Reading Branch News

Michaelmas 2012

No. 106

Mortimer wins John Butler trophy Page 5

Shiplake hosts Training Days Page 7

Ringing for the Olympic flame Page 9

Olympic ringing on the radio: St Mary & Shiplake Pages 10-14

News from St Mary & St Laurence Page 14

Branch outing gets steamed up on Watercress line Page 15

Lens Loons go carousing in Essex Page 16

Caversham/Mapledurham outing - and new baby Pages 18-19

Jubilee peals and quarter peals Page 20

Bernard Groves’ 5,000th peal - other special ringing Pages 21-23

St Mary wins striking competition Page 4

St Mary’s team: June Saint 1, June Wells 2, Louise Ellis 3, John Manley 4,

Peter Ellis (C) 5 with Dominic, John Wells 6

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Reading Branch Officers 2010

Chairman Ann Osborne 0118 942 5876

Secretary Ken Baker 0118 943 2778

Assistant Secretary Joyce Vernon 0118 947 4281

Treasurer Keith Vernon 0118 947 4281

Ringing Masters: Robert Partridge 0118 940 1907

James Champion 0118 972 3169

Training Officer Ann Osborne 0118 942 5876

Website Manager Chris Johnson 0118 942 4048

readingbranchnews@btinternet.com

Website www.odgreadingbranch.co.uk

Youth Rep Post in abeyance

Branch Reps Keith Vernon 0118 947 4281

Len Palfrey 0118 984 2698

Diana McClure 0118 947 2353

Independent Examiners Sarah Dixon and Giles Winter

Newsletter Editor: Diana McClure, 130 Kidmore Road, Caversham,

Reading RG4 7NB Tel: 0118 947 2353 e-mail: jim.p.mcclure@btinternet.com

Bold type indicates a change that came into effect on 11 February 2012

Reading branch practices

Branch practices are held on the second Saturday of most months, usually from 10

am to 12 noon. All abilities welcome. See branch website for more details, or

contact Bob Partridge Tel: 0118 940 1907, email rapartridge2@btinternet.com or

James Champion Tel: 0118 972 3169, email jchampion16@gmail.com

Surprise practices usually take place at Shiplake on the third Thursday of the

month, 8 pm-9.30 pm. For more information contact Bob Partridge (0118 940 1907)

12-bell practices take place at St Laurence, Reading, on the last Sunday of most

months (not August or December), 1 pm to 2.30 pm. For more information, contact

Bob Partridge (0118 940 1907) or James Champion (0118 972 3169).

Minor practices are back at Shinfield (after a sojourn at Swallowfield) and they

take place on the first Monday (but not if it is a Bank Holiday) of most months

from 7.45 pm to 9 pm. For further details, contact Jeff Wallace. on 0118 988 3013 or

by email jeffwallace@talktalk.net

8-bell practices at St Mary, Mortimer, have been discontinued for the present.

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Forthcoming events

Sept. 3 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 pm to 9 pm

8 Branch Striking Competition - Nettlebed (6)

20 Surprise Practice - Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

29 ODG Michaelmas Training Day

30 Higher Numbers Practice, St Laurence, Reading, 1 pm to 2.30 pm

October 1 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 pm to 9 pm

6 ODG six-bell striking competition, Tadmarton, Banbury Branch

13 ODG Steeple Aston Course - 9 am to 6.30 pm

13 Branch Practice - Tilehurst (8) 10 am to 12 noon

18 Surprise Practice - Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

28 Higher Numbers Practice - St Laurence, Reading 1 pm to 2.30 pm

November 5 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 pm to 9 pm

10 Branch Practice & Committee Meeting - Whitchurch (6)

15 Surprise Practice - Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

24 ODG 10-Bell Striking Competition, Central Bucks Branch

25 Higher Numbers Practice - St Laurence, Reading 1 pm to 2.30 pm

December 3 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 pm to 9 pm

8 Branch Practice, Streatley (6) & Goring (8), 10 am to 12 noon

20 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

January 7 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 pm to 9 pm

12 Branch practice at St John, Mortimer (6), 10 am to 12 noon

17 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 8.30 pm

27 Higher Numbers Practice - St Laurence, Reading 1 pm to 2.30 pm

February 4 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 to 9 pm

16 Branch AGM at Shiplake (date changed - previously 9 February)

21 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

24 Higher Numbers Practice - St Laurence, Reading 1 pm to 2.30 pm

March 4 Minor Practice - Shinfield, 7.45 to 9 pm

9 Branch practice, St Giles (8), Reading

21 Surprise practice, Shiplake (8) 8 pm to 9.30 pm

The Reading Branch newsletter is written for and by members of the Branch and

contributions are always welcome. However, the views expressed therein are those

of the writers and not necessarily shared by the Editor or Branch Officers.

Editorial round-up

Lots of ringing has taken place during the summer of 2012 - and into

September. First for the Jubilee, some of which was reported in the

last issue - Jubilee ringing at Goring and Streatley is on page 20 - then

for the Olympics - see pages 9 to 14. On 8 September the Branch

Striking Competition took place at Nettlebed - see next page.

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Shiplake Ringing Centre has hosted several Training Days, two of them organised by Branch Chairman Ann Osborne, wearing her Training Officer hat. See page 7 for Cyril Crouch’s report. Reading Branch joined St Mary for their annual outing - and it was quite a steamy occasion! See page 15. Lens Loons went to Essex University this year for some quiet carousing - see page 16 for Josie Irving’s report. And Caversham and Mapledurham had a local outing together during the August Bank Holiday weekend - see page 18. And now for some lovely news: Olivia Taylor was born on 5 September - see page 19. Congratulations to her parents Jo and Alex Taylor and grandparents Gill and Roger Hopkinson. Sadly, Gill has her leg in plaster after a fall - we hope it is soon mended. Congratulations to Bernard Groves, who rang his 5,000th peal at St Laurence on 23 June. This splendid achievement, and other special ringing, is reported on pages 20 to 23.

St Mary wins 2012 Branch Striking Competition

The Reading Branch six-bell striking competition took place at St

Bartholomew, Nettlebed, (six - 5-3-17) on a sunny afternoon, Saturday

8 September. For the third year running, it included a competition for

novices. Three novice teams competed for the John Butler Trophy.

They rang alongside the six teams who were competing for the branch

Topper Trophy.

(Nettlebed church is the place for social events: on 29

September the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa attended a

wedding there. And - to quote tower captain Ralph Elmes the -

“scruffy bellringers” were invited to the reception, and toasted the

happy couple with champagne.)

Branch competition:

Congratulations to St Mary, Reading, who won the Topper Trophy

for the third year running. St Mary will go on to represent the branch

at the Oxford Diocesan Guild six-bell contest at Tadmarton, Banbury

Branch, on Saturday 6 October. See the front page for a photo of the

winning team. See next page for a photo of the Tilehurst A team,

who came a fairly close second. Photos of the other teams are on the

back page.

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Tilehurst A: l to r: Jo Shepherd 1, Jo Druce 2, Colin Newman 3,

Colin Cairns 4, Giles Winter (C) 5, Chris Johnson 6

Novice Competition: Mortimer won the John Butler Trophy and

many congratulations go to them. Mortimer had not entered a team for

many years, so this was a very satisfactory outcome, and we hope to see

them again in the future. In the photo below they can be seen with their

numbered mats, to help them identify the bells in a strange tower.

Mortimer: l to r, Janet Carless 1, Carol Wheeler 2, Jackie McGee 3,

Jeremy Wheeler 4, Andrew Slater 5, Rex Haigh(C) 6

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It was most encouraging to have three youngsters taking part: Kester

Jacob, Ella Wiles and Jack Page, all from Caversham. Jack Page also

rang in the branch competition.

The judges were Ken and Sue Davenport from Wokingham,

Sonning Deanery Branch. Afterwards, Ken read out the judges’

comments about each team, in the order in which they rang, and gave out

the results:

Team A (Nettlebed) 39 Faults - Ringing Doubles

Even leading; errors were mainly in the inside of the changes rather than

on the front or back, particularly at the lead ends to start with. One error

in a row (normally a bell that was slow) often led to another fault in the

same row. There was some hiatus in the next to last lead and the striking

never recovered.

Team B (Mapledurham) 84 Faults - Call Changes

Uneven leads. I got the impression the band was rushing the bells

because they were light and the band inexperienced on such light bells.

They had a good start but lost their way after a short while.

Team C (Tilehurst A) 25 Faults - Ringing Doubles

Faults were mainly caused by slow blows particularly in the handstroke

rows. The ringing was fairly even with no major mis-blows.

Team D (St Mary, Reading) 19 Faults - Ringing Doubles

Very good speed, fast even ringing. Some errors in the dodging but most

errors were rubs rather than clashes.

Team E (Caversham) 59 Faults - Ringing Doubles

Uneven leads led to uneven rows. Some slow backstroke leads. Most

faults were caused by bells being slow.

Team F (Caversham Novices) 86 Faults - Call Changes

Uneven with some closed handstroke leads. Although not possible in a

competition, need to establish good rounds before starting changes.

Team G (Goring) 30 Faults - Ringing Doubles

Took a long time to settle. Good ringing when settled and got better

throughout. In the better ringing the faults were rubs rather than clashes.

Team H (Mortimer) 71 Faults - Call Changes

Some good leads but lots of rows contained slight faults. Slower ringing

probably at a speed the band could manage.

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Team I (Tilehurst B) 79 Faults - Ringing Doubles

The main problem was that the band could not decide on a speed to ring.

Again some closed handstroke leads.

Position Team Faults Ringing Order

1st St. Mary 19 faults Team D

2nd Tilehurst A 25 Team C

3rd Goring 30 Team G

4th Nettlebed 39 Team A

5th Caversham 59 Team E

6th Tilehurst B 79 Team I

Novice bands:

1st Mortimer 71 faults Team H

2nd Mapledurham 84 Team B

3rd Caversham Novices 86 Team F

Afterwards, Ann Osborne, Reading Branch chairman, thanked Ken and

Sue for their services. Ian Judd gave a vote of thanks to the incumbent

for the use of the bells and for the use of the school hall, and also to the

Nettlebed band who provided a splendid tea.

Training Days at Shiplake

Shiplake Tower Captain Cyril Crouch reports: What is going on in

Shiplake Church Tower? The answer is a lot more than most people

realise.

For example on Saturday 23 June eight under 21s from the

Reading area spent the day at the church having fun, improving their

bell ringing skills, learning about the history of bells, ringing methods

on handbells, challenging their observation with a quiz and enjoying

some very popular food! Due to the use of modern technology, all this

without anyone outside the church hearing a thing! The students came

from Caversham, South Stoke, Reading, Tilehurst and Shiplake. Helpers

came from a variety of other towers in the Reading area.

Two days before, we welcomed a group of 17 students from Sir

William Borlase School in Marlow, who have been studying bell ringing

as part of a maths project.

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Recently two adults started to learn to ring our tower bells at

Shiplake, in addition to two others who began last summer.

We have some of the best facilities for teaching tower bell

ringing in the area and experienced tutors. If you are interested in

giving it a try, contact Cyril Crouch on 0118 940 2704, or look at our

website ‘www.shiplakeringingcentre.org.uk’. Cyril Crouch

Branch Training Officer Ann Osborne said the following about the

Under-21 training day on 23 June: “Eight youngsters took part and

there were another five who could not make it this time. Their ages

ranged from 10 to 20.

“The day went well and I believe they all enjoyed it. Some

rang things they had not done before - Ella Wiles (aged 13) did treble

bobbing on six and eight, for the first time - while others improved on

more basic skills. Handbells went down well with some, while others

just wanted to ring tower bells. Tim Forster, the oldest Young Ringer,

ran the ringing all day, a first for him, so training at all levels. We

concluded with some Spliced Surprise for Jack Page (aged 14) and

Tim, so all were catered for.”

Checkendon’s day at Shiplake:

a big “Thank You”

Checkendon Tower Captain

David Dickens reports:

Excitement about the Olympics

and Paralympics has died down

and it seems that the media has

returned to negative headlines

and gloomy predictions for the

future. Is there any good news?

Yes!

Checkendon ringers are

conscious of their own

limitations and wish to improve

their skills. They asked Training

Officer Ann Osborne for help.

What a response! On

Wednesday 12 September we

John Wells has Checkendon band

plain-hunting with “handbells and

bodies”

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met for a training day at Shiplake Ringing Centre. Smoothly run by

John and June Wells, supported by many experienced ringers. The

Checkendon ringers agreed it was a stimulating day covering

everything from bell handling to method ringing on eight. Plain

hunting with handbells and bodies was possibly the most entertaining

activity.

Checkendon bells will be silent until Christmas while the roof

is repaired but the ringers will attend practices at Whitchurch to

consolidate some of the skills learnt at Shiplake and to prepare for

another stimulating day in the New Year.

Many thanks to Ann, John, June and all the helpers who

contributed to a memorable day!

ODG Michaelmas Training Day: a huge thank you

The ODG Michaelmas Training Day took place on Saturday 29

September and was based at Shiplake. Seventeen learners from

different towers in the Guild were divided into three groups:

Stedman Triples - tutor John Harrison;

Basic Surprise Major - tutor Ken Davenport, and

Advanced Surprise Major - tutor Robert Newton.

They all met up at Shiplake in the morning, where ODG Master

Robert Newton gave them a warm welcome, and where they had

tutorials - and coffee and biscuits. Then each group rang at three

different towers, one of which was Shiplake. The training day began

at 9.30 am and ended at 5.30 pm.

An enormous “thank you” to Ann Osborne, who organised the

course, to the tutors and the helpers - without whom none of the

ringing could have taken place - to Joyce and Keith Vernon for

organising the helpers, to Ralph Elmes for organising the towers, and

to Shiplake Ringing Centre for hosting the event.

Learners in the Guild are very fortunate to have the benefit of

so much expert help.

Ringing for the Olympics

Ringing for the Olympics started in the Reading branch on 10 July,

when the Olympic flame came from Oxford to Reading. Church bells

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were rung in villages along the way, including Nettlebed. It arrived in

Reading on the evening of 10 July, and the next morning it was due to

leave from Caversham Court gardens by the Thames, below St Peter’s

Church, at 8.04 am.

Caversham on 11 July: There was a real holiday atmosphere

at Caversham Court Gardens on that bright sunny morning: scores of

people were there, with lots of children running around and a band of

pipers and drummers in full Highland dress. Those looking down from

the churchyard had a splendid view of the whole scene. The torch was

lit at the gazebo, at the far end of the gardens, and then the torch bearer

ran through the gardens on to the road towards Caversham Bridge and

Christchurch Playing Fields. Unfortunately, there was confusion about

the time - instead of setting off at four minutes past eight, the torch

bearer set off at four minutes to eight, just before the road was closed

to traffic… Chaos on the road.

Up in the tower, the ringers were completely unaware of the

change of time. Tower Captain Doug Beaumont started the ringing at

exactly 8 am - he’d calculated that this would ensure that the bells were

ringing when the torch bearer was running past the church. Little did

we know that when we started ringing, he was in Christchurch Playing

Fields! Oh well, we enjoyed ringing and it was a lovely occasion.

Churches throughout the Reading Banch rang for the Olympics

Opening Ceremony - and two of them were broadcast on the radio:

Olympic Opening ceremony:

Reading Bells on Radio

Berkshire

Chris Phillips reports: The Minster

church of St Mary-the-Virgin in

Reading played host to BBC Radio

Berkshire on Friday 27 July 2012 to

celebrate the opening of the 2012

Olympics. This is how the morning

went:

An early start Adam Carlill and June Saint

ringing for the radio

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7 a.m. We have been asked to be ready to ring for the first broadcast

on the local radio Andrew Peach Show at 7.20. A team of six ringers

has already arrived and rung up the 25cwt eight in readiness. We know

radio is very much a ‘now’ medium but we are somewhat perturbed

that BBC Radio Berkshire presenter Nicki Whiteman and her radio van

are nowhere to be seen at seven o’clock. A few minutes later and panic

over, in she comes, up with the aerial

and Tower Captain Pete Ellis is being

interviewed “on air” whilst we ring

Grandsire Doubles for the nice lady.

More of our band arrives and

we are able to ring a passable half

course of Yorkshire. Nicki asks to

have a go and survives her first

handling of an 8 cwt bell without

“disappearing up into the bell

chamber”. It all helps the public

education!

A bit physical

The listening audience learns that bell ringing is “a bit physical” and

that we are “all standing round in a circle pulling on the red, white and

St Mary’s early band, l to r: Kelvin Britton, June Saint, Steve

Rossiter, BBC presenter Nicki Whiteman, Peter Ellis, June & John

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blue furry bits half way down the ropes”. Nicki explains to the world

that we ringers are not just pulling on ropes in a random fashion as she

first thought but we have taken years to learn the “strict patterns,

rhythms and music to be followed to produce the delightful pealing

and to make it as enjoyable as possible to hear”.

The ages of the ringing community in St Mary’s range from

elders with more than 65 years’ experience to pre-school, who have

been listening to bells since before they were born. Most ages are

represented as the ringing band swells to almost twenty by eight

o’clock.

The Olympics are launched

Three minutes of unconstrained noise from all bells is what was

requested by Turner Prize winner artist Martin Creed. However whilst

the band are into gentle call changes, at exactly 8:12 four of the little

ones, aged from 3 to 8, provide an enthusiastic hand-bell highlight, to

the delight of BBC Radio Berkshire listeners across the Royal County

and the world via the internet.

And we successfully complete a three course touch of the Five

Rings Triples, specially composed to mark the Olympics.

Handbells for passers-by

Our starring role on local radio concludes with more interviews whilst

ringing - not easy with a microphone thrust between you and the rope.

Finally, we set up a table outside to invite bemused Reading passers-

St

Mary’sJunior Olympic

band:

with Gill Carlill

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by to join in the celebration. After that we are away to massed

breakfast in a local restaurant, 50 yards from the church and then –

back to the day jobs.

(This report by Chris Phillips was first published in The Ringing

World of 10 August 2012, page 868. Chris also took the photos.)

Radio Berkshire’s Tony Blackburn comes to Shiplake

June Saint, BBC

presenter Nicki Whiteman, Gill

Carlill and two of St Mary’s

youngsters

encourage “bemused

Reading passers-by” to join in the

Shiplake’s Olympic band: David Bowyer, Mark Benstead,

Jackie Benstead, Karen Lewis, Frankie Milford, Rosemary Appleby, Mavis Crouch, Cyril Crouch, Robert Partridge,

Joanna Knight, Joyce Vernon, James Milford, Keith Vernon

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Tower Captain Cyril Crouch reports from Shiplake: Imagine our

surprise when we received a call from Radio Berkshire asking us to host

a visit from Tony Blackburn at 07.30 on 23rd July. The purpose was to

find out about bell ringing. He interviewed Joanna Knight and Cyril

Crouch and even tried his hand at ringing a bell!

His researcher Marie Copley recorded the bells and the

interviews, broadcast later that morning on Radio Berkshire, as part of a

feature on bells, leading up to the Olympics opening ceremony on 27

July.

Four days later, on the day of the opening ceremony, in a live

interview, Tony asked Cyril about our ringing that morning, and it was

confirmed that Shiplake bells had rung at 08.12 that morning, with many

other bells across the UK, to mark the opening of the Olympic Games.

St Mary and St Laurence – September 2012

Tower Captain Peter Ellis reports: We have had a busy few months!

Chris Phillips’ report on our live performances on Radio Berkshire, for

the Olympics, is on page 10. We won the branch six-bell trophy at

Nettlebed (despite some serious competition from a number of bands) -

see page 4 - and we rang a peal at St Mary to mark the Diamond Jubilee

and another at St Laurence to mark the anniversary of Jim Diserens’

death. See below for Diana McClure’s account of our annual outing,

which featured several trains and the odd bell. So what is left for me to

write about in my report?

Well, we have done quite a bit of ‘Olympic’ ringing. Aside from

the ringing that was broadcast on the radio, we rang a quarter peal of

London Major when the torch relay passed the front of St Mary. We’ve

rung the performance of Five Rings Triples twice – once at St Mary for

the opening of the Olympics, and once at St Laurence on the first day of

the Paralympics.

At practices we have continued to grapple with ‘Reading

Alliance Major’. In fact we are starting to get on top of it, and there has

been mention of ringing a quarter of it. At St Laurence we have rung

lots of different methods on both 12 and 10 bells, with particular focus

on London Royal. One recent highlight was a quarter peal of Stedman

Cinques to celebrate significant wedding anniversaries - see page 22.

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Looking ahead, we have our annual dinner in October which has

been organised by Antoinette Jackson and Ian Judd and promises to be a

very enjoyable evening. A number of

quarter peals have been arranged to mark

the occasion.

Reading joins St Mary for

Outing with a Difference

The Reading branch outing normally

takes place early in June. This year,

however, the Jubilee was being

celebrated in the first week of June, with lots of bell-ringing, so it was

decided that the branch would join the St Mary & St Laurence outing on

Saturday 7 July.

Peter Ellis organised the outing and - like everything run by

Peter - it was great fun and a little bit different. The first tower was in

Alton, St Lawrence (18-1-20),

a beautiful old church dating

back to 1070, with eight lovely

bells. After ringing there we

walked to the Watercress Line

(the Mid Hants Railway)

Station and caught the 10.50

train to Alresford - a half-hour

journey through beautiful

countryside. We travelled in

very old-fashioned carriages

pulled by a steam engine.

Most of the railway staff are

volunteers.

The train puffed its way

up to Medstead & Four Marks,

the highest railway station in

southern England (653 feet

above sea level), then on to

Ropley, the engineering centre

of the line - great excitement

Smoke gets in your eyes? Steve and

Michael Bennett. Photos: Chris Phillips

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for the children, as we saw Thomas the Tank Engine in the shunting

yard - and then on to the attractive market town of Alresford. There

we rang at St John, the parish church of New Alresford, another

beautiful church with eight lovely bells (15-3-18).

We lunched at The Running Horse Inn in Alresford, which

serves local food and real ale. A good choice, Peter. Then we took

the train back to Alton, and rang at our last tower: All Saints. It’s a

nice bright church, built in 1873, on a busy road, with six new bells (6

cwt, cast in 2006) - and a tall band, to judge by the short ropes.

Access to the ringing chamber is quite exciting: up a long steep ladder

and then into the ringing chamber through a trap door, above the

entrance porch.

There we were joined by old friends: Steve Rossiter, Peter

Bevis and Helen McGregor and other Channel Island ringers, who had

been taking part in a Winchester & Portsmouth Guild eight-bell

striking competition at Hawkley. We had tea together, and then it was

the end of a lovely day of good ringing (Grandsire, Stedman, Plain

Bob, Spliced Surprise…) at interesting towers.

Thank you, Peter, for organising a great day out. The only

thing that could have been better was the weather: No group photo

was taken, because rain kept spoiling play.

Len’s Loons in Essex

On a cold, wet, winter (sorry summer) day in July a group of intrepid

ringers met to tour East Essex.

We were based at the University of Essex. We eventually

found our way onto campus, having been up and down a number of

dead ends and after trying to get through barriers by tailgating buses!

Discovered we weren’t all navigational novices - the map sent out by

the University was lacking in that the road needed didn’t appear to be

on it!

We were based in three flats in one house which allowed for

communal activities such as Playing Cards, Pass the Pigs, Carousing,

much discussion about the photo competition and just a little drinking.

We rang at 32 towers in all, with one lock out at Harwich - just

as well taking into account the amount of time it took to get the group

photo just right - group photo taken outside the only church we didn’t

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ring at!

Things of Note:

Most groany bell: third at Maldon

Most interesting access to ringing chamber: Great Bromley where

we were required to “walk the plank”

Nicest Light Six: Inworth

OS Maps vs Sat Nav? Pleased to report that OS won out on a

number of occasions.

The hospitality shown at a couple of churches where we were

supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits.

Favourite Roundabout – the “magic” (one oval, 5 mini) roundabout

Locked out at Harwich, l to r, standing: Colin Cairns, Ken

Baker, Mavis Crouch, Keith and Joyce Vernon, Cyril Crouch, Rosa and David Bardwell, Len Palfrey (Chief Loon) behind Jo

Druce, Ann Gardener, Michael Palfrey, Josie Irving, Sue Norbury, Stephanie May, Susie Black. Sitting or kneeling in front: Jo Knight, Harriet Thomas, John Harland - and, lying

down in front of Keith, Touche the dog

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on the outskirts of Colchester

The number of Greats – Tey, Bromley, Bentley, Baddow, Holland

(not surprising that one intrepid navigator got confused - luckily driver

was on the ball) A number of ringers got through some firsts – including three leads of

Bristol It wasn’t all ringing – some of us took in the five bells at East

Bergholt and saw them being rung; tried to walk along a footpath

which was being used by ducks swimming; experienced the delights of

Cudmore Grove Country Park and rang Ashford Triples down the

beach (much to the amazement of some runners); watched Wimbledon

Men’s Final in the Student Union Bar; had fish and chips on the beach;

found some very nice eateries and caught up with a number of friends.

All in all a great week with good food, good company and some

interesting bells. Roll on 2014! [Loon tours take place every other

year] Josie Irving

Addendum from Len Palfrey: It was with great sadness that we learnt

of the sudden death of our mascot, Touche, only hours after getting

home from the tour. We will miss her enthusiastic greetings and

endless licks.

Caversham and Mapledurham joint outing

Ann Osborne very kindly offered to organise a local outing for

Caversham and Mapledurham. Finding a date that suited everybody

proved challenging: one ringer was very involved with the Light

Aircraft Association, some were away, one was having a baby and

moving house… In the end, 25 August, Bank Holiday Saturday, was

chosen as the date that suited most of us. We set off on what turned out

to be - for this summer and considering it was the Reading Festival

weekend - quite a sunny day.

Our first tower was at SS Peter & Paul, Checkendon (8 bells -

10-1-21). At first it looked as though it was a lock out, but fortunately

a man came to wind the clock. He very kindly let us in and we had an

enjoyable half hour ringing in that beautiful church.

Next stop was St Helen, Benson (8 bells - 14-1-22). The

ringing chamber is lovely, with a new carpet. The bells were rehung in

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2009 and go very well - but some of us found the bigger ones rather

heavy. We were glad to cross the road to the Waterfront Café, where we

had a very good meal, sitting in the sunshine by the River Thames.

St Bartholomew, Nettlebed (6 bells - 5-3-17), the venue for the

branch striking competition on 8 September – see page 4 - was the next

tower. This gave the bands a chance to practise their test piece. As is

often the way, they rang much better then than on the day of the

competition.

The eight bells at St Mary, Wargrave (17-2-10), were quite

different from those of Nettlebed: much heavier and on plain bearings. It

is a lovely church in a beautiful setting, with a very pleasant ringing

chamber. We all enjoyed having a go at ringing there.

The last tower was St Mary,

Twyford (8 bells - 12-0-10), with an

octopus instead of a spider. The bells

there go very well, and it was a great

way to end the outing.

Many thanks, Ann, for taking

us to lovely local villages - and well

done Kester Jacob, aged 10, for

Lunch at Waterfront Café, Benson. Julie and James

Champion on the left, Christine Bisgrove at foot of the table, Kester Jacob & Ralph Elmes on the right, others half hidden

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ringing so competently on bells that are much heavier than he is used to.

And the reason Jo Taylor did not come on the outing…

Many congratulations to Jo and Alex Taylor on the birth of their

daughter Olivia Mary on Wednesday 5 September 2012.

Olivia was born at Swindon Hospital, and weighted in at 8 lb 4 oz. She

showed great consideration for her parents, by arriving about a fortnight

after they had moved house, from Reading to Thatcham. Our best

wishes to the Taylor family.

Congratulations also to Olivia's grandparents, Gill and Roger

Hopkinson, who ring at both Caversham and Mapledurham. Jo will be

sorely missed in the Reading branch, especially at Mapledurham, where

she rang and was also the tower secretary

A quarter peal is being arranged at Caversham for Olivia, and

the proud Grandad will ring the tenor.

Roger Hopkinson took the photo of Olivia, on the day she was

born. He also took the photo at the Waterfront Café, Benson.

Jubilee Ringing at Goring and Streatley

St Thomas of Canterbury, Goring, Oxon, Monday 4 June 2012 in 2h

44 (8), 5152 Jubilee S Major, Composed: J Reeves

1. Ian G Judd 2. Christopher M Tuckett

3. Antoinette J R Jackson 4. Josie S Irving

5. June D Wells 6. Robin P D Middleton

7. E John Wells (C) 8. Nicholas J Clarke

Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

St Mary, Streatley, Berkshire, Sunday 3 June 2012,

1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor: 1. Ian Judd (C) 2. Antoinette Jackson

3. Josie S Irving 4. Andrea N Gilbert

5. Wendy Middleton 6. Robin Middleton

Rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II

St Mary, Streatley, Berkshire, Sunday 27 May 2012,

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1260 Plain Bob Minor:

1. Caroline Harwin 2. Antoinette Jackson

3. Jill Kirby 4. Ian Judd (C)

5. Wendy Middleton 6. Andrea Gilbert

Rung to mark the Berkshire Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s

Diamond Jubilee at St Mary, Reading.

Other ringing over the Jubilee weekend included ringing following the

unveiling of the new village sign and ringing 60 blows at both Goring

and Streatley at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday to herald the toast to the Queen at

the Goring and Streatley street party

Bernard Groves’ 5,000th peal

St Laurence, Reading, Berks, Saturday 23 June 2012, 5042 Cambridge

Surprise Maximus in 3 hrs 18 min (23), Composed Ian Butters (421).

1. Colin M. Turner 2. Brian Bladon

3. Katharine J Firman 4. Nicola J Turner

The Belfry Barge leading the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

at Chelsea on Sunday 3 June - photo by Richard Bisgrove

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5. Helen J Piper 6. Bernard F L Groves (C)

7. Graham G Firman 8. Graham G C John

9. David G Salter 10. Peter Bridle

11. Roger J Crocker 12. Frank W Rivett

5,000th peal 6

Stedman Cinques for special Wedding Anniversaries

St Laurence, Reading, Monday 17 September 2012,

1306 Stedman Cinques:

1. June Wells 2. Sarah Barrett

3. Mary Friskney 4. Christopher Tuckett

5. Louise Ellis 6. Jack Page

7. Keith Anderson 8. Kelvin Britton

9. John Wells (C) 10. Robert Partridge

11 .Peter Ellis 12. John Manley

Rung as a compliment to Pauline and Kelvin Britton on their 35th

Wedding Anniversary that day. Also as a compliment to June Saint

and Stephen Rossiter on their 25th Wedding Anniversary last week,

and to Louise and Peter Ellis on their 10th Wedding Anniversary.

Three firsts in one quarter peal

St Laurence, Reading, Wednesday 4 July 2012

1260 Plain Bob Royal in 46 mins (23)

1. Susan E Davenport 2. Jack Page *

3. Elizabeth J Davenport 4. Steve C Wells

5. Tim R Forster ** 6. Graham E Slade

7. Kenneth R Davenport 8. Edward JW Manley (C)***

9. Jon P Tutcher 10. Stephen R Smith

First on 10 tower bells 2, First in method on 10 bells 5. First as

conductor of PB Royal 8. A Sonning Deanery quarter (with help from

Reading)

Jack Page’s first quarter peal on twelve bells

St Laurence, Reading, Sunday 8 July 2012,

1311 Stedman Cinques in 51 mins (22):

23

1. June Saint 2. June D. Wells

3. Edward J. Manley 4. Colin G Newman

5. Giles Winter 6. Jack Page * 1st on 12

7. Helen McGregor 8. Kelvin Britton

9. E John Wells (C) 10. Douglas J Beaumont

11. Stephen A Rossiter 12. Peter J R Bevis

Joanna Knight’s first Royal inside

St Laurence, Reading, Monday 16 July 2012

1282 Lincolnshire Surprise Royal, in 55 minutes (20)

1. June Wells (C) 2. Louise Ellis *

3. Giles Winter 4. Joanne Druce *

5. Joanna Knight ** 6. Kelvin Britton

7. Steve Smith * 8. John Manley

9. Robert Partridge 10. John Wells

First Lincolnshire Royal: 2, 4, 7.

First Royal inside: 5.

In Memoriam

Jim Diserens died on 7 September 2011, aged 79, in Germany; from a

heart attack, when he and his wife Helen were visiting their son Brian.

St. Laurence, Reading, Saturday 8 September 2012 in 3h19 (23)

5088 Bristol Surprise Maximus Composed: Noel J Diserens

1. David P Hilling (C) 2. Katharine J Firman

3. Brian Bladon 4. June D Wells

5. Patricia M Newton 6. Simon M Alford

7. Ronald F Diserens 8. E John Wells

9. Robert H Newton 10. Brian P Diserens

11. Andrew W R Wilby 12. Richard H Burton

In memoriam: Noel J Diserens, on the first anniversary of his death.

St Giles, Reading,

Saturday 8 September 2012 in 2h54 (14)

5056 Cambridge Surprise Major Composed: Noel J Diserens

Branch striking competition

Goring, clockwise from right: Ian

Judd (C) 1, Antoinette Jackson 2,

William Harwin 3, Josie Irving 4,

Wendy Middleton 5, Robin Middleton

6. See front page for St Mary and

page 5 for Tilehurst A and Mortimer.

Nettlebed, l to r: Jeremy

Simon 1, Ralph Elmes (C)

5, Mark Castle 2, Susan

Byers 4, Viv Bloundele 6,

Julie Champion 3.

Caversham: Ann Osborne

1, Jenny Page 2, Julie

Champion 3, Ralph Elmes

4, Jack Page (C) 5, James

Champion 6.

Tilehurst B: Jo Knight 1,

Rosa Bardwell 2, Eunice

Wark (C) 3, Bob Sherwood 4,

David Bardwell 5, John

Southern 6.

Mapledurham: Christine Bisgrove

1, Ann Osborne 2, Diana McClure

3, David Sumner 4, Roger

Hopkinson 5, Richard Bisgrove (C)

Caversham novices:

Kester Jacob 1, Ella Wiles

2, Jane Havelock 3, Vicky

Alexander 4, Jack Page

(C ) 5, Roger Hopkinson 6.