDaniel, Callum Unsworth, Kathryn Unsworth, Alana Warren, David Oldfield and Sandra Oldfield (Stanton); Jamie Gordon (Shawbury); Brian Henson, Helen Henson and Alex Olah (St Martins); Roger Barker (Baschurch); Hannah Gollins and David Jones (Codsall); Gareth Jones (Loppington); Carol Gandy and Isabel Allcock (Market Drayton); Tom Miles (Ellesmere); Alex Turner (Beckbury); David Gillespie and Pauline Stokes (Whitchurch); Ellie Richards (Cheswardine); Emma Biffen and Harriet Trevor-Allen (Newport).
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Our Ringing Master, Nick Green, reviewed the activities of the previous year and noted with satisfaction...
| ...the success of the quarter peal challenge |
| ...that Jackie Barden (Shrewsbury) and Peter Woollam (St Martins) had rung their first peals |
| ...the success of the Anniversary Dinner |
| ...the huge increase (to four) in the number of peals rung during the year |
| ...the encouraging number of teams taking part in the striking contest |
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He expressed his thanks, on behalf of the membership......
| ...to Kathryn Greaves (Newport) for another efficient year as Secretary |
| ...to Andrew Gordon (Codsall)
on his resignation as Bell Adviser and CC Representative.
Andrew is to marry his fiancée Julie on St Valentine's Day in Hawai'i. |
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He reminded the membership of the passing of Dick Morris of Hodnet, former Ringing Master of the Association.
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Andrew, in turn, reported that the augmentation and refurbishment projects at Beckbury and Kemberton were proceeding apace. John Gibson informed the meeting that Upton Magna were to be augmented to six.
Edric Broom revealed his cunning plans for training days next year. Potential trainees should watch this site and read the newsletter for details as they are announced. Early booking is recommended as places are more difficult to obtain than English cricket victories.
Paul Lewis reported much activity on the PR front, including an early morning joint interview with Bishop Alan on Radio Shropshire. He also reported an increased level of bookings for the Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry, including its appearance at Loppington on June 30th.
All previous members of the committee were re-elected except for Andrew Gordon, who was succeeded in his role as Bell Adviser by Peter Woollam, and as CC Representative by Keith Buckingham.
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Brian Kear reported that there had been 73 members of the 100 Club in 2006 and it had raised £503.51 for the Bell Restoration Fund. In the draw held at the AGM, the following were successful: John Gibson (Upton Magna) - £40; Rodney Upton (Ellesmere) - £20; Andrew Gordon (Codsall) - £10; Mark Adams (Edgmond) - £10.
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Peter Woollam ran his usual raffle with donated prizes and raised £71 for the Bell Restoration Fund
The AGM was attended by seven members who rang their first quarter peals
during 2006.
They are (with Bishop Alan): John
Gibson (Upton Magna), Kim Evans (Chirk), Blanche Pennington (Shrewsbury),
Will
Lander (Oswestry), Jan Snowball (Oswestry), Sue Ganley (Oswestry) and Ian Baker
(Shifnal)
Association Striking Competition 2007
This was held on Saturday 8th September on the back six bells at Albrighton. We were welcomed by Richard Webster and Jim Thompsett of the local band. An excellent tea was available throughout the competition and very little of it remained undevoured. The judge was Chris Adams, Ringing Master of the Church Stretton District of the Hereford Diocesan Guild. Ten teams entered and are given below in the order in which they rang.
Newport: Oliver Stokes, John Williamson, Jasper Dean, John Stokes, Kathryn Greaves, Peter Dean
Atcham: Bill Price, Bill Hurst, Steve Evans, Elaine Evans, John Blackall, Lynne Hall
Market Drayton: Cathy Gaskell, Roy Bloor, Terry Spearing, David Beckwith, Madeline Harris, Mandy Spearing
Shifnal: Christine Harris, Tricia Mitchell, Ann Morris, Fred Mitchell, Kathryn Greaves, Ian Baker
St Bartholomew, Scratch: Peter Woollam, Gill Glover, Roy Bloor, Andy Harris, Claire Wall, Kim Evans
Great Ness: Gordon Menhinick, Chris Menhinick, Jacquie Barden, Jim Townsend, Dawn Offen, Tony Parkes
Oswestry: Andy Harris, Will Lander, Phil Rothera, Jan Snowball, Brian Rothera, Sue Ganley
Shrewsbury 'B': Adrian Roberts, Chris Menhinick, John Crum, Jacquie Barden, Blanche Pennington, Nick Green
Edgmond: Paul Lewis, Abigail Hind, Mark Adams, Chris Wulkau, Peter Dean, Vernon Blakeman
Shrewsbury 'A': Brian Kear, Alan Glover, Nick Green, Gill Glover, Sue Buckingham, John Crum
After the competition ringing, judge and judged enjoyed more tea and cake while Peter Woollam conducted the usual draw. Over £40 was raised for the Bell Restoration Fund and among the winners were Phil Rothera, Sue Ganley, Tony Parkes, Anne Morris and Peter himself.
Nick Green thanked the local band for the use of the bells and especially for the tea. Chris made helpful comments about the striking of each team and his decisions are given in full below. He then awarded the three trophies:
The Ernie Willcox Cup for best team overall - Edgmond
The Call Change Trophy for the best team ringing call changes - Newport
The Charlie Allmand Shield, basically for improvement - Market Drayton
Further ringing continued for those keen to ring all eight bells, while the winners hurried off to get their trophies engraved before the judge changed his mind.
The next competition is on 13th September 2008. Please make a note in your diaries!
Faults
Team
20
Edgmond
Ernest Willcox Cup
24
Newport
Call Change Trophy
30½
Shrewsbury 'B'
34½
Shrewsbury 'A'
38½
Scratch Band
44
Market Drayton
Charles Allmand Memorial Shield
51½
Shifnal
52½
Oswestry
65½
Great Ness
79
Atcham
The latest Association social event took place at Shawbury Village Hall on Saturday, November 17th. Nearly 100 members and friends danced to 'Itchy Feet', a four-person outfit who provided the music and instructions for some devilishly complex manoeuvres around the dance floor. The interval allowed throbbing feet to recover and guests were plied with supper, including an astonishing array of puddings/desserts. If members could only ring as well as they bake, the Training Officer would become redundant! Peter Woollam raised £140 with a raffle and the mainly alcoholic prizes were won by RingerA (Baschurch), Joyce Gibson (Upton Magna), John Williamson (Newport), Roger Green (NRLM), Jasper Dean (Newport), Bill Price (Atcham) and Jill Middleton (Sue Perry's sister). The Association Secretary, Kathryn Greaves, who mistress-minded the whole event, thanked the band, Nick Green for organising the very popular bar, and the many members who had helped with the catering arrangements. Kathryn, in her turn, received thanks and a bouquet from Nick for ensuring it was an enjoyable evening, which also helped to swell our Bell Restoration Fund by almost £450.
Restoration and augmentation at Upton Magna 2007
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Two days after the first peal on the bells (15th September 2007), the five bells were removed from the church and transported to Nottingham, where Hayward Mills Associates began the work of restoration and preparation for augmentation to six. This move has been made possible by the fundraising efforts of a group of parishioners including Alan Smith and John Gibson of the local ringers. Grants have been obtained from various sources including the Lottery Heritage Fund and our own Association. Alan and John were joined by Peter Woollam, the Association's Bell Adviser, to provide local labour to assist bellhanger Paul Mason, thus significantly reducing the cost of the project. |
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Peter Woollam, Association bell
adviser, making it clear
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Alan Smith and Peter Woollam provide the motive
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| The dates cast on the third and Tenor (1605), the fourth (1664) and the Treble (1907). The second is undated but is believed to date from the 15th century It is quite likely that the 1605 bells have not been out of the tower for over four hundred years | |||
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The second being lowered from the bell chamber |
Three of the bells in the base of the tower after lowering |
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Three of the bells after their return in November, two with their new headstocks and bearings, and the ex second with its cast pad ready to be hung dead as the service bell. |
The old third, now the fourth, with its new wheel. On the left is the new steel frame side to extend to the original wooden frame. Behind it is the deadstock of the service bell . |
The new third bell. It was cast by John Taylor & Co. In 1890 the same firm removed the original inscription and engraved another for its next home in Formby, Lancashire |
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The foundry badge of John Taylor & Co., Loughborough, on the new third |
The new Treble arrives at the church |
SAINT LUCIA'S RINGERS' PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE |
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The new Treble being hoisted past the altered rope guide |
John Gibson supervises as the new Treble is lowered into its pit |
The new Treble during its try-out, tuning marks and incised 'moulding wires' clearly visible |
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The work included tuning three of the old bells:
Before............................and after machine tuning |
Steel beams were inserted under the frame:
One of the two beams before being grouted in |
The new Treble was sand cast in Derbyshire to a pattern provided by Hayward Mills Associates and tuned at their works. The inscription is engraved. The six bells were rung for the first time on Saturday 22nd December. A little further work remains to be done to two wheels and two clappers, but the bells are ready for their dedication by Alan Smith, our ringing bishop, on Sunday 13th January, 2008. The local ringers present at the try-out, John and Joyce Gibson, and Faye and Alan Smith (not the ringing bishop), declared themselves delighted with the sound and 'go' of the bells and also with the much improved rope circle.
David Evans (Albrighton)
'It is with much regret that I have to inform the Association that on Thursday 22nd February our Tower Captain, David Evans, lost his four year battle with cancer. He died peacefully at home with his family in the early morning. The Passing Bell was rung by his good friend and fellow ringer Jim Thomsett. Dave put up a brave fight against his illness, he will be sorely missed by us all. Jim Thomsett will be standing in as temporary Tower Captain until a replacement is appointed.'
Jane Worth (Albrighton Tower Correspondent)
Frank Whittle (Sheriffhales)
It is with regret that we learn of the death of Frank Whittle, for many years the face of ringing at Sheriffhales. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Members were shocked to hear of the untimely death of Keith in a traffic accident on 25th July. Although Keith and Sue had only moved to the area comparatively recently, both had become enthusiastic and valued members of both our Association and the Hereford Diocesan Guild. They rang at Shrewsbury and Church Stretton and took part in many quarter peals and a number of peals. Keith had been elected to the committee of the Association and had recently attended his first meeting as one of our representatives on the Central Council. The funeral was held on 2nd August and there was a good turn out of ringers from the Shropshire Association, the Hereford Diocesan Guild, and the Lincoln Diocesan Guild, of which Keith had been master before his move to Shropshire. His blend of competence, enthusiasm and good humour will make him difficult to replace. Our thoughts are with Sue and the rest of Keith's family at this sad time. A number of quarter peals have been rung locally by his some of his many friends and these are reported elsewhere.