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Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey St Peter Port, Guild, WW1

Tommy’s Travels in the Channel Islands

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After spending time shut face down in an overhead locker, I finally arrived in the Channel Islands for the weekend of the CI District ADM.

Spent an interesting 48 minutes perched on a sweet tin while the bells of St Peter Port (Town Church) were Quarter Pealed

Guernsey, Channel Islands

St Peter Apostle and Martyr, (Town Church)

Friday, 7 September 2018 in 48m (21–1–12 in E♭)

1250 Cambridge Surprise Major

1 Sue Le Feuvre

2 Mike Winterbourne

3 Marjorie B Winter

4 Paul Lawrence

5 Peter J R Bevis

6 Stephen A Rossiter (C)

7 Tim Wainwright

8 Alan T Winter

1st treble bob on 8: 1; 1st Cambridge Major: 4

Remembering those lost from the Channel Islands on the centenary of WW1

 I then visited the WW1 Fallen list at the junction of High St and Berthelot Street;  although I had my picture took I don’t seem to show up much.

Tommy Travels CI 1Tommy Travels CI 2

Opposite the entrance to the Bell Tower of Town Church there is a plaque concerning the Wild Flowers of Flanders Fields, again I do not show up well.

I spent an enjoyable Saturday afternoon in Forest Church while the ringers warmed up for the Striking Competition.

I stayed through every teams attempt to ring well; I believe I encouraged the young to try their best.

I even coerced the Guild Master to put the Guild Badge of Office around the neck of some of the young ringers for their excellent performances.

All the Young ringers did themselves proud. I am sure the results will be on http://cibells.com shortly.

After the ADM I stayed in the Forest Church to watch further attempts to ring strange stuff; some was successful but reverse London Surprise Minor only lasted one lead. Although reverse Cambridge Surprise Minor (Superlative Surprise Minor) and reverse Stedman Doubles succeeded (they are a strange lot in the Channel Islands.) The young and older ringers rang some more usual methods with some of the young ringers pushing their boundaries and successfully achieving new goals.

I was then stuffed back in the box and flew back to the Mainland (face down again)

I think I’m travelling to Portsmouth on Monday, hope someone knows where I will be going next.

Mike Winterbourne

Guild Master

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Two Firsts in a Week…

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… and indeed a good week’s ringing.

A few weeks ago Olivia started coming to our Town Church practices and it is great to welcome her. Some of us were used to ringing with her at the Elizabeth College practices over the years but now, having consulted her homework timetable and deciding that there wasn’t a lot that needing her attention on  Thursday evenings she has become a regular ringer at our practices.

And she’s storming ahead in leaps and bounds; as is Will, a young man who now regularly rings with us on Thursday evenings. Will has been plain hunting from an inside bell to give him experience of looking both ways but it also let many of the band have their first experience of ringing Plain Bob Doubles with a bell other than the treble as the hunt bell.

Olivia has learned St Simons and St Martins, as well as Plain Bob Minor and some treble bobbing. And her finale on Thursday was to ring her first blows of Cambridge Minor. She was thirds place bell while we rang a touch with singles. Just 4 more leads to learn now Olivia!

Our other rising star is Joe who is making fast progress at the Elizabeth College afternoon practices.

We had a special Plain Bob Triples Practice this afternoon; just 8 of us so we had plenty of rope time. Olivia and Joe joined Judy, an occasional visitor from Forest/St Peters. None of them had much, if any experience at plain hunt triples and our own Judith has only rung a couple of plain courses of Bob Triples but has decided (or did Duncan decide for her?) that her “first’ for the District Ringing Master’s “November Firsts” would be a QP of Bob Triples. We progressed well starting with plain hunt on 5 with 6,7,8 cover, through minor with 2 cover bells to plain hunt triples and finally a course of Plain Bob Triples. A very useful hour and a half and if we can repeat this another couple of times we are going to be fighting for a rope in future quarters of triples.

The finale of this afternoon was Olivia ringing her first QP of St Simons and she was excellent at it. I heard that a quarter of spliced St Simon & St Martins is on the cards pretty soon.

I’m not sure when Olivia started ringing handbells but not long ago. And I did spot a QP at an address I din’t recognise in Guernsey last Saturday. Yes, it was Olivia’s first in hand.

Congratulations Olivia!

On Saturday, 14 October 2017
Guernsey, CI
Polmear Lodge Tenor: size 15C
1440 Plain Bob Minor

1-2.   Olivia Palmer
3-4 .  Helen M McGregor
5-6.   Duncan Loweth (C)

First in hand: 1-2

On Friday, 20 October 2017 in 43min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 11cwt
1260 St Simon’s Bob Doubles

  1.  Judith Lainé
  2.  Olivia Palmer
  3.  Jane Le Conte
  4.  Sue Le Feuvre
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  Joe Berry
    First in method: 2
Archive, Channel Islands District, Channel Islands Towers, Guernsey Elizabeth College, Guernsey St Peter Port

Another first for Joe

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Joe Berry rang his first Grandsire Doubles at the Town Church for evening service. And very well struck it was. Joe had practiced one or two touches in the last couple of weeks but the singles were only explained to him this week and that was at an Elizabeth College practice which is somewhat noisier than an adult practice. Duncan called himself observation so Joe rang all the work. And all this was the day after his 18th birthday! Must have been a more restrained evening than my 18th! Very well done Joe.

Now what’s next?

On Sunday, 8 October 2017 in 42min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 11cwt

1260 Grandsire Doubles

  1.   Sue Le Feuvre
  2.   Jane Le Conte
  3.   Joe Berry
  4.   Paul Lawrence
  5.   Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.   Judith Lainé

18th birthday compliment to the 3
First in method: 3

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Channel Islands Towers, Guernsey, Guernsey Elizabeth College, Guernsey St Peter Port

Ringing for Chief Pleas

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Four times a year the Constables of St Peter Port pay us to ring the Town Church bells for special occasions and Chief Pleas is one of these occasions.

This is the  annual sitting of the Court of Chief Pleas. It consists of the Bailiff sitting with a full bench of sixteen Jurats in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor. It marks the start of the legal year and features a full roll call of all members of the Guernsey Bar, together with Parish Constables and Seigneurs.
It is followed by a parade through town to the Town Church for a service.

This year the majority of the band was made up of our Elizabeth College ringers supported by five Town Church ringers. We mostly rang Plain Bob Doubles but included some 8 bell ringing which was plain hunt doubles with 7 6 8 covering and some call changes and kaleidoscope ringing.

Well done for performing your civic duty everyone!

Archive, Bellringing, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Delighted to have the Master ringing with us this morning

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Mike and Margaret were back in Guernsey, their second home, with their ringing friends, most of whom came along to ring this morning. We had 15 for service ringing. A tad more than usual but it did mean I could save my not considerable ringing talent for this evening’s QP and instead take some photographs.

And we scored a very nicely struck quarter of Grandsire Doubles on the back 8 this evening.

On Sunday, 3 September 2017 in 45min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 21cwt
1260 Grandsire Doubles

  1.  Judith Lainé
  2.  Sue Park
  3.  Peter Gallienne
  4.  Sue Le Feuvre
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  John Lihou
Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Town Church Guernsey back to ringing QPs and a Barbecue to celebrate

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Not sure whether you call a QP attempt on Friday, Sunday and Monday normal service resumed but that is what Duncan organised for his and our return to some semblance of normality.

Friday was the first doubles attempt for the new 3 month cycle of methods so we thought we’d try a simple one; Double Bob Minor. What could go wrong? Well actually what could go right? We started with hopes of a whole quarter of double bob but plan B was always to ring the 540 then change to plain bob. But there were so many trips that Duncan missed the end of the 540 and simply couldn’t control us for 720 changes so we had to abandon it. It was a real shame because it wasn’t a good start to our renewed enthusiasm.

But things got better. Despite misgivings about singles Judith agreed to ring inside to Plain Bob Minor on Sunday and all went well. And the 9am on Monday quarter of Grandsire Doubles was a real treat.

This was followed by Duncan’s barbecue at his new house where a really good time was had by all. Everyone was given a tour of the house then Evelyn gave a demonstration of the finer techniques of trampolining.  Thank you Duncan. Great to see your house and good to be back ringing quarters.

On Sunday, 6 August 2017 in 43min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter, Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Plain Bob Minor

  1.  Sue Park
  2.  Judith Lainé
  3.  Jane Le Conte
  4.  Sue Le Feuvre
  5.  Paul Lawrence
  6.  Duncan Loweth (C)

On Monday, 7 August 2017 in 42 min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter, Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Grandsire Doubles

  1.  John Lihou
  2.  Jane Le Conte
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Rob Gorton
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  Janice Firth
Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Town Church ringers invade Jersey

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Sometimes timing is ironical… In last week’s Ringing World, Alan Buswell observed that the Town Church published the second highest number of quarter peals in the first half of 2017; beaten only by Hooe (Dewby’s Bells). Then Duncan bought a house; a “doer upper” and the only QP in July was for the church’s Patronal Festival. But with a lot of hard work, sweat (and probably tears) the family have moved in and although there is a massive amount left to do something like normal service will be returning to the tower.

So we started August with a trip to Jersey on a bright sunny day. Even the ferry was playing ball as it was only 10 minutes late. We started with ringing at St Mark’s then had options. The crazy went to Creepy Valley, zip wires and all thing energetic. Others found their way to the Lamp Lighter while I re-lived childhood memories at the swimming pool at Havre de Pas. Then (almost) everyone found their way up to St John’s for practice night. I confess to getting distracted with photography and didn’t make it but I believe everyone had a great evening with our better ringers cracking London Surprise Major; something they had no chance to try at home without visitors filling in. The evening drew to a close with a visit to the pub.

Next morning we were scheduled to ring a QP at St John’s with a couple of hours free time before catching the boat home. But as is now the norm the Liberation went tech so we were pleased to be able to re-book on the Rapide, which is an old lady now but just keeps going. It meant leaving a bit earlier but since it was seriously heavy rain I don’t think wandering the streets of St Helier was that exciting a prospect.

Our first attempt at the QP was just one of these occasions when no matter how many times we were put right it fell apart again almost immediately but it was over half an hour before we finally abandoned it. We decided we’d just ring a touch to prove we could and then go off for a coffee. Well that’s what Duncan said but those who know him were not surprised when he eventually said we’re over halfway and unless anyone objects we’ll carry on. And carry on we did. Well done Janice for some excellent covering for your first on 8 bells.

And thank you to the Jersey ringers for their hospitality.

On Wednesday, 2 August 2017 in 44min
Jersey, CI St John
1260 Plain Bob Triples

  1.  Judith Lainé
  2.  Paul Lawrence
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Rob Gorton
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  John Lihou
  7.  Jane Le Conte
  8.  Janice Firth

First on 8 on tower bells: 8

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey Elizabeth College, Guernsey St Peter Port

First Minimus inside for another College ringer

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When Duncan and I walked into the ringing room today something didn’t look quite right. The rope from the sound control was pulled over towards the door and it just looked as if somebody other than our band had been in there. We soon discover who, or rather what, because two pigeons were perched up on a window sill. But they were very well behaved pigeons and when Duncan opened the window they flew out one by one. We must keep the window closed in future.

After all the excitement only two boys came along to practice so the only option was minimus. Jude had never rung Plain Bob Minimus inside before but after a quick look at the blue line and hearing Duncan’s explanation of what he had to do we set off. Louis wasn’t keen on the idea of a QP because he was tired so we just started off to ring a touch so that Jude could get the idea but it went so well that it turned into a touch of 1272 changes; more commonly known as a quarter peal.

There was some really well struck ringing and it seemed clear that we had a very good chance of scoring the quarter when Louis managed to knock his glasses off . But he immediately said we should carry on. I’m not sure how well he could see without his specs but he rang very well by rhythm and carried on despite catching the specs again with the rope and moving them closer to the box he was ringing from. He ended up turning slightly away from the circle to avoid the specs so for an inexperienced ringer ringing at least partly by rhythm, he was amazing. Well done Louis for soldiering on.

Jude rang well and there were some very nicely  struck periods before he started to get tired and Louis did his rope trick with the glasses. But they both carried on until the magic words “That’s All”

Thank you lads; it was a pleasure to ring with you!

On Tuesday, 13 June 2017 in 41 min
Guernsey, CI
St Peter, Apostle and Martyr (Town Church) Tenor: 9cwt

1272 Plain Bob Minimus

  1.  Sue Park
  2.  Jude Buckley
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  5.  Louis Troalic

First on a working bell: 2

Scored, despite the tenor ringer knocking his glasses off half way through

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

100 years since the men of the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry departed Guernsey for training before being sent to the Western Front

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We will begin ringing at 7pm which is the time the boat taking the men to the UK for training left Guernsey on 1 June 1917.  And we will continue ringing throughout the evening.

Most of the commemorations will take place on Sunday when more people are able to attend so we will ring again for the Commemoration Service at the Town Church at 2pm on Sunday.

Archive, Bellringing, Bellringing Apps, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Ascension Day QP, Team Building Meal and HawkEar

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Ascension Day falls on a practice night so a team building meal was substituted for the practice and we rang a QP before the service. Since we’ve had HawkEar Duncan has been recording some touches on practice nights and also QPs and this one was no exception. Without giving too much away about the actual fault scores we reach, it is fair to say that we can already see an improvement but maybe more importantly we have areas we can focus on. It’s quite an eyeopener to read the stats and look at the shape of the ringing and I personally have a list of things to work on; way too many to tackle all at once so I’d decided to focus on leading during this quarter. It wasn’t one of our better struck quarters but when we scrolled through the path of the bells afterwards I noticed a few of my leads that were pretty accurate (gloss over the many that weren’t!). But it is worth pointing out that we are talking milliseconds. The slightly worrying thing is that even when we ring what seems to be (to us) fairly presentable Plain Bob Minor, HawkEar still records that it is an unrecognised method!

My description of HawkEar is a layman’s but still I can highly recommend it.

We were so intent on studying the results of our ringing on the TV screen that we had to be reminded that the non-ringers would be sitting in the restaurant waiting for us!

We had a great meal with plenty of team building, aka beer and wine, so a very successful evening for all.

On Thursday, 25 May 2017 in 42min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Plain Bob Minor

  1.  Jane Le Conte
  2.  Sue Park
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Mary Melbourne
  5.  Paul Lawrence
  6.  Duncan Loweth (C)

Rung for the Ascension Day service.

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

Another new method under our belt!

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There was a Confirmation Service this morning so rather than just service ringing Duncan seized the opportunity to ring a quarter of the first of our special focus methods for May, June & July. Twineham Bob Doubles.

There were some hairy moments but overall there was some pretty good ringing. Hopefully the other three variations in the Old Single group will now be easier but that may depend on how many more we ring before we have to splice them! Then of course there’s the Wainfleet, Shipway & New Bob Groups. And if we’re bored with doubles London and Scotter Surprise Minor. Oh did I forget there’s Stedman type methods on the next page…It’s going to be a busy summer!

Very nice to have Robbie join us from the Vale to ring the tenor. Hope to see you again soon Robbie.

On Saturday, 13 May 2017 in 43min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Twineham Bob Doubles

  1.  Judith Lainé
  2.  Jane Le Conte
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Tim Wainwright
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  Robbie Sherwood

Rung for the confirmation service. First in method for all.
50th QP this year: 5.

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Liberation Bells Rung to Celebrate the 72nd Anniversary of the Liberation of Guernsey from German Occupation

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To celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of the island we started our quarter peal with 72 Plain Bob Minimus followed by 1200 Grandsire Doubles.

All the island’s dignitaries including HM Lieutenant Governor were at the service so we hope Sir(e) thought our Grandsire sounded Grand.

On Tuesday, 9 May 2017 in 42min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1272 Minimus and Doubles (2m)

72 Plain Bob Minimus and 1200 Grandsire Doubles

  1.  Judith Lainé
  2.  Sue Park
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Jane Le Conte
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  Janice Firth

Rung to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Guernsey from German occupation.

Archive, Bellringing, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

100th Quarter, 1st minor, 1st minimus, a birthday, and all this week; that’s our Judith!

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Judith wanted to attempt her 100th QP on her birthday but only had 98 so really needed one last Wednesday. So many people were on holiday or otherwise busy that the only option was minimus. She thought she’d be ringing the treble but at the last minute agreed to ring inside. So 1st Minimus for her and Sue Park.

But today was the birthday and 100th QP attempt. Judith thought she’d ring the treble to some doubles but was persuaded, or was it coerced, into attempting Plain Bob Minor inside. She wasn’t too keen because she’d never really tried it before and hadn’t looked at the blue line but bravely she agreed to take the two. It would be fair to say there was a look of panic when the first single was called but she did as she was told and we scored a pretty good quarter.

Well done Judith. You now deserve a celebratory large glass of white wine!

On Sunday, 7 May 2017 in 45min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Plain Bob Minor

  1. Jane Le Conte
  2. Judith Lainé
  3. Sue Park
  4. Sue Le Feuvre
  5. Duncan Loweth (C)
  6. Paul Lawrence

Rung on, and for, the birthday of the #2 with warm
wishes from the rest of the band.

First of Minor away from treble and 100th quarter peal – 2.

On Wednesday, 3 May 2017 in 39min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 7cwt
1272 Plain Bob Minimus

  1.  Sue Park
  2.  Judith Lainé
  3.  Sue Le Feuvre
  4.  Duncan Loweth (C) 

    First on 4: 1,2.

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Town Church Guernsey’s First Annual Quarter Peal Day

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On 19 April Duncan organised our First Annual Quarter Peal Day and what a wonderful day  it was. 8 quarters; Duncan rang in 7 of them but even he couldn’t be in two places at once so couldn’t ring in the Forest Church one. There were 15 personal firsts (1st in method, first treble Bob, first as conductor). One of the Elizabeth College ringers joined us for 2 of the quarters and rang his first as conductor. We included a quarter of Julie McDonnell Slow Course Minor so added more to her sponsorship for Strike Back Against Blood Cancer.

We couldn’t have managed it without Helen McGregor and Peter Bevis kindly giving up the whole day to ring in most of the quarters and providing the stability we needed to struggle through some unfamiliar methods. Many thanks also to Patricia and Robert Newton who were on holiday in Guernsey but agreed to ring in the Bristol Surprise Major so that Jane Le Conte, Paul Lawrence and Tim Wainwright were able to score their first Bristol. Especially well done to Jane because it was her 5th QP of the day.
One of the ladies on my photography course in Sark was in town while we rang the Armitage Is The Name and said she really enjoyed hearing it as she walked around.

Thank you Duncan; when did you say the next one is?

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

We have another conductor!

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Congratulations to Judith Lainé who very confidently called her first quarter of Plain Bob Doubles this evening. Several of us commented that concentrating on putting the calls in made her much more relaxed  and steady at ringing the method as well. Award yourself a large glass of wine Judith!

On Sunday, 9 April 2017 in 46min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1320 Plain Bob Doubles

  1.  Sue Le Feuvre
  2.  Judith Lainé (C)
  3.  Sue Park
  4.  Jane Le Conte
  5.  Duncan Loweth
  6.  John Lihou

First as conductor

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

Happy Birthday Evelyn!

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Duncan asked whether we had organised a QP attempt for today because if so he would like to dedicate it to his daughter, Evelyn whose birthday it is.

A minor band was quickly found and we asked what Evelyn would like us to ring for her birthday. The answer came back “Spliced Kent and Oxford” Why do I get the impression that Evelyn had very little to do with that suggestion?

We duly turned up and tried to persuade Duncan that spliced Kent and Oxford was too ambitious for today. He believed us when we had a few false starts of Oxford! Time ticked on as we threw around a few ideas of what we might ring that had a reasonable chance of coming round and we eventually settled on splicing the St Simon’s group. I haven’t tenored behind for a while so volunteered and managed to push them along quite nicely in 40 minutes.

Enjoy your birthday Evelyn; maybe it won’t be long before you too can ring in a quarter peal.

On Wednesday, 5 April 2017 in 40min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1320 Spliced Doubles (4m)

360 St Simon’s, 360 St Martin’s, 300 St Oswald, 300 Eynesbury, 64 c.o.m.

  1.  John Lihou
  2.  Sue Park
  3.  Jane Le Conte
  4.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  5.  Paul Lawrence
  6.  Sue Le Feuvre

Birthday compliment to Evelyn Loweth, daughter of the 4.

Archive, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

It’s been an interesting week…

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We started with an attempt at a QP of Double Court Bob Minor on Sunday evening which just wasn’t going to happen so we eventually settled for Plain Bob Minor with the Double Court re-scheduled for Wednesday.

But we fared no better on Wednesday so after trying Double Oxford and Cambridge we decided to use the time to practice and try the QP again on Friday.

Thursday is practice evening and with a few people missing for various reasons there were 7 of us there and Duncan seriously put us through our paces with everything being spliced.  Not wishing to ease us in gently we started with Grandsire, Plain Bob, St Simon’s and St Martins Doubles. Contrary to the usual advice of ‘when you hear a call don’t panic you have time’ when called on or out of Grandsire we soon found out that you don’t have time to think about it; you have to do it. Now!

Things I remember are Kent and Oxford and Cambridge and Plain. I know there was more but we realised how hard we had been working when Plain and Little was called for. Duncan called “Go Plain Bob Minor” and more than one of us couldn’t remember how to ring Plain Bob!

To crown it all the pub we normally use is still closed for renovation! But we tried a different one and may even try yet a different one again next week and change our regular venue to one that has less giant screen TVs all around the bar.

Oh the QP of Double Court? Yes, we got that. It wasn’t the best struck quarter and Duncan worked hard as conductor but it was a first for all and we can tick it off.

On Friday, 24 March 2017 in 41min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Double Court Bob Minor

  1.  John Lihou
  2.  Jane Le Conte
  3.  Paul Lawrence
  4.  Sue Le Feuvre
  5.  David Reeves
  6.  Duncan Loweth (C)

First in method for all

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Handbells, Performance

Final First for Friday

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I should have learned by now that if I see one handbell QP in bellboard I shouldn’t write a report of it until the day is out because it will probably be closely followed by another. This is how I nearly missed Andrew’s first in hand at Elizabeth College. Andrew is not a student but a teacher alongside Duncan.

He is also a student member of the Town Church band but unfortunately seems to have a very busy life and it’s a while since we’ve seen him in the tower; though he did come along to our quiz yesterday evening and was a tremendous help with his recording of scores in the cut and thrust quiz.

Many congratulations on ringing your first quarter peal Andrew but please find time to come along to the tower on Thursday evenings and continue with the big bells as well.

On Friday, 17 March 2017 in 42min
Guernsey, CI Elizabeth College Tenor: size 10A#
1260 Plain Bob Minor

1–2 Andrew Mulholland
3–4 Helen M McGregor
5–6 Duncan Loweth (C)

First quarter peal: 1-2

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Handbells, Performance

First St Clements in hand for Jane

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Yet another first in method; that makes three in a day. What a difference just one more ringer makes and it’s always good to see Helen in this island.

On Wednesday, 15 March 2017 in 40min
Guernsey, CI Orlenda Tenor: size 8C
1440 St Clement’s College Bob Minor

1–2 Duncan Loweth (C)
3–4 Helen M McGregor
5–6 Jane Le Conte

First in method in hand: 5-6

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

2 firsts in today’s QP of Kent Treble Bob Minor

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Very pleased that Paul Lawrence conducted his first QP of Kent Treble Bob Minor today. And this was a first in method for Sue Park. Congratulations to both of them.

And thank goodness that the fog and Aurigny allowed Helen McGregor to join us from Alderney; her steady treble ringing was invaluable. Thank you Helen for getting up to Alderney Airport in time to catch the 7am flight which you weren’t booked on and which didn’t fly until your scheduled time of 10am. Just a normal day in the life of those living in the Channel Islands.

We would have liked to add a footnote to congratulate Duncan and his Elizabeth College ringers on being awarded the Sarah Beacham School Group Award at the recent ART Conference but he sent the QP up to bellboard and was too modest!

On Wednesday, 15 March 2017 in 46min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1320 Kent Treble Bob Minor

  1.  Helen M McGregor
  2.  Sue Park
  3.  Michael Bubb
  4.  Sue Le Feuvre
  5.  Duncan Loweth
  6.  Paul Lawrence (C)

First in method: 2
First in method as conductor

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

Sue’s First QP of Grandsire Doubles as Conductor

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Congratulations to Sue Park for calling her first quarter of Grandsire Doubles yesterday. Sue is the longest serving member of our band, having learned to ring at the Town Church when the bells were installed in 1994, and has been a member ever since.

I’m not sure why, having kept under the radar and avoided calling a quarter for so long, she broke cover now… Oh hang on, Duncan happened! He’s the best thing to happen to the Town Church ringers for a long time but he does love to find each person’s comfort zone and nudge them well beyond it. But we love it…

On Wednesday, 8 March 2017 in 43min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt

1260 Grandsire Doubles

  1.  Sue Le Feuvre
  2.  Jane Le Conte
  3.  Sue Park (C)
  4.  Paul Lawrence
  5.  Duncan Loweth
  6.  John Lihou

Rung in fond memory of Mick Scotter.
First in method as conductor

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Invitation

Town Church Guernsey Quarter Peal Day Wednesday 19 April 2017

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We are having a quarter peal day on Wednesday 19 April 2017. Not sure whether it is designated as The First Annual... but I suspect it will be.

I don’t think we’ll be starting so early that it will be as dark as Pete’s photograph is but it may well be by the time we’re finished the last one.

All are welcome and we’d be delighted to include  visitors. We are an 8 bell tower but there will also be 6 bell methods rung; possibly some at the Forest which is a light 6 bell tower.

If you would like to take part please email Duncan at townchurchbellringers@gmail.com and say what you can/would like to ring and how many quarters you are willing to ring in.

 

Photograph ©Pete Norman

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Public Relations

Local paper reports on Town Church Guernsey ringing of Julie McDonnell methods

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Its always good to get publicity for bellringing, especially when its also in aid of such a good cause as Bellringers Strike Back Against Blood Cancer. This was written in response to our latest quarter of Julie Mc Donnell Slow Course Minor.

Julie article in GEP 6:3:17

Article courtesy of The Guernsey Press and Star 7/3/2017

 

 

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Town Church Bellringers ring another QP of a Julie McDonnell method

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This time it was Julie McDonnell Slow Course Minor, again rung with an all Town Church band. This one was less tricky than the doubles and we had no problems learning the method and were pretty good at the back and front but struggled a bit with the striking in 3/4.

We finished the QP about 25 minutes before the service started so the 4 of us who stayed for service ringing quickly learned Julie McDonnell Minimus and rang a few extents. It would be a shame not to ring a tower bell QP of it since we’ve learned it…

On Sunday, 26 February 2017 in 44min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1260 Julie McDonnell Slow Course Minor

  1.  Sue Park
  2.  Tim Wainwright
  3.  Jane Le Conte
  4.  Paul Lawrence
  5.  Sue Le Feuvre
  6.  Duncan Loweth (C)

First in method for all

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

Team building evening out!

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Despite the dreadful weather the intrepid Town Church Bellringers made their way into town for a delicious meal. It might have been raining and blowing a hoolie outside but in Village East the only liquid flowing was wine. Oh and maybe just a soupçon of Single Malt for Duncan. The interesting thing is that the more Duncan had to drink the less he thought up harebrained schemes for us. Maybe we should buy him a bottle?

But I joke because we love the way Duncan has helped us to progress. We regularly ring things I never dreamed of achieving and although we sometimes fall apart we have a very much improved record of scoring the quarters we go for.

And we were all present and correct for ringing this morning.

Archive, Bellringing, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Doubles, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Performance

Duncan’s Donkeys Done Good Again!

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When I had an email yesterday afternoon confirming that we had a doubles band for a Wednesday lunchtime QP attempt and nothing had been mentioned about a special method I imagined something safe and easy; maybe Grandsire Doubles… but that email was soon followed by one from Duncan saying Thornborough Slow Course Doubles but instead of the bob being a Wallflower Extreme we are going to ring the variation which just plain hunts for the bob. To be fair he did give a description of how each bell is affected at the bob. Easy then.

It didn’t seem too difficult as I thought it through but the minute the treble said “Treble’s going” my mind went blank. But a few rounds and panic over and we got started. We all had a few hiccups along the way but yet again we managed to never all go wrong at once and it didn’t seem long before Duncan called “That’s All!” So another first scored.

It was at this point that Duncan said we could name it because the variation had not been previously rung. There were a few suggestions ;”On your pushang” was probably something we should have said to Duncan when he suggested yet another leap into the world of new methods; Sarnia was a possibility but we eventually decided on Donkey Doubles. Well we were stubborn enough to get through the method despite a few trips here and there.

And for anyone missing the connection, Guernsey folk are proud to be called Donkeys. The origin of this seems to be uncertain but we are certainly stubborn.

On Wednesday, 8 February 2017 in 47min
Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt
1320 Donkey Doubles

1. John Lihou
2. Jane Le Conte
3. Paul Lawrence
4. Sue Le Feuvre
5. Duncan Loweth (C)
6. Janice Firth

The band would like to name the variation ‘Donkey Doubles’
Thornborough Slow Course with plain hunt for for bob.

Sue Le Feuvre

Photograph shows the Town Church with a bronze statue of a donkey and her foal in the foreground.

Archive, Campanology, Channel Islands District, Doubles, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port

YES!! A QP of Stedman Doubles by an All Town Church Guernsey Band

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Six of us turned up at the Town Church at lunchtime today for a quarter peal. We hadn’t decided on a method so tossed a few ideas around. We had a minor band so tried to choose a method… then somebody had the bright idea of trying Stedman Doubles. Fine with me because I’d never found anyone willing to call a QP of Stedman for me.

And it went really well; a few trips but at no point did two of us doze off at the same time. That’s been on my wish list for many years now and I’m pleased to have scored it with an all Town Church band, in fact, the first by a Town Church band.

The ropes were pretty stiff and damp and one ringer soldiered on despite the pain of Ringing in the wRong bRa!

On Wednesday, 1 February 2017 in 43min

Guernsey, CI Town Church Tenor: 11cwt

1260 Stedman Doubles

  1.  Sue Le Feuvre
  2.  Paul Lawrence
  3.  Sue Park
  4.  Jane Le Conte
  5.  Duncan Loweth (C)
  6.  Judith Lainé

First in method: 1
First QP of Stedman Doubles: 2
First in method as conductor
First in method with all Town Church band.

Archive, Bellringing, Channel Islands District, District, Guernsey, Guernsey St Peter Port, Striking Competitions

St Anne Ringers Dominate on Guernsey

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7 Alderney ringers travelled to Town Church, St Peter Port on Sat Jan 28th to take part in the second annual simulator striking competition. Usually bellringing is very much a team activity – as will be the case when we return to Guernsey on Apr 22nd – but the January competition uses a training bell connected to a computer to score the individual ringers accuracy relative to a band of computer generated ringers. The competition was divided into 2 categories – expert & novice. Alderney ringer Peter Bevis tied for first place with Duncan Loweth from The Town Church in the experts section and Anne Dorey from St Pierre du Bois won the novice section. Peter won the experts competition outright last year so needs to watch out for Duncan in 2018. Alderney ringers Mariko Whyte and Helen McGregor tied for 3rds place in the experts section, giving Alderney 3 out of the top 4 placings. The Jersey ringers failed to be placed. The Alderney ringers took the opportunity to also visit St Pierre du Bois where they had a good practice ahead of the April competition. Every peal of bells ‘feels’ different – they have different weights of bells of course so different wheel sizes, different ceiling heights (which affects rope length) and the age of the installation affects the ease with which they are rung. Having an opportunity to ring St Pierre du Bois ahead of the April competition will have done much to steady the nerves of the Alderney band.

Helen McGregor

Photo L-R: Peter Bevis (St Anne), Duncan Loweth (Town Church) & Anne Dorey (St Pierre du Bois)