Spring clean at Isle of Dogs

Thanks to a lot of hard work on Saturday morning, particularly from Mickey Etches, we have managed to clear a bag full of dust and other debris from the base of the spire, the belfry and the clock-room. Nuts and bolts have been tightened and our CCTV camera above the bells is working again, as is the doorbell. This means that we can leave the door locked, and when you come to Christchurch you can ring the doorbell and we will be able to come down and let you in. The door is the main South door immediately underneath the tower, off Glenaffric Avenue, and the bell push is on the right hand side.

We have now started practicing at Christchurch on Wednesday evenings from 7.00 till 9.00, although at the moment we are mainly teaching people to handle a bell on their own. There will be a break on 23rd and 30th July for the summer holidays, but otherwise we should be there most weeks. Anyone who wants to learn to handle is welcome.

We also plan to teach bell handling on other evenings, by appointment. As the band grows we will also arrange some Saturday morning training sessions at Christchurch, probably from mid-August onwards, to get everyone ringing rounds, hopefully by mid September. We can then start thinking about ringing the bells on Sundays.

On Wednesday evenings there is usually a Mass between 7.15 and 8.00pm at Christchurch, and we have installed an electronic simulator system, the same as the one at Rotherhithe, which means that we can ring the bells without making a noise outside. So even if you cannot hear anything, please ring the doorbell and come up.

The advantage of Wednesdays is that the Meridian Ringers practice between 8.00 and 9.30pm at Greenwich, which is only 15 minutes walk away through the foot tunnel, or one stop on the DLR. Therefore if we meet short, or our new ringers want some extra practice, we can always go across the river.

I am currently trying to find enough people to help use a Mobile Belfry for the Christchurch Fete on Sunday 13th July. If you have not spoken to me about this, and would like to help, and perhaps try to recruit a few more ringers, please get in touch. You can see what the belfry looks like on this video:

and how it erected on this one:

Roger
07411 181 583

Bellringing: It’s harder than it looks

Some of you will have met Adam Bacon, who Rob Parker has been teaching to ring at Bermondsey.

Adam has produced a video which shows how media personality Ant Smith learnt to ring rounds with 13 hours intensive tuition over a period of four weeks, coordinated by Deborah Thorley.

Ant had the objective of ringing on twelve at Bradford Cathedral, and although his 12 bell striking was not up to much, he did a creditable job of ringing on six bells. This just shows what can be achieved in a relatively short space of time, and this video is perhaps something that can be used to inspire other beginners.

New Rector for Limehouse

After a period of being without a rector, Richard Bray is due to be licensed as Rector of St Anne’s on Wednesday 3rd September 2014. Richard is married to Jenny and has four children: Timothy, Hannah, Samuel and Isaac. Richard is already involved with leading and preaching sometimes on Sundays in his capacity as Associate Curate. He also co-ordinates the home groups and organises the occasional ‘Who let the Dads out?!’ – St Anne’s dads & toddlers playgroup on Saturday mornings.Richard Bray

Rotherhithe barbecue success

Yesterday the churchyard at St Mary’s was full of noise, but this was not the ringing of bells; it was the live bands and PA system of the annual parish barbecue. The churchyard was also full of people from the surrounding area, meeting each other and enjoying a range of attractions.

One of these attractions was guided trips up the tower to see the bells, We arrived at 3.30pm and prepared the tower to receive our fist batch of visitors at 4pm. To start with there was a slow trickle, but from about 4.30pm until about 7pm, we were continuously showing people up the tower in groups four to eight at a time. As soon as one group came down, we had more who wanted to go up, and having seen the bells, they were then shown some live ringing and offered the chance of ringing some backstrokes on one of the bells.

Many of the people came from the surrounding blocks, or were members of the church, and had heard the bells ringing before, but did not appreciate how they were rung. We handed out leaflets and explained how they could come along and learn with us if they wished. Several said that they would. At the very least we have succeeded in engaging with the local community and the church family, and have thereby raised our profile. We are very grateful to those who have come along and helped, particularly those from the outer parts of the Surrey Association.

Drew rings his first quarter inside

Yesterday Drew rang his first quarter peal inside. He rang very well, only slipping off the line a few times, but quickly getting back on the line. This also means that he has now achieved ‘Learning the Ropes’ Level 4. Thanks to all those who have helped Drew progress to this milestone, including those who have helped with the recent Saturday Morning Ringing School sessions, and the ringers at Moor House and Farnham. It was particularly appropriate that it was rung at Stone, following his grandfather’s funeral there.

http://www.bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=338025

Roger