The DRC staged an ‘open day’ following service earlier today at St James, Bermondsey. Following extensive local advertising including leafleting and radio appearances, DRC members set up static displays and entertained visitors inside the ringing chamber where demonstrations of ringing were provided.

The event was designed both to engage the local community as  a ‘good neighbour’ and to attract potential recruits to ‘taster’ sessions on the following two Tuesday evenings (April 17th and 24th, 18:30 at St James, Bermondsey).

A good mixture of congregation, local residents, passers-by and dog-walkers were enticed into the church.  Response from attenders was good and elicited a number of expressions of interest who have since been emailed with details of the upcoming taster sessions.

 

‘It was very nice to see you at our open day here at St James Church today and we hope you enjoyed the ringing demonstration.

If you would like to experience the art of bell ringing for yourself please come along to one of our practice evenings which are held every Tuesday.  On Tuesday 17th and 24th April we will be holding some special introductory classes with teachers on hand to help get you started and guide you through the basic bell ringing technique.  These classes will start at 6:30pm and finish at 7:30pm when our usual Tuesday practice starts.  Please feel free to stay as long as you wish into this practice session also.

The entrance to the tower on these evenings will be through the far right hand side door as you face the church.  If you come along after the practice has started please ring the top doorbell, which will be lit up, and someone will come down to let you in.

Look forward to seeing you.

Kind regards

Alison Hammond, Tower Secretary’

 

Many thanks to all the DRC members who set up the event and helped out on the day. Thanks also to Simon and Ed for the pictures.

Docklands Ringers will be ringing on the route of the London Marathon for the 5th consecutive year on Sunday 22 April. This year we return to our original pitch in Evelyn Road, Deptford.

It’s a fun – if early – morning’s work and if you’ve never rung the Charmborough bells, this is your chance. We need a team to unload (before 7.30am) and erect the ring under the supervision of Roger Booth. Any ringers who want to join in and provide the ringing are very welcome. There’s usually time for two quarter peals and some open ringing. We’re on a site with a few spectators, too, so we’ll use the recruitment opportunity to hand out leaflets and talk to interested passers by. When it’s all over the ring needs to be dismantled and loaded on to its trailer. Access is easiest from Cutty Sark DLR (about a 10-minute walk). For other transport, check the TfL website for changes to bus services and access, as it’s not possible to cross the route once the marathon is underway. Come and cheer on ringers running this year, including Clara Westlake and our own Gill Harris!
Please contact Jonathan if you’re available to help in any capacity.

Gill Harris, a member of the Stepney band, will be running the London Marathon in a couple of weeks time to help raise funds for the rehang of the bells at Southwark Cathedral.  Southwark Cathedral is a tower supported by many of the Stepney ringers including Jonathan and Chris who ring there regularly.

Please sponsor Gill here: www.virginmoneygiving.com/GillianHarrisBells

More details about the rehang

The last major work to be carried out on the bells was in 1965 when the lightest six bells were re-hung on (then) modern fittings.  With regular use the fittings inevitably wear over time and it is now necessary to replace them and re-hang the bells.  This will have the following benefits:

• The bells will continue to be heard for the next generation rather than being allowed to fall into disrepair
• The bells will be made physically easier to ring with modern fittings making the “go” of the bells easier.
• The bells will be made easier to get good rhythmical ringing by correcting the timing variations between the bells (known as “odd-struckness”)
• Although they will inevitably remain challenging due to their weight, fewer visiting ringers and members of the local bellringing associations will be put off by the bad go and odd-struckness (see above), so the bells will be available for more people to ring.

To achieve this, the intention is to remove the bells from the tower in order to:

• Carry out tightening and strengthening work on the frame
• Make alterations to some of the bells to enable them to hang in correct alignment
• Make alterations to some of the bells to enable the clappers to hang straight within the bell
• Re-hang the bells in the existing frame (1735 and contemporary with the bells), with all new fittings

From quotes obtained in 2009 it is anticipated that this work will cost in excess of £100,000.