2012 Xmas Party Handbells

The DRC xmas party was once again kindly hosted by Simon and Janet in their Wapping apartment. This year, following a lively discussion over whether it was a furkin or a polypin, a barrel of beer was provided. Ed clearly drank most of it, whatever it was called.

As part of the entertainment, a handbell ensemble played a selection of carols. I’m afraid my rubbish picturetaking doesn’t do it justice, but here’s a picture for the record.

Handbells at Xmas party. From left to right are: Jae Kyung (Leah) Kim, Greg Rose, Paul Burnell, Tom Lawrance (back to the camera), Barbara Caswell, Helen Ireland, Elizabeth LeMoine, Rie Watanabe, Lee Garlick, of St Vedast Handbell Ringers.

If there are more pictures or anecdotes available, I’ll happily add them to the post…….

Stag event at Rotherhithe

One of the more entertaining tasks as DRC webmaster is to deal with the various queries that come in via email that aren’t directed to a specific person or post. So, an enquiry back in December from a Best Man planning a stag event rather intrigued me.

 

Chris coaching the stag team

 

The groom was a ringer, so the best man wanted a ringing theme and wondered whether we could run a taster event for the group. The offer of payment focussed my attention and the DRC committee agreed that a fund raiser was always a good idea. Half a dozen helpers stepped forward and we all assembled on Saturday 8th.

There were 10 in the party and an early start was arranged for obvious reasons. Small groups were given individual coaching while the rest were taken on a tour of the bell tower and given a bit of history about the practice.

Groom judging the staggers ringing competition

 

After joining the helpers in rounds, the lads were put into teams for a striking competition judged by the groom. Not quite sure which team won, but we gave them a bottle of wine as first toast of the day. Andrew L also provided a left over bottle of rum brought back from Cuba several years ago. This was voted ‘worst drink ever’ by the staggers. The author suspects they drank worse before the day was over.

The staggers left for their next event which I think was curling if I heard properly. The DRC retired to the Mayflower to count their windfall. I think everybody enjoyed themselves and, who knows, perhaps we may gain some future recruits. A big thank you to all the helpers for giving up their Saturday morning.

 

Groom and the DRC helpers. Left to Right Elizabeth, Chris, Best Man, Morag, Mike,Andrew L, Andrew C

Stepney Carol Service – Saturday, Decemeber 22nd

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.

Our Cuttings File

Earlier this year, when Olympic excitement was fading, Elizabeth remembered that The Churches Conservation Trust, YMCAfit and a PR agency, Midas, had contacted  several London towers with a plan to promote the fitness benefits of bell ringing. Always looking for new ways to recruit, and wanting to capitalise on the still-fresh Olympic encouragements to get more active, Elizabeth got back in touch with Midas PR. The result has been a mad press campaign elevating the likes of Andrew Clark, Andrew Larsen and Rob Parker to near celebrity status.

Docklands ringers hosted 5 newspapers, 3 of them national, and added lots of press cuttings to our scrapbook. Some links below will take you direct to the newspaper’s website, but where this is not available, we’re told by Midas PR that we can’t post scanned copies of newspaper clippings on the internet due to rights issues, so if you’re interested we can email you a pdf copy.

Southark News, 22 November 2012 (request a pdf copy)

Southwark News Cartoon, 22 November 2012 (request a pdf copy)

South London Press, 23 November 2012 (request a pdf copy)

The Evening Standard, 29 November 2012 http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/free-bellringing-classes-rope-in-pupils-aiming-to-boost-fitness-8367731.html

The Times, 3 December 2012 (request a pdf copy)

The Mirror, 6 December 2012 http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/could-bell-ringing-fitness-classes-help-1474421

I held this post back because The Sun was due to publish last week, but didn’t. We’re still hoping.

In the meantime, as part of the national Midas PR campaign, ringers from around the country have discussed the pleasures of ringing on many BBC radio and television shows, including the Jeremy Vine Show (Monday 3 December), BBC Sheffield and BBC Breakfast TV. Roger Booth reports this has a measurable impact to interest: a surge of hits to The Ringing Foundation’s Discover Bellringing website.

So, a big thank you goes out to all of our band members who assisted with press requests or tolerated the disruptions to our practices. We hope to have contributed to a rise in the numbers recruited to ring in 2013.