Once again we have managed to ring fully muffled for the Remembrance service both before and afterwards - putting the bells down. It is the first time that the second ringer Ruby has rung in rounds for a service unaided and the first time that her family have rung together.
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Actually had 13 people come to our practice this evening including our long lost learner Shaun who returned to see if he could remember how to handle a bell in rounds (he could). We also had our youngest learner have a go on the our heaviest bell as well as ringing bob minor and Stedman doubles.
The bells were rung on the 19th September 2022 deeply muffled immediately following the committal service at St Georges Chapel, Windsor on the day of the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The ringers who rang were Steve Collins, Quentin Howell, Xavier Howell, David Jackson, Anne Jackson, Michael Miller Requiescet in pace Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022 The bells were rung fully muffled after the formal announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We used both our new and old muffles to complete this ringing and made sure that all present both old and young were able to ring. Even our youngest learners both are able to say that they rang for this event. The bells in England have not been heard this way since the death of the Queens father so it is a very rare event to hear the bells ringing in this way.  Turns out to be a bit of a learner evening tonight which was lovely. New recruit Issy came up for the first time and joined Ruby in our younger learners band whilst Dave came over from Shustoke to have a go on different bells. Dave holds the accolade of being the last ringer to be taught to handle a bell by Dick Dale. In actual fact we had a busy evening even if we only rang a course of plain bob and grandsire doubles and the light warm evening makes it weather that Dick would have almost considered too hot to ring in!
A group of us met to celebrate the dedication of Her Majesty the Queen and rang to remind people of the service starting at Westminster this morning. David and Anne, Mike, Steve, Hazel, Quentin and Xavier all participated in ringing rounds and call changes - including the tune Queens of course - as well as plain bob minor and grandsire doubles.  L-R: Anne, Hazel, David, Xavier, Mike, Steve, Quentin An impromptu quarter peal attempt as we had the band present and there was no pressure resulting in a pretty quarter being rung and scoring two people their first ever quarter peal attempt. Much praise is due to Xavier who is only 12 ringing the treble which involves moving amount the working bells and to Mike who rang the tenor keeping the beat without errors for so long. It was planned to ring this quarter a little nearer the event but the quarter was then dedicated to the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  A quarter peal of
1260 Plain Bob Doubles was rung in 45 minutes Treble Xavier Howell - first quarter Second Helen Howell Third Hazel Herschell Fourth David Jackson Fifth Quentin Howell - conductor Tenor Mike Miller - first quarter The bells at Shustoke were rung today both for Easter and for the Christening of Ava. The bells sound lovely but it was clear we have not ring them for a while as they were a little stiff for a bit. The Sunday sun and the bells made it a lovely service.
Post covid we have been developing our band bringing on our new learners whilst missing our stalwart Dick. Fortunately with help from other towers we have reached a milestone with plain hunt and bob doubles now being rung quite competently and our ringing up and down sounding really pleasant. It is nice to have a lovely bunch of people working together. Tonight was a particular milestone as we rang plain bob minor for the first time for several years after many months of plan hunt and bob doubles. Even managed some grandsire tonight too.
We last rang the new year celebration back in 2019 but then only managed to ring five and have not rung it properly since 2018. This year we met with a few more than we needed to ring the old year out half muffled and then ring 2022 in with open bells. We missed Ian and Jane who are now based elsewhere and remembered David and Dick (who no doubt heard us from the churchyard) and both would of approved of the nice touch of Plain Bob Doubles that welcomed the New Year in. Happy New Year to all.  Mike, Steve, Xavier, Quentin, Hazel, Helen and Roy rang this evening |
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