Following guidance received today the following towers have ceased all ringing until further notice in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID19:
Alton (All towers), Blackmoor, Bramshott, Buriton, Froxfield, Hawkley, Holybourne, Selborne, Steep, Warnford and West Meon
Other towers will be added once confirmation is received that they are also cancelling their ringing activities
Hope to see you all soon and stay well…
Steve
A&P Communications Officer
Category Archives: Alton St Lawrence
Ringing cancellations due to COVID-19
Coronavirus: UK ringing should now be cancelled
The UK government has advised against all unnecessary social contact with immediate effect. The Prime Minister advised in a press conference of 16th March that now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel.
The Central Council has released a statement in response to the UK government. They advise that If you haven’t already decided to cancel ringing activities, it seems that now is the time to do so.
The Ringing World agrees with this statement. It is hard to interpret the government’s guidance in any way other than that all planned ringing activities in the UK should now cease.
I have been made aware that ringing has been suspended at the following towers due to COVID-19 concerns:
Alton, St. Laurence, All Saints and Holybourne – all ringing suspended.
Alverstoke – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Basingstoke, St. Michael’s – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Blackmoor – all ringing suspended.
Bournemouth, St. John’s, St. Peters and Scared Heart – all ringing suspended.
Bramshott – all service and practice ringing until at least the end of March where the situation will be reviewed.
Brockenhurst – no ringing until further notice.
Buriton – all ringing suspended.
Catherington – ringing cancelled, but may be some limited Sunday ringing if services continue.
Christchurch Priory – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Eling – all ringing suspended.
Froxfield – all ringing suspended.
Havant – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Hawkley – all ringing suspended and the tied practices on 6-8-10th April postponed.
Hursley – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Newport – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Portsmouth Cathedral – all ringing suspended.
Purbrook – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Romsey – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Selborne – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Shanklin – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Shedfield – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Southampton (St. Mary’s, St. Michael’s and Bitterne Park) – all ringing suspended.
Steep – all ringing suspended.
Titchfield – all ringing suspended.
Upham – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Upton Grey – all ringing cancelled until further notice.
Warnford – all ringing suspended.
West Meon – all ringing suspended.
Wickham – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Winchester Cathedral – all ringing suspended until further notice.
Wonston – no practices until further notice.
Portsmouth District – all District events are cancelled including the April QDM.
Winchester District – all District events and the striking competition in May are cancelled until further notice.
Please let me know via wpbells@gmail.com of any other cancellations and I will add them to this list.
Thanks
Andrew Glover
W&P Guild Webmaster
A&P District – Advanced Practice, Sat 29th February at Alton St. Lawrence – 5.30-7.30pm
There will be an advanced practice at St Lawrence Alton on Saturday 29th February 2020 from 5.30-7.30pm. The aim will be to try and ring Cambridge, Superlative, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Rutland, and perhaps some spliced if we can.
Would you be so kind as to let me know if you are intending to come so I can ask for outside help if we are short.
Cheers
Guild Striking Competitions 2020
The dates and towers for the Guild Striking Competitions 2020 are:
Guild Inter-Tower 6 and 8-bell competitions on the Saturday 16th May at Fawley and Eling.
Guild Inter-District 8-bell competition on Saturday 13 June at St. Lawrence, Alton. This is on the morning of the Guild AGM.
Further information available from these downloads:
Guild Inter-Tower 6-bell competition
Guild Inter-Tower 8-bell competition
Guild Inter-District 8-bell competition
Contact Pete Jordan
Basingstoke District Outing to Alton – Saturday 21st September
This month’s Basingstoke District event is an outing to Alton. We will be ringing at All Saints Alton (6 bells, 6cwt tenor) from 11:15am – 12:15pm followed by a break for lunch (please make your own arrangements).
Following lunch we will ring at St. Lawrence Alton (8 bells, 18cwt tenor) from 2:30pm – 3:30pm.
As always ringers of all abilities are very welcome.
Joseph
Parish of the Resurrection (Alton) Christmas ringing times
Hello All,
Here are the Christmas Ringing details (Hopefully). Be ready for adjustment emails to arrive should I get it wrong! If I don’t see you before – I hope you all have an amazing Christmas.
Please can I also have names for the AGM District meeting held in Alton on 12th January. We are hosting so need numbers for food.
Monday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
Crib Service ringing – 3:30pm – St Lawrence Church, Alton
Midnight Communion – 11:00pm – St Lawrence Church, Alton
Tuesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
NO All Saints Practice
09:00am Service ringing at Holyrood, Holybourne
10:00am Service Ringing at St Lawrence Alton
Thursday 27th December
No Practice at St Lawrence
Saturday 29th December
No Learners and Improvers
Alton 8 bell practice will go ahead 5:30pm till 7:30pm at St Lawrence
Sunday 30th December
No Service ringing
Monday 31st December (New Years Eve)
Ringing in the New Year – St Lawrence Church, Alton 10:30pm (TBC) Bring some nibbles and drinks and ring in the New Year at Midnight.
Tuesday 1st January (New Years Day)
No Practice at All Saints
Thursday 3rd January
7:30pm – 9:00pm Practice at St Lawrence as per normal.
Any questions please ask Matt or drop me an email.
Jess
No Practice at Alton, St. Lawrence on Thursday 6th December
Due to a concert in the Church during the evening there will be no practice at Alton St. Lawrence on Thursday 6th December.
Visitors are welcome at any other time.
MONTHLY EIGHT BELL PRACTICE MOVED TO LISS FOR OCTOBER 27th
Due to a performance/concert in St Lawrence church, it has been decided to move the October 8 bell practice to St. Mary’s, Liss.
5.30-7.30pm Saturday 27th
Eight Bell practice at Alton St.Lawrence September 29th – 5.30 to 7.30pm
As the title says; there will be an eight bell practice at Alton St. Lawrence on September 29th from 5.30 to 7.30pm.
All welcome.
Alton to feature on Bells on Sunday on 5th August
Here is the schedule for “Bells on Sunday” during August 2018 which includes Alton, St Lawrence on the 5th August.
5th. Alton, Hants. Bristol Surprise Major.
12th. Sidcup, Kent. Single Oxford Bob Minor.
19th. Westmonkton, Somerset. Grandsire Triples.
26th. Eggbuckland, Devon. The Rise and Call Changes.
8 bell practice – Saturday June 30th – 5.30 to 7.30pm
Don’t forget there is an 8 bell practice at Alton, St. Lawrence this Saturday (June 30th) from 5.30 to 7.30pm. A perfect opportunity to catch up on those methods that you may not always have enough ringers for in your home tower.
Several of the Alton ringers, and other regular attendees, will be away this weekend so Roger has volunteered to run it. He’d love to see you there.
Many thanks, Valerie
A&P 8 bell practice June 30th 5.30-7.30pm
Please join us for the monthly 8 bell practice at Alton, St. Lawrence on June 30th from 5.30 to 7.30pm. We’d love to see you there.
**6pm** Sat 28th April District Practice at Alton
Matt has asked me to let you know that tomorrow’s 8 bell practice at Alton St Lawrence will start at 6pm rather than 5.30, its still running till 7.30 though.
Thanks Valerie
A&P Monthly Eight Bell Practice at Alton, St. Lawrence on February 24th – 5.30 to 7.30pm
Are you looking to improve your Triples and Major skills?
Do you want to practice hunting to 7 or 8?
Want to have a go at Treble Bob?
Or maybe you don’t get enough opportunity to ring all eight at your home tower.
Whatever your reason this practice is for you, so please join us if you can.
Held on the last Saturday of the month from 5.30 to 7.30pm
Parish of the Resurrection (Alton & Holybourne) Christmas Ringing Times
Here is the list of Christmas Services and they begin this Sunday;
Sunday 17th December – Carols for Everyone – St Lawrence 10.30am.(10am Ringing)
Sunday 17th December – Carol Service – All Saints 10.30am.(10am Ringing)
Sunday 17th December – Nine Lessons and Carols – St Lawrence 6.30pm.(6pm Ringing)
Sunday 24th December – The Christmas Eve Morning Communion will be at Alton Methodist Church. There will be no other morning services.
Sunday 24th December – Crib Service – St Lawrence and Holy Rood 4pm. (3.30pm Ringing)
Sunday 24th December – Midnight Communion in all three churches 11.30pm.(11pm Ringing St Lawrence)
Christmas Day – Christmas Communion – Holy Rood 9.15am.(8.45am Ringing)
Christmas Day – Christmas Family Communion – St Lawrence 10.30am. (10am Ringing)
Sunday 31st December (New Year’s Eve) – Parish Communion – Holy Rood 10.30am. (10am Ringing)
There will be no other morning services.
New year’s Eve ringing.We will have the usual get together in the tower (St Lawrence) and then ring from 11.15pm till 12.30am approx to see the New Year in.
Contact Andrew Taylor
Telephone: 07916 021646
Email: Use Form
The Alton ringers have never shied away from an excuse to ring a quarter peal
I think the attached list says it all
AP District Quarter Peal Fortnight commences…
Congratulations!
Parish of The Resurrection Band…
3rd Quarter Peal Attempt of the day scored.
St Lawrence Alton prior to service.
Michael Novell
Liz South
David Sluter
Judy Sparling
Jess Hornsby
Andrew Taylor
Matt Watts
Andy Sparling (c)
Plain Bob Major.
First in method for David.
3 Quarters Scored 12 ringers, 3 towers, 2 conductors, and 3 firsts…….
Good start to Quarter Peal Fortnight………..
A&P general practice at Alton, St Lawrence Sept 30th – 7.00 to 9.00pm
This is a general practice open to ringers of all abilities.
Whilst it is great to see many learners wanting to make progress at these practices, it is important that there are plenty of more experienced ringers there too. So please come if you can, it benefits us all.
Thank you.
Quarter Peal rung at St Lawrence 17th June 2017 in memory of Paul Windels III.
Many of you would have met Paul Windels III a regular visitor to Alton from New York. We have over the years been joined by Paul and his family on many occasions. Some of us even visited Paul in New York at Trinity and attempted a Peal of Stedman caters and scored a quarter of Plain Bob Caters.
Paul passed away on his way to ringing practice at Kent.
The Alton Bell ringers will miss Paul and we send our condolences to Cathy, Mary Catherine and Paul Jr.
Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild
Alton, Hampshire
St Lawrence
Saturday, 17 June 2017 in 45 (18–1–20 in E)
1264 Plain Bob Major
1 David M Hughes
2 Kaylee South
3 Judy Sparling
4 Liz South
5 Jessica Hornsby
6 Michael J Novell
7 Matthew D Watts
8 Andrew P Sparling (C)
Rung during Regency Week in memory of Paul Windels III (annual visitor from New York and a Jane Austin enthusiast). With thanks to Revd Andrew Micklefield who led us in prayers.
Alton – no ringing practices in Holy Week, normal ringing on Easter Sunday
The three Alton towers are not practicing during Holy Week but will ring for the Sunday service.
Rebecca Webb Reports from the Stedman Doubles Special Practice
What a fantastic practice we had today of Stedman Doubles held at Herriard
The four students were at all different levels and by the end of the morning the students were all ringing Stedman Doubles 120 and all ringing together.
The students came from Alton, Basingstoke and Bishopstoke.
This amazing progression was achieved by some fantastic helpers who travelled from Alton, Basingstoke, Overton, Sherfield-on-Loddon and Kingsclere.
Thank you to everyone for making today such a success.
Rebecca Webb
Practices resume at St. Lawrence & Hawkley
The ringers at Alton, St.Lawrence are very pleased to announce that, although the scaffolding may still be up, there is no longer an RSJ through the bell chamber and that practices will start again on Thursday 30th March at 7.30pm. They would love to see you if you would like to join them.
Wednesday practices are also resuming at Hawkley from 7.45pm, but Roger Barber suggests that you contact him beforehand if you’re thinking of going, just to be on the safe side.
Alton Learners and Improvers on Tour
The idea had been talked about for some time, it now became reality.
On Saturday 4th June 2016 the St Lawrence Learners and Improvers Practice went on tour.
We started at 9.30am at St Mary, Liss where we joined the local weekly practice. Liss has a nice light ring of 8 (12-1-26) so everyone was able to have a go without feeling that any bell would be too heavy for them. This was one of the aims of the day as towers were selected that had easy access and all bells could be rung by all ringers. We spent an hour at Liss and were treated to tea and coffee by the local band before we moved on.
Next stop was the 6 bell tower (12-3-17) at Holy Cross, Binsted from 11.00am till 12 noon. Here we had two unexpected additions to the group. Whilst we were ringing the two gardeners, who were tending the churchyard, had been fascinated by what we were doing and asked if they could have a go. We gave them a quick briefing as to how things worked and then let them try their had at ringing. They both enjoyed the experience and indicated that they might like to learn more, unfortunately they are not local but we did point them in the direction of their local churches, so maybe we will see them again somewhere in the future.
Our third tower was Our Lady of Warnford another 6 bell ring (12-2-10) from 12.30pm till 1.30pm. Another of the stated aims of this tour was that we would only do basic ringing i.e. Rounds, Call Changes, Plain Hunt, Plain Bob and Grandsire. However, we did allow our team of loyal helpers a little bit of fun by ending this session before lunch with some Norwich Surprise Minor.
Lunch was taken at The George and Falcon in Warnford, a very leisurely affair, thanks to Judy Sparling who organised us all to pre-order.
After lunch we moved on to St Mary, Selborne a manageable 8 (8-3-8) with everyone having a go. We were here form 3pm till 4pm.
We rounded the day off with a nice light ring of 8 (6-3-16) at The Church of the Holy Rood, Holybourne from 4.30pm till 5.30pm. At this last tower we set up the District Bookstall to give all the learners the opportunity to buy books to help consolidate their knowledge and we took a few photos.
Everyone said how much they had enjoyed the day, so it looks like we may be doing it again. I would like to give special thanks to Matt Watts for organising the event and booking the towers, to Judy Sparling for organising us all at lunch and for providing the bookstall, to Liz South for providing us with chocolates and strawberries throughout the day, to Rene Bailey for providing much needed Kit-Kats and Twix Bars at Holybourne and to all the helpers. Finally a big thank you to all the learners and improvers who turned up, without you the event would not have happened.
After all the excitement of the day we went for a beer and a curry. Everyone one was invited but it ended up with about 15 of us.
I think the day could be summed up by saying: “Good ringing, good food, good friends and a great day out!”
Thanks to Mike Novell for the article and Madeline King for the photo of the band.
Learners and Improvers Alton ringers Outing
A very happy group toured local Alton & Petersfield churches. A& P members were invited to ring for all or part of the day. Thanks to Matt Watts for ably arranging the day on behalf of St. Lawrence bell ringers, Alton.
Madeline
St Lawrence Alton – Invitation to Learners and Improvers to join the outing – June 4th
All welcome, as always at St Lawrence. The day will be geared towards “Learners and Improvers” and I would love to see any members from any tower. It has been organised with the district in mind, replaces our towers coach outing this year. Matt
St Lawrence Alton
“Learners & Improvers on Tour”
Outing Saturday June 4th 2016
Please join us for as much or for as little of the day As you can. All abilities welcome.
| Liss
St Mary |
GU33 7AQ | 12-1-16
8 Bells |
9.30am To 10.30am |
|
| Binsted
Holy Cross |
GU34 4NX | 12-3-17
6 Bells |
11am To 12pm |
|
| Warnford
Our Lady |
SO32 3LA | 12-2-10
Bells |
12.30pm To 1.30pm |
|
| Selborne
St Mary |
GU34 3JQ | 8-3-8
8 Bells |
3pm To 4pm |
|
| Holyborne
Holy Rood |
GU34 4HH | 6-3-16
8 Bells |
4.30pm To 5.30pm |
With the chance of an end of Tour Curry. Let me Know if you are interested!
- Contact Matt Watts
Telephone: 07770 851028
Email: Use form
Contact Matt Watts
Telephone: 07770 851028
Email: Use form
Alton and Petersfield District Practice 28th May (And September Outing)
Practice at Alton St Laurence time 6-30 to 8-30 this Saturday .
Please note time change.
All methods including rounds and calls.
District Outing
District outing all towers booked ,and pub sorted out, date 17th September please note date and support.
I am expecting at least 15 ringers to make a good day, also we are ringing for a wedding at one of the towers and we can have the wedding money for ringing, because they have to import a band. Money will be used for tower donations. See you all soon
Alton Tower Outing Rescheduled to Saturday June 4th
Further details of the Alton outing will follow. The full A&P District Calendar of events is below:
Firsts Fortnight achievements by the Alton St Lawrence Bell Ringers (Mostly in the USA!!)
Matt Watts Reporting:
We have achieved our firsts in the last couple of days of “Firsts Fortnight”.
Judy Sparling, Andy Sparling and Matt Watts all attended the first mini ring practice on Tim Barnes new mini ring in Chatham, NJ. With the Trinity, New York band.
Andy Sparling and Matt Watts lost their first peal attempt of Stedman Caters in New York, but scored their first quarters of Plain Bob Caters, first quarter rung in USA for both, and the first quarter of Caters for Matt.
During this little trip Kaylee South took up the slack and took on the running of her first practice, and her first Sunday morning service ringing at St Lawrence, Alton
