At a recent training committee meeting it was noted that Andrew had notched up another birthday. Elizabeth managed to magic up a cake from nowhere.
As usual but trying to include normal business, the training committee tries to have a bit of fun as well!
At the last AGM we agreed that Stepney should try and follow the format of Super Tuesday and have a slightly more advanced practice than normal. After consultation with a few people from other Middlesex tower in order not to clash with anything else, we agreed on the last Thursday of the month. The first of these was held last Thursday.
We have done our best to spread the word and we did get extra’s at the practice. Thanks to Ginny, Colin and Derek who came along. Several of our regulars were unable to make it, which meant that everyone got plenty of time at the end of a rope. Cambridge Major, Grandsire Triples, Plain Hunt on 7 and Call Changes on 10 were rung. We tried to concentrate on bell control, striking and rhythm rather than complexity as the back 8 and all 10 are not particularly easy to ring well.
In general the feeling was that the practice was a success though we were reminded how hard the back 8 and whole 10 are.
If you are interested in trying to ring a bit more on higher numbers then please come along to the next practice, it will be on Thursday 27th April at Stepney from 19:30 – 21:30. All welcome.
The Bermondsey AGM was held in the ringing chamber on February 24th 2014. Both Andrew Clark and Alison Hammond stood down from their posts as Tower Captain and Secretary respectively. To thank them for their efforts, we presented them with flowers and an engraved tankard.
Andrew and Alison presentation
Andrew checking his tankard for leaks
The DRC currently has two regular quarter peal slots a month to further the training of its members. These are usually both at Stepney, one at 4.30pm on the second Sunday of the month and one at 6.20pm on the third Thursday of the month.
The idea is for individuals to take a turn at organising them in order to spread the load, to ensure you get to ring what you want to ring, and to give people experience of organising quarters if they haven’t already. It also enables you to take control of your own development as a ringer. Another reason is that we have limited capacity within the DRC to ring everything everyone wants, but if different people organise them and they call on people they ring with at other towers, our capacity is extended.
To organise a quarter, one first needs to get a tower and a time. These two elements are done for you, so you then need to decide what you want to ring, and consider who to ask to conduct it – Jonathan, Andrew, Chris and Roger are usual suspects, but there are others within the DRC and you might know other conductors.
For those new to organising, it is advisable to consult with your conductor as to the composition of your band.
I keep a record of who is organising each one, so that we do not end up with a clash, so if you want to organise something, let me know and I will tell you the next available date.
Of course, this does not preclude anybody organising a quarter at another tower at another time and if lots of people are enthused, we can consider setting up another regular time at another tower. Information about contact people for the other DRC towers are elsewhere on this website.
I look forward to a deluge of emails saying you want to organise something!
Gillian Harris
On Friday, Roger, Simon, Drew and Mike fitted the new (to us) carpet kindly donated by Trisha. This involved a fair bit of preparation work on the floor and door and allowed Simon to show off his shiny electric plane to good effect.
So, the carpet now fits in with Morag’s new cushions, and the redecorated ringing chamber looks very nice for our regular service and ringers and the many visitors to this tower.
Thanks also to Andrew C for the photies…..