Tag Archives: Bermondsey

Bermondsey ringers on Italian on-line TV channel

On-line TV channels are becoming quite popular, especially with younger people, as they provide short snappy easily digestible content rather than the longer content of traditional TV channels and media. Therefore it makes sense for us to follow up any opportunities for us to feature.

We were recently approached by Francesca Albini of Tele-in-liguria, who contacted us through the Association of Ringing Teachers website and wanted to film one of the Bermondsey practices. Francesca thanked us very much for a lovely evening and the video is already online, if you want to watch it visit:

http://tele-in-liguria-webtv.com/2015/12/09/chi-suona-la-campana-breve-viaggio-nel-mondo-della-campanologia-inglese-dalla-storia-alla-pratica-servizio-di-francesca-albini-inviata-speciale-da-londra-per-tele-in-liguria-web-tv/

Roger

Half muffled quarter at Bermondsey for local undertaker

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The funeral procession through Bermondsey

The Senior Undertaker during the repatriation ceremony of ten British Servicemen killed when the C130 Hercules they were travelling in crashed in Iraq.

Barry Albin-Dyer: The Senior Undertaker during the repatriation ceremony of ten British Servicemen killed when the C130 Hercules they were travelling in crashed in Iraq.

Today we rang a half muffled quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples as the cortege of Barry Albin-Dyer passed the church.

http://www.bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=468504

The following is taken from Barry’s obituary in the Daily Telegraph:

Barry Albin-Dyer, who has died of cancer aged 64, was for 30 years the chairman of F A Albin & Sons, a venerable firm of funeral directors in Bermondsey, south London, which was tasked by the MoD with organising the repatriation and funerals of members of the Armed Forces who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Clad in immaculate top hat and undertaker’s frock-coat and brandishing a cane, Albin-Dyer was a familiar sight at Bermondsey funerals, as well as at Wootton Bassett (and later Brize Norton), leading the cortege in the tradition known as “paging”.

It was Albin-Dyer who walked ahead of the flower-draped vintage Rolls-Royce containing the coffin of Jade Goody, the reality television star, in 2009. When the procession arrived at the market in Bermondsey where Jade Goody’s grandfather had kept a stall, Albin-Dyer released a white dove from a cage.

His pall-bearers also officiated at the funeral of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor in 2001.

Open towers at Bermondsey and Rotherhithe – 20th June

This Saturday 20th June, between 2.30 and 5.00pm the Docklands Ringers are opening the bell towers at both St James’ Bermondsey and St Mary’s Rotherhithe to members of the public. This is an opportunity to climb the tower to see the bells ringing and watch the ringers pulling the ropes. The art of ringing the changes is quite fascinating and the ringers will explain how it is done. You may even be able to have a quick go – it is great fun.

The eight bells at St James’ were installed in 1990, but replaced an earlier set cast in 1828, reputedly from canon captured at the battle of Sebastapol. The eight bells at St Mary’s were restored in 1996, but six of the bells were originally cast in 1748 and they replace an even earlier set. Both peals of bells therefore have a long history and the bells have been rung to celebrate many historic occasions over the centuries.

There is an active team of ringers who ring at both towers. For those who would like to find out more and have a longer go there will be a ‘taster evening’ at both towers on Tuesday 23rd June 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Bring your sunglasses!!!

We have now spent two days at Bermondsey clearing out the handbell room and simulator area, repairing the ceiling and painting the staircase at the back of the organ leading up to the ringing room, with Mike, Morag and Luigi helping so far.

We are opening up the tower to visitors for the parish fair on Saturday afternoon 20th June and will be running some ‘taster’ events the following Tuesday, and another on the Tuesday after the Bermondsey Carnival on Saturday afternoon 4th July, and hopefully training some new ringers afterwards, so we want the tower to be spick and span and as welcoming as possible.

Today’s work has made a dramatic difference and as Mike says, you will need to bring your sunglasses next time you come to ring. It is just so bright!

We probably need to spend another two sessions freshening up the paintwork on the remaining walls and woodwork, and cleaning up afterwards, so if you know how to use a roller or paintbrush (or would like to learn). Please let Roger know and we will sort out some dates over the next five weeks.

Mike Todd says bring your sunglasses

Mike Todd says bring your sunglasses – The staircase behind the organ at St James’

Tueday night band make progress

Members of the Tuesday night band at Bermondsey and Rotherhithe have made significant progress in March and April, quarter peals having been attempted and scored most weeks, either as part of the Tuesday night specials, or Sunday service ringing at Rotherhithe and Isle of Dogs:

Andrew Larsen has rung his first quarter of Kent Treble Bob Minor on the treble.

Joe Tilley has rung his first of Kent Treble Bob Minor inside.

Eva Redei has scored her first of Doubles on the Treble, and followed this up buy ringing the treble to another in two Doubles methods and the treble to another of Plain Bob Doubles

Jonathan Gregson has also rung his first of Plain Bob Doubles inside, and followed this up by ringing his first of Grandsire Doubles inside and Plain Bob Minor on the Treble

Louise Booth has also conducted her first quarter of mixed doubles.

In addition to these firsts, many other ringers have taken the opportunity to ring and several have also practiced their conducting skills; a total of eighteen ringers having participated (Harry Baulcombe, Andrew Booth, Louise Booth, Roger Booth, Luke Camden, Andrew Clark, Simon Fraser, Colin Friend, Jonathan Gregson, Gillian Harris, Richard Hensman, Andrew Larsen, Elizabeth LeMoine, Nolan Marchand, Eva Redei, Trisha Shannon, Joe Tilley and Mike Todd).

Besides the ones that have been scored, we have also lost quarters of Plain Bob Minor and Plain Bob Triples. Perhaps someone is sending us a message, but over the coming months we will make the effort to help more people move on to ringing Minor and Triples, although we will still need to continue ringing quite a lot of doubles, not only to refine our striking, but also enable those who are currently ringing the tenor behind, or hunting the treble, to move on. We also need to cater for those who are coming through the system and who will soon be ready to attempt their first quarter.

In addition to the quarters, Guseppina and Luigi Vincenti have also achieved their ‘Learning the Ropes’ Level 1 and are now working towards Level 2. There are several other people at the same stage, so it looks like that there is still more progress to be made and many more quarters to be rung.

Roger