Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers

Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers

Outing Reports

AGM 2006

WILTSHIRE

On the cold, crisp, blue –sky morning of Saturday 4^th March 2006 about twenty RNGB members gathered at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire for the first ring of the day. The AGM ringing tour and day ably organised by Barbara and Dennis of Salisbury. While the bells of Sutton Veny were hard work for their weight, members took interest in the sight of over a hundred Commonwealth graves of Servicemen in the churchyard. Many of these were of young Australian Servicemen who died of Spanish Flu after the First World War.

The next tower in the Wylye Valley was Heytesbury with its 21cwt ring of six bells and where a pleasant view of the valley was afforded from a parapet before a descent into the ringing chamber. Call changes, Grandsire and Stedman Doubles were rung here and Plain Bob Minor.

After a leisurely lunch together we enjoyed the easy-going 8cwt ring of six bells at Stapleford. The gathering here took on a Tri-Service look as a local member of the RAF Guild put in an appearance. A member of the Army Guild also joined us for part of the day. Cambridge Surprise Minor was rung well here along with Plain Bob Minor, Stedman and Grandsire Doubles.

A journey into Salisbury centre next, to ring at St Martin’s. This was also the location for the service with the tea and AGM in new, comfortable rooms nearby. Ringing on eight bells at St Martins included call changes, Grandsire Triples, Plain Bob Major and Yorkshire Surprise Major. The Service was taken by Father Roger Hawkins who has had links with the Services during his career and gave an interesting address. He also joined us for tea and the AGM.

The RNGB President, John, had to step down from office mid-term due to a somewhat enviable posting to Washington DC. Joe has now taken the reins once more as Guild President. John was thanked for his years as President – a job he has tackled with enthusiasm and commitment. Concern was voiced about the falling number of members, lack of recruits coming from the serving ranks of the Royal Navy and the long term future of the Guild. However this last year has been a good year in the life of the RNGB through both ringing and social occasions. The Trafalgar Weekend in Norfolk, near Lord Nelson’s birthplace was enjoyable for the ringing and especially the formal dinner. Ringing successes during the year included two peals, an 1805 Date Touch of Grandsire Triples and several Quarter Peals.

The AGM next year is to be in Kent.

DRW

Frantic and heavy going at Heytesbury! (BM)

TRAFALGAR WEEKEND 2005

NORTH NORFOLK

The 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar provided the setting for the successful 2005 Trafalgar ringing weekend in the North Norfolk area.

The first tower of the Friday evening where the RNGB regulars assembled was St Botolph’s, Grimston (6). There was no power in the church, but fortunately it was still light enough to have a good first ring. The members continued on to the historic village of Castle Acre, with its Cluniac Priory to ring at St. James’ (6). An interesting church with a blocked in south doorway, allegedly large enough for a knight on horseback to enter the church for a blessing before his battle, without having to dismount.

On Saturday, the RNGB regulars were joined by two Army Guild members at St. Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea (8) and a plain course of Trafalgar Surprise Major was successfully rang on these ‘springy’ bells. It was at this church that a certain John Fryer was buried. He was cast adrift with Captain Bligh in the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty and later became the sailing master on the HMS Royal Sovereign at the battle of Copenhagen in 1801.

The members then travelled on to St Withiburga’s (6), situated within the grounds of Holkam Hall and the vista from the tower gave excellent views not only of the Earls of Leicester’s home, but the sea also. The bells had recently been rehung and retuned after the chestnut beams had been replaced with a new steel framework. (Chestnut had been used originally rather than the more widely used, and sturdier, oak).

The coach then travelled down some rather muddy and narrow Norfolk lanes to view Burnham Thorpe, the site of Nelson’s birthplace (the parsonage has since been demolished) and also the church in which Nelson was christened and his father was rector.

Thanks to the coach driver’s excellent knowledge of these Norfolk roads the guild members arrived safely at The Feathers, Dersingham for a good lunch, followed by ringing a 2 minute walk away at St Nicholas (6), where a touch of Kent and London was successfully rung.

The penultimate tower was St Nicholas in King’ Lynn (8), situated close to the docks. This was a redundant church with an interesting wooden steeple. A short distance away was the final church, the 10 bell tower at St Margaret’s (whose bells were rehung in 2005). This proved to be a good final ring, although one unlucky guild member broke a clapper!

The enjoyable day was brought to a close with a celebratory meal at The Ramada Jarvis Hotel at King’s Lynn. The service and the food were excellent and the evening was rounded off by the president, John Stott, giving an informative speech about the life and career of Nelson. John Dallen, continued this naval theme with a humorous ditty called ‘Gunner Joe,’ recited in the memory of Francis Milner, (an ex Guild member and former treasurer). Further reminisces of naval life continued before the party retired to the bar for the remainder of the evening.

Our thanks to all those involved in organising this very enjoyable and especially significant Trafalgar weekend – Clare Hynde for arranging the towers on both days and Bill Skilleter and Chris Gooch for ensuring the meal was a great success.

A happy group, after a good day's ringing and looking forward to a well earned meal!.

SURREY AND HAMPSHIRE

The Royal Naval Guild held it's annual quarter peal day on 2nd April 2005. Unlike most regional associations, the RNGB members hail from all over the country, so meetings and outings take a bit of organising and success is that much more pleasing as a result. The band met at Yorktown near Camberley at 10 o'clock and went into a quarter of Grandsire Triples based on Parkers and conducted by James Ingham. Then onto nearby Hawley and an equally successful 1280 of Plain Bob Major conducted by Tim Wraight. We then drove out to the six at Ottershaw where, following lunch we rang for our final quarter of the day, 1260 Plain Bob Minor conducted by Mark Robins. This very successful and enjoyable day's ringing was also in thanksgiving for the life of Stan Earl, longstanding member of the Guild.

The successful Quarter Peal day band pictured at SS Peter and Paul, Hawley.

Left to Right; Paul Brown, Doug Linington, Tim Wraight, Mark Robins, John Stott, Diana Wraight, James Ingham, Mavis Whitehead.

This was the second visit to Wales by the RNGB, the first being in 1994. The advance information about this weekend, arranged by Bill Thomsett and John Stott, was labelled Issue 4, which gives some indication of the time and effort taken by the organisers to get this trip off the stocks. A glance at the tenor weights of some of the towers to be visited conjured up visions of Welsh campanologists robbing sheep of their bells to provide the trebles for these rings! All in all there was much to anticipate.

As seems customary for these weekends, Chris Gooch had recommended excellent accommodation and negotiated special rates for the weekend at the Priory Hotel in Caerleon. However I doubt if even he had arranged for one couple to have a four poster bed in a bedroom large enough for a ship’s company dance, but it certainly was a wraight good fix for the ‘honeymooners’ involved!

We drove down from the far east (Huntingdonshire) in the dry until we reached the Welsh border at which point the rain set in, and stayed that way for most of the outing. Does it always rain in Wales? The first tower was Magor, where ringing took place in the chancel and the choir stalls stand on rollers set in the floor so that they can be moved back to make room for the ringers. Magor were a pleasant six, almost heavy by later standards with a tenor of 7-2-20. Ringers were in fairly short supply here as due to the weather the old Severn bridge was closed and there were horrendous queues on the M4 making people late. One ringer took 2 ½ hours from Bristol!

The next parish of Lllanwern gave its name to the vast steelworks on the other side of the railway. The advance information (Issue 4) said that Llanwern had a ring of six “recently augmented”, but perhaps that should have read “de-augmented” as there were only five bells. They had been augmented from three in the 1990s and were, for a five, quite pleasant. We had been granted an extension in ringing time here to try for a quarter peal, but the attempt did not last overlong.

Next morning it was still raining but a coach had been arranged, hired from Emerald Coaches, which seemed rather incongruous for Wales although it was a local firm and not from across the sea. The driver certainly knew his way around and found the churches (some of which were quite off the beaten track) with ease, so it was not surprising to hear that he had driven a group of bellringers from Oxford around the district previously. Those of us not staying at the Priory Hotel were also given the news that Dennis and Barbara Martin had arrived the night before to a phone message and they had had to return home immediately. Dennis and Barbara were much missed on the outing.

The first tower was Llantarnam where the tenor weighed in at 4-2-14, and the size of the ringing chamber explained why the bells were so light. Ringers had to attend in relays to ring as there was space only for eight people in the ringing chamber at any one time. What a superlative little ring of bells they were – Whitechapel 1973 at their best, and we even managed London Surprise Minor on them.

Llanfrechfra (easier to write than say!) was the next tower. A plain exterior hid a pretty, well-kept interior with some lovely stained glass windows. A ring of eight with a tenor of 5-2-27, originally a ring of six by Blews augmented with two trebles by Taylor in 1937. Unfortunately the trebles had been hung below the original six so they rather overpowered the other bells in the ringing chamber, but apparently sounded quite nice from outside. Coffee, biscuits and Welsh cakes were laid on in the vestry at the far end of the church. This made recruiting ringers for various methods difficult as obviously the welcome refreshments and chance of a chat were more attractive than the delights of Oxford Bob Triples, which would just not go. As the coach began to head down the lane from the church, a quick role-call revealed that one of the organisers was missing. Bill had been in the graveyard, looking for the grave of an old school-friend and had almost been left behind, unnoticed in our rush through the rain to the coach.

With a full complement we returned to Caerleon to ring at the church of St Cadoc. This gave an opportunity for the Secretary to return to his hotel to change his clothes, which somehow he had got soaked through. The bells were a slightly heavier ring of six by John Taylor in 1953, with a tenor of 8-2-1, and were a very pleasant ring. The boxes needed restraining however, as one attacked the treble ringer, testing the efficacy of his fairly recent heart surgery. (Nice to see you looking so well Tim.)

In the programme (Issue 4) we were assured that the organisers had carried out quality and quantity inspections of the venue for lunch, and were promised a treat for £4.95 each. However, either Bill and John had eaten them out of supplies, or the proprietors were commercially naïve with their pricing for the pub had gone out of business earlier that week! We went to the Rising Sun at Highcross instead, where we could choose between a small portion and normal portion. What a large portion would be like is beyond imagination, as a normal portion was enormous, and very good.

Suitably set up for the afternoon visit to the heaviest ring of the day we were driven through rain coming down in stair rods to Bassaleg. The RNGB rang here in 1994 when the tower was equipped with a ring of six steel bells. Those bells are now at Vicker Naylor’s museum in Sheffield, and instead there is a very good ring of eight bells, with a tenor of 14-1-17, which were transferred from All Saints church in Newport when that church fell down. St Basil’s Bassaleg certainly got the best of that deal, and I think the RNGB did justice to the bells with some good ringing.

St Mellons in the suburbs of Cardiff was next. As was now customary our coach driver dropped us as close as he could, for which we were very grateful in view of the weather. Here again hot drinks and biscuits were laid on and were most welcome. Very civilised, I must say! Here on the heaviest ring of six of the day a touch was rung by fathers and progeny, a first for the guild I think.

Finally we went to Llanishen, another parish swallowed up by the suburbs of Cardiff. This was the lightest ring of the outing, a six by Whitechapel, tenor 3-3-20, which had replaced a heavier ring from the Llewellins & James foundry in 1977. Various methods were rung and a touch was rung by past and present Guild officers.

Then back to Caerleon. For some there was a long drive home, but for the majority an evening of revelry in the hotel. We are very grateful to Bill and John for arranging such an interesting and enjoyable weekend of ringing, and organising refreshments and lunch. Also thanks go to our coach driver who drove us through the most awful conditions yet kept us to our programmed times of arrival and departure. Finally our thanks go to the people who turned out in such awful weather (even if they are used to it!) to open churches, and especially the ladies who arranged the availability of hot water, and Welsh cakes, at the towers where we had refreshment. The President has promised us another visit to Wales in ten years time – do we have to wait that long?

Did'n't we have a loverly time

The day we joined the Navy

There was ringing galore

When we met at Magor

And friends were delighted to be re-united.

And found with concern

We'd have to change our programme

When the six were a five

But the bells rang out

Saturday morn saw a terrible storm

As the rain poured down in torrents

But let nothing dismay

We coached all the way

And spirits were high as the stars in the sky.

The bells were quite light

But that was alright

We rang from Plain to London

And the bells rang out.

The Priory was good with plenty of food

We did the menu justice

From a day in the towers

And ringing for hours

We all were ready to take our ease

Tim and Dee had a treat

In the honeymoon suite

And invited us all to a party

There were six in the shower

As the bells rang out.

So thanks once again, we make it quite plain

We had a super outing

The group photograph

We hope it all came out quite well

We'll join you again

If you don't complain

When next you have a function

There's one thing quite clear

We'll see you next year

While the bells ring out.

VALE OF WITT OUTING AND AGM

Around 25 members of the RNGB navigated successfully from their various home ports to North Wiltshire. The weather was gloriously sunny and a profusion of snowdrops, crocuses and primroses made cheerful splashes of colour in the well groomed churchyards we passed through.

Our first stop was Chiseldon with an interesting access, and we much enjoyed this pleasant six. The church boasts a fine Millennium window by Jude Tarrant of Southsea; lovely, swirling lines and beautiful little vignettes of appropriate landmarks in the church's life.

On to Wanborough, which has been augmented since my last visit and were a good 8. Our last tower of the morning was Bishopstone; a very short draught and definitely 'different'.

The Rose and Crown at nearby Ashbury was our excellent lunch venue. Bearing the forthcoming tea in mind I resisted the tempting puddings, and was glad when the time came to move on!

After lunch we rang at Ashbury. Whether it was the anti-clockwise bells, or too much refuelling, the ringing was not very impressive and we continued to Shrivenham hoping to do better. Did we? Not too sure.

Several of the rings were very loud and the Quarter Deck voices of the conductors could not always be heard clearly, but the Ringing Master's overall impression of the striking wasn't very flattering.

The local Army Chaplain from RMCS Shrivenham conducted a short service, and then it was the bun fight. As usual an excellent and varied spread was provided and James came up trumps with his marmite sandwiches, without which no AGM tea would be complete. Finally we had the meeting and then home after a most successful and enjoyable day. Very many thanks to John Stott for all his excellent arrangements.

As I set off for North Devon on a damp, grey Friday morning my car radio issued dire warnings of heavy rain, strong winds and hazardous driving conditions for that afternoon and, indeed, the whole weekend. But as I got further west the sky cleared, and by the time I reached Barnstaple it was a beautiful afternoon. So those of us who had arrived in time (and did not get stuck in the horrendous Barnstaple traffic) enjoyed the early evening ringing at Swimbridge and Landkey in fine weather – followed, for some, by a delicious meal in the “Ring-0’-Bells” at Landkey.

It was a misty moisty morning when some 25 of us mustered outside the Barnstaple Hotel a good five minutes before the boat (I mean bus) was due to leave at 0900. A prompt departure meant that we were early at the first tower, Bishop’s Tawton – an excellent six when we took the trouble to strike them. While there the sun began to break through and light up the dew soaked cobwebs which festooned the gravestones. Then, as the mist began to clear, Tawstock church and the wooded hillside on the other bank of the river Taw were gradually revealed. Thus, by the time we reached Pilton, there was not a cloud in the sky and the magnificent view from the top of the tower towards Bideford and Hartland Point vied for our attentions with the fine heavy eight. So much for the weather forecast!

After Pilton our bus took a leafy valley road to the Muddiford Inn for a good lunch (for which the organisers had happily allowed plenty of time) after which we set off for Ilfracombe. As we breasted the high ground to the south we had some wonderful views, this time of Lundy Island to the west and the South Wales coast and the Black Mountains to the North. Down in Ilfracombe the delights of the harbour, tourist shops and ice cream parlours provided competition for the bells of St Philip and St James – and the many memorials to 19^th century naval officers and mariners were an interesting distraction at Holy Trinity.

Then to Georgeham, the last tower of the day, where the highlights were call changes called by the local tower captain and the numerous gravestones adorned with poems one of which commemorated a Sergeant Hill “Waterlooman and through the Peninsular with the Duke of Wellington”.

On Saturday evening most of us foregathered for an excellent dinner at the Barnstaple Hotel and on Sunday morning nine of us went to SS Peter and Mary Magdalene in Barnstaple where we rang what would otherwise have been silent bells for the morning Eucharist. Our efforts here were very satisfying and much appreciated by the locals and provided a most fitting conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. So many thanks to the organisers, our hosts at the towers we visited and all those who took the trouble to attend.

ROMNEY MARSH AND ALL THAT

It was just the night for smugglers when the RN Guild of Bellringers descended on East Sussex for their annual Trafalgar weekend outing, wet and windy. The first port of call was Battle on the Friday night and nice ring of 8. This was followed by Hastings where the second battle of Hastings was fought, this one with the one way system and lost. Taxis drivers were way laid for directions but even so it is rumoured that some failed to find the church. It was then on to Rye for the night where several late arrivals joined the group.

On a grey cloudy day, thankful with no rain, and after a fortifying breakfast the ringers crossed the river and climbed the hill to Rye church. The tower, which was normally open for sightseers was closed for our visit. On arrival in the ringing chamber, the local tower captain offered a trip to the top of the tower at no extra charge, noting this would normally cost two pounds. This appealed to all those of a parsimonious nature and even those will a poor head for heights took the opportunity to admire the surrounding countryside for the double advantage of the top of the tower on a prominent hill. Romney Marsh lay before us and the old Saxon coast line was clearly recognisable. We had a very enjoyable ring at Rye and the time passed all too quickly and it was a steady decent to rendezvous with the bus that was to take the party for the rest of the day. Rye church contained a memorial plaque to HMS Rye so connection had been made to the Royal Navy early in the day.

Off we set in an old and rather musty looking bus with various bits of the overhead luggage rack secure with masking tape. Despite its looks the bus managed to get us round the course with no problems. However with flood warnings rife, there was some concerns to whether we would make every tower. Some felt that the combined seamanship expertise in the bus would be an insurance against a excess of water.

First it was off to Brookland, with its unique ringing tower detached but adjacent to the church itself. Stories abounded about why it had been built in this way and the use it came to as a land mark in times of old. Said to be constructed from timbers of local shipwrecks the 6 it held were a nice light ring on which the team attempted both Kent and Double Norwich, with some success.

From Brookland it was off to lunch at a very charming pub who did us proud and in time we made our way to New Romney. The large tower housed a very ringable anti-clockwise set of 8 which was much enjoyed by all, although some struggled with the unfamiliar direction of the circle straight after lunch. A range of methods were rung including Kent. From New Romney it was onto Appledore, another nice 8 which went well. The final tower was a the heavy eight at Tenterden, not the best way to end a long day, but that was nothing to do with the bells more the tiredness of the ringers.

Being 21 October 2000 most members minds were turned to the death of Admiral Lord Nelson on that day in 1805. There was nice connection to Nelson at Tenterden in that four of his grandchildren had been baptised in the hexagonal font of the church. It was a apt reminder of the connection for the day, which ended with an informal dinner at which the president made a short speech and proposed the toast to the "Immortal Memory". Of note the diner was prepared by a former Royal Yacht chef who was invited to partake of a glass in memory of Nelson and by way of saying thanks to all the staff who had looked after us so well at the hotel.

On a rather wetter Sunday morning the Guild dispersed, some ringing in Rye for the morning service and others departing for home via various local sights. A good weekend was had by all and we managed to avoid the floods.