The tenor bell at St Leonard’s, Over Whitacre, was tolled on Sunday 2nd June, 2019 to mark the occasion of re-dedication of family graves. The church was packed for a simple service of remembrance led by Marjorie Walton. The bell was tolled from 10.45 until 11.00am. Tolling is ringing slowly and stately a single bell. Usually the tenor it is associated with funerals and remembrance.
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WIth the ringing taken place this year it has been noted the the ropes are well past their prime and Allesley tower has kindly donated some ropes which has replaced them and even match the interior with the green coloured sally. The bells themselves are so close to the chamber that the new ropes do not have to be very long at all so can make use of parts of longer ropes which have already worn out. The two ropes now fitted were trailed for the Christmas Carol service today and the feel of soft sallies were much appreciated.
This month has passed very quickly and Easter has come and gone. In the end we have too many ringers away over Easter and it was a struggle to even raise a service band let alone ring our quarter. We considered celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Titanic but have settled on our renewed aim of a quarter peal for the Queens Jubilee instead. Progress of a different kind this month. After a long absence, certainly over twenty years Over Whitacre finally has two bells both with stays. With the daylight now here and once again with thanks to Fillongley ringers who donated the missing toggle and stay the treble bells is once again complete. Once we had made a pattern we have reused the top section of the recently broken Nether Whitacre tenor stay (heaviest bell so much longer than the little bell it is destined for at Over Whitacre). This stay is small enough to be made from the top uncracked section of this stay. Surely a good example of reuse in action! Whilst up in the tower an opportunity was made to record the bells and to take some photographs. This has been added to a new section on Over Whitacre bells which can now be viewed on this website which now has home pages for Lea Marston, Over Whitacre and of course mainly Nether Whitacre. Now that the warmer weather is here and you feel like a new challenge do come up and see us on a Thursday night even if you just want to see what happens.  New tenor stay fitted at Nether Whitacre After a long absence certainly over twenty years Over Whitacre finally has two bells both with stays. Finally able to squash rumours that the bells has one of each type it can confirmed that the fairly modern steel framed two bells have hastings stays. With thanks to Fillongley ringers who donated the missing toggle, the treble bell is once again complete. Steve, Maurice and Quentin spent about 3 hours making the donated stay fit the headstock and this has now been removed to be copied in ash. This will use the top of the recently broken tenor (heaviest bell) at Nether Whitacre as the Over Whitacre stay is small enough to be made from the top uncracked section of this stay. Surely a good example of reuse in action!  The trebles new stay - pattern made from oak fitted before remanufacture in ash. Recently the number of visitors to our website has risen and we hope that the viewers are finding what they need and are impressed. We are still looking for photographs to add to the history section. If anyone has a shot of the back of the church which shows the bell ringing chamber when it was downstairs prior to 2002, we would love to have a copy or to scan it for the website. It is remarkable how few interior photos of the rear of the church that can be found. If you have any of interest please either contact the webmaster through the website or see Hazel Fellows at church.
A news section has now been added to which viewers can subscribe and hear all our news when it happens. The two bells at Over Whitacre have been rung once this month for a funeral and the problem that one of the bells is missing a part called the stay, has come to our attention again. To this end a replacement stay with fittings has been acquired with thanks to the Fillongley ringers. This will be fitted when time and the daylight hours permit but will then mean, that both bells can be rung properly for the first time, in many years. This month we have continued to practice our Plain Bob minor ready for the planned special ringing of a quarter peal at Easter. With the weather gradually warming up, already the lighter nights make practice nights a more pleasant time, after the very chilly and dark winter evenings all bellringers have to endure. If you are thinking of trying out a new hobby why not come and join us. Do come up on a Thursday night and see what we do. If you like what you see, we will gladly give you a small taster as we always need new recruits. |
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