The midsummer bellringing season began with rather a small turnout on our Thursday 11th July practice with only six ringers turning up. As those present were all familiar with ‘Grandsire Doubles’ the band concentrated on polishing up their grasp of this basic method.
Saturday 13th saw a depleted band of four ringing at St Cuthbert’s for the memorial service for Mary and Maurice Woodward, previously the Tower Captain at St Cuthbert’s, Shustoke.
Those at our Thursday 18th practice were held in awe by a very young ringer, 10 years old, who very shyly, but competently rang ‘Grandsire’, ‘Bob Doubles’ and a more complicated method, ‘Stedman’ faultlessly.
Roy, Doreen and Catherine from Kingsbury joined us on our last two sessions in July.
The resident band with an invited conductor, Michael Chester, rang a Quarter Peal of 1260 Stedman Doubles in 43 minutes, before the induction service held on Tuesday 30 July, for Rev Mark Waterstreet as he took up the post of Rector of the Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke churches and Vicar of Dosthill, with other local ringers taking us up to the start of the service.
Newly inducted Mark, was ceremoniously handed the keys of the church and invited to chime the church bell which he did eight times.- Traditionally, this is the minimum number of years the new vicar can be expected to serve the congregation.
On Friday 2nd August the group were pleased to be invited to ring for the wedding of Margaret and Simon. We wish them much happiness in their future lives together.
Our August Thursday night sessions were well attended with Jonathan progressing to ringing rounds and called changes and ringing his first full public performance for the Sunday service on the 25th August. Well done!