Please note that the calendar has been updated for Sat 22 December, at St Dunstan, Stepney. Nine Lessons and Carols at 1830, followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Singing to be led by the Thames Chamber Choir and also featuring Tom Lawrance’s hand bell group. All Docklands Ringers welcome, particularly those who have rung at Stepney during the year. Service ringing volunteers wanted to muster 1745. Please contact Julian if you can ring or for any questions.
Category Archives: Events
DRC Annual Challenge Striking Contest
If it’s the DRC AGM, then it must be the annual challenge striking competition between Stepney and Bermondsey bands. Keen to rebuff their 100% losing record, Andrew Clark selected two teams for the call changes and method bands and even had rehearsals.
Ian Mills kindly offered to sit outside St Marys, Rotherhithe on a really cold day to judge the action.
Team 1 was Stepney call changes, team 2 Bermondsey call changes, team 3 Stepney method, and team 4 Bermondsey method.
The Stepney Band confidently waiting for the signal to ring first in the Striking Competition. Left to Right Kevin Turner, Elizabeth LeMoine, Greg Rose, Joe, Chris Giddins, Ed Bucknall, Jonathan Slack
The greater experience of the Stepney teams prevailed once again in both events. Although Ian did provide me with his score sheets, common decency (and being on the losing side) inhibits them being published here. However, Ian did comment that the Bermondsey call change band ‘obviously enjoyed ringing as it went on a long time’.
So, once again, we have a nice picture of Ian Mills presenting the Cup (and Saucer) to Elizabeth.
Ian Mills presenting the challenge cup and saucer to Elizabeth LeMoine
Loch Ness Marathon September 30th 2012
Only a fool does the same thing repeatedly and expects a different result. So having suffered pain and misery in the London Marathon in 2010 Andrew Clark from Bermondsey said ‘never again.’ This Sunday sees him running the Loch Ness Marathon – and this time there are hills!
Its Nessie – no apparently its Andrew after a training session
‘I have a couple of very good reasons for running,’ he argues. His friends Helen and Martin Marshall had premature twins earlier in the year. Peter and James were less than 2 pounds each when born and have needed a lot of help and support as they have grown. One charity that has provided this help is Pop’n’Grow and this is who Andrew is running for Sunday.
Peter and James
A small charity, just a year old, Pop’n’grow supply specially designed clothing to Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Special Care Baby Units. This clothing comes with a lot of support and understanding, designed initially when Paula Smith was sitting watching her daughter in NICU and realised how scary it all looked.
‘Any money that people donate will make a real difference to the charity and the families it supports’ explains Andrew. ‘Each baby grow costs £4.50, but with 209 NICU units around the country they are looking to raise in excess of £21000 a year to make sure they are all supplied.’ To find more information about Pop’n’Grow go to www.popngrow.co.uk or look for them on Facebook. If you can sponsor Andrew, please do contact him on quasi1981@hotmail.com
Article and photos from Andrew Clarke, captions from Webmaster
St Mary’s Church Rotherhithe Bell Tower open to the public Sunday, September 23rd 2012
11am -1pm & 2-4 pm
St Mary’s Church
St Marychurch Street
SE16 4JX
Nearest pubic transport Rotherhithe Overground or C10 381 buses.
Step inside a historic bell tower. Meet the ringers and see them in action.
View the bells in motion (no unaccompanied children, please). Find out
about other towers in the area where bells are rung. Sign up for a lesson.
If you are unable to join us on Sunday but would like more information
about ringing in the Docklands area, contact us:
info@docklandsringers.co.uk or 0845 680 4305
The DRC are opening Rotherhithe Bell Tower on Sunday, September 23rd 2012 for tower tours and ringing demonstrations. Several other buildings in Rotherhithe vilage are opening as part of Open House London 2012 including Sands Studios and the Brunel Museum.
View or download flyer here
For more information on Rotherhithe tower including history and directions, click here
Bermondsey Band Come Second in Surrey Striking Contest
Picking between competing in a striking contest and watching the first British contestant in the mens’ doubles for seventy years is never an easy choice, but Elizabeth picked a band happy to travel to Colliers Wood for the annual Surrey Striking Competition. Despite a preference for non-competitive ringing, our social instincts won the day. A few of us had already spent the morning on a training session for bob doubles so we decided to truly alienate our partners for the day.
Our record in these events is mixed to put it kindly, but we consider ourselves willing travellers – even to zone three on occasion.
Colliers Wood was a new tower for most of us, and we were initially drawn fifth out of five bands, but swapped with the last band who were waiting for a late-arriving contestant. Listening to the first band, we had a few concerns as the bells definitely sounded a bit ‘light’. When it came to our turn, Elizabeth cunningly called a few changes so that we had a quick try on leading. This was Elizabeth’s first go at conducting in a competition, so we had practiced the routine on the previous Tuesday and Elizabeth had practiced shouting loudly. Both appeared to have paid off as we finished second out of five bands to an excellent Croydon effort. A scratch team of experts and beginners entered at the last minute and actually had the fewest faults, but were not placed as the official winners because of some reason that I can’t remember.
DRC Band in Surrey Striking Competition 2012. From left – Mike Todd, Elizabeth LeMoine, Joe Taylor, Alison Hammond, Andrew Larsen, Morag Todd
The best part about going second is that you are then free to drink the polypin of beer considerately provided by the organisers (as evidenced in our team photo). The childrens’ party that had been going in the adjoining hall then sent over their leftover food. I’ve never seen sushi at a childrens’ party before, but then I’ve never been to Colliers Wood before either and standards are obviously rather different there to where I grew up (Bristol – a bit more faggots and peas).
So, the editor dashed off home to repair matrimonial damages, while the rest of the band chatted with our Surrey hosts. Many thanks to Surrey for their organisation and hospitality; thanks to Elizabeth for her conducting. See you next year !