Ringing Round THE GUILD OF DEVONSHIRE RINGERS Devon Newsletter 112: December 2018 ‘to promote an environment in which ringing can flourish’. Last Sunday we witnessed what ‘flourish’ looks like – more of that, Guild Events please. Whilst it is impossible to thank all key individuals by name, I RINGING REMEMBERS would like to pay a special tribute to Vicki Chapman – Ringing Remembers Project Coordinator, Colin Chapman – Coordinator’s ‘roadie’, Alan Regin – Steward of the CCCBR Rolls of Honour, Andrew Hall – developer and administrator of the Ringing Remembers web platform, and Bruce and Eileen Butler – who linked thousands of enquirers to guilds, districts and towers. And there are so many others… My thanks go also to all those who have come to ringing through this route; may you continue to develop in skill and gain many happy years of fulfilment in your ringing. And to that widespread army of ringing teachers who have risen to the challenge of training so many enthusiastic learners – well done! Last Sunday was a day of reflection, a day of commemoration, a day of participation. Bellringers everywhere were able to say: ‘I was there – I remembered’. Christopher O’Mahony The badge issued to all new ringers who registered in time Photo by Lesley Oates Note from our Guild President I think all of our members deserve to be congratulated on the ‘WE REMEMBERED’ – A MESSAGE FROM THE fantastic number of towers in Devon which were heard ringing for PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF the Armistice on Sunday. Much has been shared on social media CHURCH BELL RINGERS. indicating a great response from Devon towers, both Guild and Last Sunday – Remembrance Sunday – we were called to ‘look Association, and there are certain to be towers which don’t use to’ and take part in a most momentous commemoration. Being so this means of sharing. We should also make special note of those intimately linked in to our local communities, it was no surprise who were involved in recruiting and teaching new or returning that bellringers everywhere stepped forward to participate, ringers ready for this special day. A tremendous amount of effort collectively and individually, in such a solemn centenary. has obviously been put into this and our ringing members should And it is entirely right and fitting that bells gave voice to the be proud of the results they have produced. deep and lasting emotions felt so widely at this time. So many Alison Waterson today owe so much to our forebears for the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy one hundred years on. As bellringers, we are the ‘external choir’ that calls out across time and space, giving tribute on this day for those who have gone before. This is what we do, this is our calling, this is our service. On behalf of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, I wish to thank all who participated in this historic event. The Ringing Remembers campaign, promoted by the Central Council, has claimed some inspiring headlines – towers silent for many years have rung out once more; hundreds of bands have been augmented with new learners; tens of thousands of ringers mobilised to ring in thousands of towers – not just in the UK, but across the world; ringing featured strongly in local, national and international media; and the BellBoard website went into meltdown! Our campaign sought to recruit 1400 new ringers, to symbolically replace those ringers who fell in the First World War. At the most recent count, new ringer registrations for the recruitment campaign totalled 2792 – close to 200% of the original target. The Council’s newly-stated mission is, among other things, EXPERIENCES AROUND THE COUNTY Call Changes at Lympstone Around the Clyst mission parishes We wanted to do something for the Armistice celebrations but as call change ringers our options were a bit limited, so we rang a On a bright sunny morning eight of us met at Clyst Honiton church touch of call changes worked out to start in rounds and come back where we rang for the 10am service. After this we moved on to to rounds in 100 changes. This proved to be quite musical and Pinhoe where we were joined by four more ringers and rang with starting at 2pm took 28 minutes. It left us with the feeling that we the bells half muffled. While the muffles were being removed six had done our bit towards the celebrations. of the band moved on to Clyst St George and then all of us met up again at Poltimore where we rang for half an hour before returning to Pinhoe to ring until about 1pm. By now we had about fifteen folk driving around. Following a break for lunch (and a well-deserved rest) some of us met to ring at Aylesbeare at 5pm, Sowton at 6pm and Broadclyst at 7pm. Then we were able to go back home into the warm. Rob Franklin Mid Devon Ringing to Mark the centenary of the First World war We have heard many reports of ringing to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. There have also been many reports of new ringers taking part in their first ringing for a special L to R: Pat Squire, Ian Scott, Denise Lloyd, Gary Winter, Matt Hood, occasion, particularly poignant with the muffles on. Somehow, Trevor Bradley ringers always pull out the stops for these special occasions and Trevor Bradley the ringing is of a really high standard. Almost all branch towers reported extra ringing for the occasion with much of it appearing A new Band at Brampford Speke on Bellboard. We understand the national response to this event caused the website to crash on the evening of the 11th November The bells at Brampford Speke have not been rung regularly for as everyone rushed to record their ringing: a truly magnificent some time. Colin and Fern have returned to ringing as part of response by ringers. Ringing Remembers while Phil, Paul and Ed have learnt from Martin Mansley scratch since May. The band rang call changes for the Armistice and are now ringing more regularly. Congratulations go to them all, and also to Mary Quicke who organised the ringing. Remembrance Sunday at Thorverton Remembrance Sunday ringing at Thorverton Colin, Eric, Owen, Lesley, Graham, Phil, Paul, Ed, Fern From being very lucky with our stays for the past four or five years we have now had two broken stays in six days, on the SAME bell! Ringing Schedule at Exeter Cathedral Is that a new Guild record? Despite nearly all members of the Exeter Cathedral band also Last week I assisted (or more accurately stood next to) Rob being members at other towers a detailed plan for the ringing at Franklin as he removed the first broken one and again watched as the Cathedral was made and achieved! These were our he fixed the new one in place. instructions: After Remembrance Sunday’s rather over-enthusiastic ringing Half-muffled peal of Stedman Cinques on Saturday on the 4th, I removed and helped replace a second newly chiselled This will follow the Field of Remembrance Service, with the stay from a fellow ringer who wants to remain anonymous but peal beginning after the two-minute silence and reveille, at wanted to attempt his first measuring and drilling of a stay. We 11:10am drilled the bolt holes in situ which was fun. The brand new replacement stay is now successfully installed Ringing for Remembrance Service on Sunday and, if I may say so, looks perfect; this is not to take away from Mr Meet at 10:50. Start ringing immediately after the war Franklin’s heroic speedy work just a week ago. memorial service finishes at approx 11:10. Stop ringing at Along with an adjustable spanner this Christmas I shall also ask 11:40. for one of those cool flashlights which can attach to a metal frame Three courses of Stedman Cinques padded with rounds/calls with a handy magnet; that really came in useful. Dare I say I have as necessary. enjoyed the latest maintenance in the tower? Half muffled Quarter Peal Apologies go to Sue for any inconvenience and thanks for being Meet at 12:20. Start when service finishes. Stedman Cinques. so understanding and ringing your quarter peal sans stay. Mike, At the end please lower, remove muffles and raise bells again. we are all ready for your next visit. (Comment from Editor – lower and then raise all 12 bells after Jane Flaxington ringing a quarter peal – a major effort!) Ringing for Battle's Over 18:55pm – A bugler will play the Last Post 19:00pm – A beacon will be lit outside the Cathedral Meet at 18:50 for prompt 19:05 start. Finish at 19:40. 6 courses of Erin Cinques. I hope the locals enjoyed all the ringing! Ian Campbell/Matt Hilling Remembrance Sunday in South West Devon The efforts of the bellringing community across the country was phenomenal this Remembrance Sunday, which marked 100 years since the end of the First World War. The efforts of the South West Branch were no exception. Churches across the branch rang their bells half muffled for Sunday Service and Services of Remembrance at 11am. In Plymouth, five quarter peal attempts were arranged across five different towers, with a grand total of thirty-three ringers taking part in the ringing efforts in Plymouth alone. Congratulations to the band in Tavistock who rang a successful peal of 5039 Grandsire Caters in the afternoon, and towers across the area joined in with the ‘Battle’s Over’ ringing at 7.05pm where beacons were lit and the bells rung open.