Xavier was part of the Three Spires team entered by the Lichfield Guild which took place in London. The team had an early morning slot at St James Garlickhythe (the tower in which the Queens golden jubilee bells are now hung) and then enjoyed open ringing at various City of London towers including the famous St Mary le-Bow bells. Three Spires came 3rd in the call change competition on six bells out of a total of 14 teams and were very pleased to get a medal and credit for their hard work. Well done to all the team. An expected shortfall of ringers tonight turned into a bumper practice with two visiting ringers eventually allowing the band to reach dizzy heights of ringing after completing our usual repertoire. We then added Kent, Double Oxford, touches of Stedman and even a plain course of Cambridge to our achievements.
Our roving retired tower keepers have been up the belfry again checking for crows as they have a habit of nesting inside the bell frame. Once again several access holes were blocked with netting and a small nest high up was checked as empty and then removed. Last time the crows go in they almost stopped the treble from being able to swing in its pit!
The Browning Society visited both Over Whitacre and Lea Marston churches today before travelling on to sample other three bell delights at nearby Wishaw and Middleton. The opportunity was taken to record the bells in their frame in action. The bells were rung to ring out the old year and to welcome the new year in. Xavier rang the midnight tenor for the first time tonight and the band rang a rang from very good rounds and called changes to Stedman doubles as well as a super lower in peal at the end. For once after many years it was lovely to have more than six ringers present. Happy New Year to you all. Maurice was a keen ringer with our band but was also in charge of Shustoke for many years. Whilst he has not rung with us due to ill health since before Covid prior to this he was a regular attender to both practice nights and service ringing at Whitacre. Our thoughts are with his family as they mourn his passing. Seven ringers were able to ring for the service with some excellent rounds being completed and Hazel back ringing on a bell for the first time in a while after an operation. Well done to all.
1440 Plain Bob Minor
On Sunday 7th May 2023 in 50 minutes 1 Anne Jackson 2 Hazel Herschell 3 Xavier Howell 4 David Jackson 5 Helen Howell 6 Quentin D. Howell (c) Rung to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on May 7th. First quarter of minor for Third We also rang a short calling of rounds immediately afterwards so Ruby Howell could ring at the church having been one of our new learners to ring properly for the first time over the weekend at Kingsbury, Drayton Bassett and Tamworth. 1260 Plain Bob Doubles On Thursday 13th April 2023 in 45 minutes 1 Steve Collins 2 Helen Howell 3 Xavier Howell 4 David Jackson 5 Quentin D. Howell (c) 6 Mike Miller Rung to celebrate the forthcoming Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on May 7th. First quarter inside for Third Got passed two photographs today which have helped to illustrate the history of our church and bells. The first is an interior shot showing the rear of St Giles church before when the bells were rung from the downstairs. Although the image shows the newly installed electric lighting probably dating from the 1920's or 1930's it clearly shows the three bell ropes and the area as it was when the six bells were installed in 1977. The second shows a "swiftways" lorry collecting our bells from their original home church of Hampton in Arden circa 1975. This lorry was paraded around the village to show the inhabitants the new bells, hence the loudspeaker attached to the lorry cab. Interesting the bells still have their cannons and wooden headstocks so this shows the bells before they went to Taylors to be tuned and machined. My thanks goes to those who both loaned and found these photographs which have been added to the history area of this website too.
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