1925 Founded Presidcnt--Mr Claude Nicholls

Merton Brian Drake Age profile

The bells of All Saints The 2007 AGM will be the The number of ringers over Church at Mm·ton have end of the current Trien· 60 may be greatBr, this is been recover<�d. They wen� nium period. According to not nc-K·.essarily a matter for stolen from a workshop in our Constitution t:he undue concern. Life expec­ in Tavistock on August. 13. Chairmanship will be by a tancy has increased and The bells had been found South-Committee Member older ringers show no signs Special points of interest: by a scmpyard owner who to allow the alternation of diminishing capability • notice and minutes had keyml in their num· every three years. This and enthusiasm. Dynamic AGM bers on the lnwrnet and will mean that Brian has charismatic leaders are included as a supplement contacted police held office for three com­ needed and these are found when he plete decades - thirty in the over 60s as much as • Rolling League application

discovered lthey. had been years as our Chairman. among younger ringers. included sto en

" Denmisch Simulated Carol Service Roadshow 2008 Campanile Association AGM See inside for a of The Ringers Carol You may bave heard how t.'OPY the Agenda and minutes Service is to be held at Egg Buckland amazed of last year's AGM and Cathedral on Sat­ people with their ringing Committee meetings. T'hE-l urday 15'" December at at the last fV:>ad Show and Inside this issue: AGM is on 10 November 3.00pm. This is a wonder­ that "Glorious Devon at 2.15 South TawtDn. ful event where the Guild Bells" was a sadshow is to be worship tmber Qbttuary-john Scott 2008 at St.oneleigh Park 3 Affiliation Fees in Warwickshire. Plan­ Wooden Clapper Shafts Affiliation fees for 2007 Bell maintenance ning is well advanced and 4 are payabli> on October it is time to get the date 1 Excellent hospitality 2007. The fees have been Bath and Wells has an an· into every ringer1S diary. 4 held at £5 for the year. lf nual maintenance coursH Po�Lets can be you wish to Bnter the As­ that is popular. Fifteen downloaded at www. Resuks 5 sociation's competitions the ringingroadsbo.w 2008. Herefordshire-2 the rates will be £14 for 6 delegetton, EX38 splicing where delegaws tions for all ages and in­ 7JQ. Please enclose SAE could help and learn from Letests. Why not. organise Ringout Wild Bells 2 8 if a rec.eipt is requirwl. each other. a coach party? DEVON CALLS OCTOBER PAGE 2 2007 Shortage of ringers

growing shortage. of trained bell but the average age is going up. And Ringing in the Millennium brough( 11. . ringers may silence some of Devon t.he worry is that older ringers aren't in a lot of adults. but failed to in­ traditional church bells. Now a cam­ being replaced as they retire. spire young people. Links with paign has been launched to attract "We.'re in the process of setting up a schools, Scouts. Boys Brigade and more younger ringers to an art that 'Ringing Foundation' which we hope other youth activities play a vital has fallen out of fashion. Bell ring­ will help fund more up-to-date train­ role in helping raise the profile of ing has playecl an important part ing. "There are some examples ringing. However. we sti11 find ono in church life for hundreds of years, around the country of very successful of the best ways to recruit is to get. but that tradition is under threat. young people's groups. By working existing members to bring t.hoir With hundreds of peals, Devon has together they can put the eool back friends and family along. We'te all more church bells than any other into bell ringing" getting older, which is why we need in . But the bells The Troyte Ringing Centre., based in to concentrate o-n attracting county don't ring themselves and many bell the villages of Bampton and Hunt­ younger pe.ople to reverse t.hn towers are in danger of falling silent sham, was recently awarded the. cline." de­ as interest in bell ringing drops off. 2007 Founders' Prize, in recognition Mike Ellis, tower captain at Mi­ Most church towers in Devon re­ of its signifieant eontribution to the chael's Church in Musbury,SI said: quire more bell ringers and new teaching of ringing at all levels. Here nw·e haven't been able ring to ringers need to be recruited and computer technology is used to bring properly on Sunday fbr agc�s. trained over the next 10 years to out the best trainees. uwe have a "You really need six ringers and at in reverse the decline that has already designated practice bell at Bampton the moment I can only f'ivo get taken place across Devon. which we rescued and restored," said perienced enough at a pu8h. Weex­ Many ringers ring at more than one centre spokesman Mike Hatchett. need more or we may find that in tower to keep the bells ringing. A "The dapper has been removed and the future we can't at all. ring recent survey of 500 Devon churches replaced by a sensor linked to a com­ When we do ring people �ay how uncovered details of 3,000 bells puter. This allows trainees to prac� much they enjoyed it so l it think arcmnd the county. So serious is the tice at any time of the day or night will be missed by many." threat of bells falling silent, that the without disturbing the neighbours. Mr FJllis said he would like national body representing Britain1S 11We'cl prefer to recruit young people. to recruit young ringnrRideally due 40,000 ringers, the Central Council but most don't have the commitment to commitments they oft.onhut, leave of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR), needed to follow through the train­ before training r..an be held a crisis meeting in June 2007 to ing. we have to look for alterna­ Dennis Moss, to-wer eapt.aincompleted. at. St. discuss future strategies. 11There are tives.&; People are retiring from work Andrew's Church in has many reason..'> for the decline, u added younger and they are often looking been a bell ringer for overColyt.on, 70 years Mr King on behalf of the Devon for things to do in their spare time. and said: "I do know that numbors Guild. "lt's largely a church-related Thaes why we're using the latest are falling and some. churchnR are activity and these days fewer people training techniques to get people really struggling. n Colyton "1 are going to church. Most churches from rank beginners to very good bell we1re okay, but elsewhere there are short of ringers. And fewer peo­ ringers in the shortest possible time. just aren't enough numbers. 'What ple are coming into ringing from Bell ringing is an activity that re­ we do is help each other out by Sunday schools and church choirs - I quires dedication and regular atten­ sending ringers to other churdws. suspect that bell ringing just isn't dance, explained Mr King. ��Quite a good exercise and a public ser· cool to many of today's younger gen· lot of u people dropped out because ult1Svice too so it is sad t.hat ehurehes Kids lead more pressurised there was no· instant gratification. It are- slowly running out of num­ eratiun; lives, they have more homework and can take a month or more to learn bers. The Guild of Devonshiro have. optioJJB on how to how to handle a bell and a lot longer Ringers has launched a training far mme. spend their leisure time. So we have to become a proficient ringer. We can c.:1.mpaign to boost. the numbers of to be more imaginative in how we now speed this up by using some of ringers and estimates 1.000 will attract new recruits. n the Troyte computer-based tech­ need to be trained order to keep in The CCCBR hopes to recruit more niques. the rounty's bells ringing. teenajlers and younger adults through schools, congregations and open days. In August 2007 ringers 2007/8 joined the Scouting centenary jam­ Mid Week Ringers (Ringklies) proposed towers for boree, where they promoted a revival the Seouts ringing badge. Second Wednesday of the Month "You r.an see why young people November 2007 Drewsteignton Spreyt.on aren't keen join," said CCCBR to December To be decided president Derek Sibson. "It's not that attractive if you are the only March 2008 To be decided young person in a group where the Please check the venue before setting out. average age is 50 or 60. "The number of ringers in the UK Any queries please eontact: Ken Rowe on 01803 521489 currently stands at around 40,000, OCTOBER 2007 DEVON CALLS PAGE 3

Obituary-John Scott

John was a man of many talents ::md sick and elderly. crcise was more than most of his interests were wide and varied, He moved to become viear of Bamp­ us will evermuch equal. was elec.:ted as Ho which always made him good com­ ton, with three ot.her country par­ Chairman of the ExetQr Branch of pany. He lived in Devon for most of is}ws, at the beginning of 1B84, the Th<� Guild of ])(wonsbire Ringert; in his life and I had always assumed same yem· he was appointed a Pre­ 1954 and remained an offic<�r until that he was a Devonian by birth, so bendary of Exeter Cathedral. He death, including over 50 years as it came as quite a smvrise when he retired to Totnes in 1991, whfmo� he librarian.his He was Bell advisor to the told me, not long before his death, continued to take sc�rvices in the Dioce::;o for over 40 years, Central that he was born at Blackheath. He Totnes gl'oup. Het.irement enabled Council r<�p for over 30 years as well spent part of his childhood overseas, him to follow and develop many in­ as being a Vke-PreRident and serv­ as his father was in the Navy, before terests, particularly sailing. He had ing a yt�ar as Guild Mo.stor. sett.Iing in South West Devon when always boon very keen on sailing, H{� also did a great amount of work his father became King's Harbour but hadn't had the time to enjoy it for the Central Council, serving as Master at Plymouth. John was edu­ as much as he would have liked. President from 1981 to 1984, being a cated at Sherborne School in Dorset, Sadly, in !998, Claire died suddenly, member of the Towers and Belfry before serving in the Royal Navy and but it was typical of ,John that he Committee for over 40 years and was then reading history at St Edmund learnt tu cook fo:t himself and te­ a long�standiug momber of the H..es­ Hall in Oxford, where he rowed, minded m<� on more than one occa­ cue Fund for Redundant bells. As learnt to ring with the Oxford Uni­ sion that he hadn't needed to resort mentioned above, he represented the versity Society and met Claim, 1'<-Jady meals from supermarkets. Devon Guild on the Council for over 1.0 whom he married in 1954. lie was a very practical man and 30 years before being eleewd an hon­ On leaving Oxford ,John went to very able wood-worker. Many a time orary member in 1980 and remain· theological college at Cheshunt, l. first curacy was Exeter something or making something He was the longest-serving membor ing followed by Wolborough.at InSt Thomash including Hems of furniture of The Devon Church Bell "Restora­ I %H, now, moved North-West Devon and lw­e and detailed modols (particula:dy tion Pund and was chairman ftom w came vicar of Clawt.on with Rhips and boats). it.s founding in the early 1970s until and Luffincot,t, ean r<'-lllr.mberTetcot.t ln his early days he developed succeeded hy James Clarko in 200Cl. j_ a telling me stories of the cold winterhim great love of and spent He was also a member of the Society of 1963, espeeially of driving be­ many hours walking all parts, in­ of Royal Cumber land Youths. tween the parishes on thn mww and cluding walking from South to When first knew ,John he was a ice and not using brak<•.s. North in a day, and became very very activel ringer, ringing regularly

I first met him w hon hn knowledgeable on wildlife, particu� on practiro nights and Sundays at vicar of Newton Cyrps and hPearn<�Cowloy !arly birds and butterflies. Newton St Cyres as weJl as attend­ in 19()(j, whew heSt remainnd uni·.il tho Ho always had a great interest in ing Guild meetings and at cmd of W88. I waH only arehiJ·ecturo and at Newton St Cyrc�s Exeter Cathedral and practicesothet local f'ourt.non whon he arrived, and clnrgymun in devE.:loped an interest in clocks, towers. However, as he took on more those days were put on bit of a ped­ when he and on<� of his parishioners and more duties the time spe.nt on a estal by their pariohioners and as a set about restoring the church clock, the end of a rope diminished and result seemed a little diBtant. ,John which had been silent for many there are many current Guild mem� was different. He soon got involvod years. bers who have never se.en him ring. in all aspects of villagc life, including His ringing career makes different even though they might have consid­ serving as a schoo} governor and reading than most. He was not a ered that they knew him well. iting and duplicating the

John Scott (contd from page 3) END OF AN ERA? Excellent hospitality

Most of us will mmcmber �John as a At the 1977 Annual General Meeting Tlw competition season cannot be bell historian and marvel at his of the Devon Association of I1ingers, rounded off without. a mention of great knowledge of not only bells but which was held at Exeter, On No· the wHleomes that. t.he Assoeiation church architecture and church vember 12tl', Mr Brian DrakG was has received this year. No individ· clocks. Over the ynars ho had taken elected as Chairman. Mr Art.hur ual event should be singled out, as part in many radio and newspaper Tapper was (�lect.ed as Pr(lSident, the host tower's hospitality could interviews and appeared on telovi· with Mr Edgar Cole Secretary and not be faulted at aJll sion talking about bells. l-Ie wrot

Results Lapford on Sat Jnly 14. 2007 Hout-h Tawton Judges: ' 511 X: South 'l'awlon- 30�� 8. We:;L Alvinglon <>• Chris Clayton, Jeremo Darke. l Shwc 2. Exmin!;(ter · :31 9. South Brent 65 Herniman and Paul Wtight \0. Zeal Monachorum · 32Yz 10. North Bovey 81 V.., The SHCY win the Trinity Shield for :l. 4. Littloham · 36 11. Bunington B 135 best. placed non-Devon team . Down St .. i\·bry · :36\-� 12. Jde Murinnsleigh on 8th September: .) HO · .Judge�;: A SeC'.tion G. JJD:flc(lmbe ·11 � 7. East. Anr;t.ey- 48 Jc:renwDarke Percy PesJcr Mort.ehoe- 1! & l 8. Black 'J'otTingt.on- 5,112 on 11th August 2007 2. gast: Anstoy - 22 9. Chawlei.gh - 59 3. WestDown · 27 A Section: 10. Alphington · 64}112 Eggbuckln.nd 7 4. · 28 l 11. Inwar(Ueigh- 67 2. Dunsford 11Y2 B Section 12. Sandford - 8 1 Exetm', St Pet:rock 20 Zeal Monachorum . 38 a. l 3. Mariansleigh · 1 8 4. Burrington 20 Yz 2. - 82 l 3 Judges: C. Clayton W. Tremain 5. East Anstey 21 3. Morebath. 120 & Burringtou on 28th July 2007 6. Devon Belles 29 4. Bishopsnympton - No Hesult 12 Litt-leham 3:3 on 22nd September A Section: ?. Eggbuckland 20 ].';l 8. Exminster :33 A Section I. l1 2. East Anst-ey Egg Duckland - 9 ao X< B Section: I. 3. Littleham 46 2'.J Zeal Monachorum 16 2. Mortehoe · 14 (Rung 16:1.3 mins) I. 4. High 46 2/"J 2. Mariansleigh 19 3. WestDown - 18 (Rung 16:42) 5. DunstOrd 117 3, lnwardleigh 4. lddesleigh · 22 V2 HJ12 39 G. Littleham· 2() 13 Section: 'l. Weat.Down !"-1 5. Little Torringt.on 77 Bu.rl'ingt.on · 30 I. 1):.3 V:! G 2. Mortehoe 57 East Anst:ey- 54 Junior Section: ?. 3. Mariansleigh Shebbear 19 Yz B Section GO !0 ]. Chittlehampt.on 87 2. Bradfotd B 23 Zeal fv.fonachorum . 15 ,J. ]. Sampford Courtcncy H2 !ll Bradford A 32 2. Sampford CotU'tney A · 3·1 5. ,3, 6. de 126 !IS Lydford on 18 August 2007 3. · 53 I Judges: Scott Adams, Jereme Darke and Egg Bucldand 14 4. Mariansleigh · 55 I. St

Ringing in Herefordshire - Episode 2! This year WC':made our way t.o Here­ Hills, those were a ground floor peal of thal nestlt>oin the foothills of the fordshn-e on Friday 28th Septembm· hung in a massiw} west tower, these Black mountains and lie:.;on the bor­ and return to Devon Monday 1st Oc­ wm·e8 a little tricky too but had a won­ der, \\'e W(�re treate-dhere to a mag­ tober. The pill'ty Dave and Hilary, derful sound outside in the church nificent. set. of 6 from Taylors of Hyan, 1--ouiso, Rogor, Martin and Sue yard, the Tenor J:l-2-20 in Then to Loughborough the Tenor 10-0-2 in A. (Eggbuckland), they were joined by Stoke Edith, the Church F'#.which was th<.:>ywent likQ a dream and sound�!d Suzam1e (S.Brent), Jereme (East pa•·t of the Estate has a truncated excellent, we went into the pub next Chinnock), Graham (Dunsford), Paul Spire, the top part being blown off in a door whieh was called the Cornewall and Steve (Burrington, High Bick­ storm some years ago. These bells were Arms, this was like stepping baek ington), Scott (Kenton and Exmin­ re-hung by Taylors in HJ03 and re-cast into a Bygone era, it was extremely ster), Chris (Sampford Courtney) Tre.ble, 2nd and Tenor, they were a welcoming wit.h a slate floor and and Mervyn (Chagford). We were magnificent.sounding peal which went wooden settlet� and at the rear it was also joined by Dan Trout and his extremely well for bells on plain bear­ like being in someone's living room, girlfriend Michelle on the Saturday. ings, they are well looked after, the with a carpet unde•· foot and lovely Nine of the party driven by Jereme Tenor here was 14-2-14 in We all easy chairs which surrounded the were to meet at 7:30am at Huish then went to our AccommodationF#. in the fire, it was superb. Onto the Skirrid Episcopi as Chris wanted BREAK­ .centre of Hereford City, a quick change Inn at Llanfihangtd Crueorney in FAST. Most of the party therefore and out to watch the Rugby, some of Gwent, not f8.r from Abergavenny, had to leave their respected homes us fragmented the group (you know this pub is said to be haunted and at around 6am, I don't think Mr who you are) and the others watched did have a slightly eerie feel to it, Clayton was the flavour of the the Rugby, all parties involved in the the ale and food was good, Aber· month!! We left Plymouth at 7:30 weekend had a curry and thoroughly gavenny, were the highlight for me, and made our way to Redmarley enjoyed it. a superb Taylor 10 bot.h tone and go D'Abitot in Gloucestershire, a Saturday morning after breakfast we were excellent, we roso tho baek 8 in French Connection so mewh<�re per­ made our way to Almeley, a ground peal twice, the Tenor herf� in haps·? We all arrived at Iwdmarley floor6 with a long draft, went well and D, good bell ringing and 26-0-18t.lw loeals at around 10: lGam, these the sounded superb, good striking was had enjoyed 8the ('.all ehanges, back into Tc.nor9�3-22 in G, were a goodG peal, hero. Onto Staunton on W·:N, a lovE�ly .England(thank God) and woro mak­ one or 2 were slightly odd struck but peal of 6 Tenor HI·0-11 in G, they w""t ing our way Kont:church, these W(mt well and sounded good, this very well and �ounded superb. Unfor� were a prettyto little set. of 6 but was l..<.mise1S first proper tour and t.unatclyDave and Hilary's car broke slightly odd struck the Tenor here 7- she rung these bells with great confi­ down here but tlu�y only missed Pre· 2�5 in Bb. Our final destination of denceand so that was tD continue ston on Wye, these bells again sounded the day was Ewyas Harold, these with the. others commentingon how good and were augmented to 6 in 1H95, b<�lls \\lore again lovely, ground floor she had progre8sed in the last coupl(-'! they \\'ere little trieky mostly to peal of 6 tenor 6-2-12 in A. they wont of months. Onto our 2nd tower of the che rope length.a We wore soon offdue again really well and sounded good. We day, crossing into Herefordshire and through the back Ialles of tho Hereford­ then had a roast f.Unner the Dog on our way to Bosbury, t.hc.:se bells shire to Madley, a fine Tenor 6-2-24 Inn in the viJlage, the Landladyiu use 'were one of my favourites all trip, in F, they sounded good8 and went..J well to live in Ply mouth and had a great ground floor peal of in a huge de­ and some good striking was had, a time explaining that she use to go to tached tower, the TenorG weighing quick pint in the Iwd Lion down the DiptforclPrimary school whm·e Suz­ 15-1-6 in E, all 3 peals we had were road and a nice chat to the locals was anne used to go, this was an enjoy� of a good standard and I think every­ had here, they couldn't believe how able evening made better by Cat.hy one enjoyed them, for 15cwt they much we paid for a pint in Devon in and Tony! went very well and had nice mellow HerefUrd we paid no more than £2.30 On Monday we left p n sound, the Tenor here dates from and in some places £1.75!! We were Bishop, a pleasant ring oftin· UTenorto around 1450! The Bell Inn opposite soon off again and arrived at. another 10-0-2 in G, they sounded goodG but. made a pleasant resting place. Onto beautiful at Ringstone, they were a were slightly odd struck, especially Bishop's Frome for Lunch at the fine sounding8 ring that went well and the 4th! The next village Lint.on, a Green Dragon, Herefordshire1S the Tenor here 12-0·22 in G. We were lovely place with a lovely ehurch and Camra pub of the Year, unfortu­ soon heading for the Castle Inn at Lit­ spire, the bells were a very good set nately it was closed so a quick trip to tl€� Birch wher{� we had a lovely meal and they sounded good, the '!\mol' the Chase Inn next door was had, the landlord and lady hero were spot here 8�1·20 in the 5th ropo unfor· the Ale wasn't bad but the food was on, well worth a visit if you're in the tunately brokeA during the 2nd peal good especially the Bangers and area. but Graham swiftly took a rope and Mash! Luvvly Jubbly! We then rang Sunday was the best day of all, we set we were soon ringing again. From at Bishop's Frame, Peal of 6 Tenor out at 9:30 to arrive at our first destJ­ here we made our way back into 11·3·15 in G, the most disappointing nation Peterchurch, a magninr..ent G loueeste.rshire and arrive.d for of the trip and were quite tricky, building with the tallest Spire in the lunch at a lovely pub called the they seemed to fall away in certain whole of Hereford, the bells were of Glasshouse in May Hill, we finished sequences although they weren't on equal quality, a peal of T

Sam Heath counts his Hereford page Auntie's Army from 6 blessings bells and had some good striking, Sa m 1-I(�ath. 85, when aged two met Chagford Ringers and friends had this was her first trip and only the 'Aunty'. Sam was born in a work­ wonderful long weekend during Au­a 3rd time. she had ever rung 8, the house in Totnes in 1922 and never gust whilst in Warwickshire organ­ other 2 titn(�S also being on thit; Ll'ip! knew his parents. He was termed ised by Julia Endacott and t.h

I • Ringing Mats. repairs by DVD Video. • I Geoffrey C Hill • Design drawings . I • Museum visits. New Court Farm Ii • Tours of the works. Lamerton ! I • Watch a bell being cast.

Tavistock I Taylors Eayre Smith Ltd. The Bellfoundry, Freehold Street, &Loughborough. Leics. LElllAR PL19 8RR i1 ! i I o1s22 614319 Tel: 01509 212241 Fax: 01509 263305 www I i [email protected] .taylorbells.co.uk I\______-··-··--·-�----�-�_ ) L !