With all the hot temperatures and no rain we have done our own form of rain dance! finally taken the plunge on a quiet practice night to alter the ropes and get them back to a standard sort of length. Watch the rain come and then everyone will moan that the ropes are too short! Our self inflicted problem is that there is about 60Ft of rope "stored" on the top ends for future use so this task involves moving quite a lot of rope to have a very small adjustment. However all ropes have been moved up about six inches and then some practice was had on learning to ring two tower bells at once.
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A bus tour out today to visit all towers dedicated to St Helens - not as easy as it sounds since there not that many with the dedication. However we have been fortunate to ring at Sharnford (6), Saddington (6), Great Oxendon (5) and Thornby (5). we rang a range of methods from Stedman to Plain bob as well as mixed doubles and London minor. A brave band even rang a course of Plain Bob minor - a six bell method - on the five bells and Great Oxendon! This is achieved by leaving a gap for the treble and demands a bit of concentration! Our lunch was taken care of by the Crown and Tur Langton who delivered the food promptly and it was lovely. Our thanks goes also to our bus drivers James and Matt. We even has lovely sunny weather. Once again the bells welcomed the New Year in with a full team and some spares. We stuck with tradition as well with the bells half muffled before midnight and then with the ties removed welcomed the New Year with open bells. Happy New Year to you all  Andy, Xavier, Helen, Quentin, Hazel, Jonathan & Mike welcome in 2026 A visiting band from Lincolnshire scored two quarters one at Nether Whitacre and the other at Shustoke today. The bells were heard by the villagers and reported back to your correspondent. Details of the performances can be found in our records or on bellboard.
The bellringers have sponsored a tree as part of St Cuthberts Shustoke Christmas tree festival. You might spot some of the local ringers on the tree! Do come along and visit the event which runs to December 7th.  The trapdoor immediately below the third bell which gives access to the actually bell frame fell apart some years ago. With the winter weather coming a replacement has been made - in sections of course so it can be got up the staircase - this not only stops the third bell from shouting down the tower but also should cut down the draft which rises up the staircase. Xavier once again has proved his worth becoming a quarter peal conductor whilst still under 16. A quarter was rung after we met as a five on practice night and the suggestion that he should conduct a Plain Bob Doubles quarter was put into action. A well struck and reasonably quick quarter peal was scored just within the time restraints of the practice night. The quarter was dedicated to the Remembrance of the Duchess of Kent.
1260 Plain Bob Doubles Rung in 41 minutes on the front five Treble - Hazel Herschell 2nd - Anne Jackson 3rd - Quentin D Howell 4th David Jackson 5th Xavier D Howell (first as conductor) Xavier was part of the "Three Spires" team which scored top marks in the Advanced Call Change category beating eleven other teams to the title. With their score of 9.5 out of 10 they also came away with the Whitechapel Trophy awarded to the best call change band overall from the basic 6 and Advanced 8 bell teams (17 teams) The group had a very busy day ringing at some towers over the Birmingham area including St Paul's Jewellery Quarter bells which had two mini rings on site as well and trying out some handbells in a tutorial at St Martins. Nine ringers gathered to ring some nice Stedman, Plain Bob doubles and lots of rounds to see out the old and then welcome in the New Year.  Quentin, Mike, Hazel, Roy, Doreen, Xavier, Ruby, Helen and Andy - Our 2025 Band |
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