July Country Meeting 2005

Hexham, Northumberland

Notes from the Hexham Country Meeting

From a couple of Northern Sausages

This year’s July country meeting was based around the beautiful and expansive building and grounds of Ridley Hall near Hexham. Alongside the traditional peals and Saturday tour, Clive Moon and his set of SRCY stewards had arranged, amongst other things, a coach trip to a pub, various garden games, a miniring installed in the garden, a giant barbecue and a fiercely competitive, if rather variable, Treasure Hunt – winning team 1 hour to victory, some teams still going after midnight ……

After finding their way round Ridley Hall and locating the allocated rooms on Friday night, most people reappeared later looking rather puzzled (having discovered one of the several other existing staircases in the Hall!) to await the arrival of the coach to the evening social event at the elegantly named Cart’s Bog Inn a few miles from the Hall. Food, good company and good beer made for a very convivial evening catching up with old friends and meeting a few new ones. The bus back to the Hall and Hexham meant that no-one had to drive if they didn’t want to. Wine and beer continued to flow back at the Hall, and the mini-ring was put to such good use that Julia felt the need to join in - in her jimjams!

Miniring in Hexham
Members ringing the miniring at Ridley Hall, near Hexham
Bellringers, Left to right Karen Dickenson and Rachael Dyson
Left to right Karen Dickenson and Rachael Dyson

Saturday brought to us a good breakfast, peals and ringing tour followed by tea and the eating of many many cakes before the meeting in the Methodist Hall. With the swiftly dealt business at the meeting, it was soon back to Ridley Hall for lawn games and predinner bar-b-que drinking after locating the bar (cunningly hidden in a cupboard!). Once open, the bar queue managed to postpone the start of Clive’s very cleverly devised Treasure Hunt by 30 minutes, as Page 18 obviously beer is necessary for all brain work. Teams of eager Treasure seekers hunted at variable speeds using many Surprising and Delightful methods, forming Alliances as they went. It was noted that the team doing “in, out, make” through the wrong set of bushes did not win! The team who did win and found the stairs that descend beneath the library got champagne all round. The other teams who finished and completed Duncan’s fiendish tie-break conundrums also got bubbly prizes.

Special thanks must go to Kris King for arranging the loan of the mini-ring from Duncan Davis at Capheaton, including transporting it to and from the Hall, and for organising the Saturday tour towers. Thanks also to Christine Richardson for ensuring that there were enough peal towers available for the many requests received, several at less than 2 weeks notice – not an easy job when you look at the number of towers available locally.

The culmination of the weekend was the high-note news that the SRCY Girls had scored their peal of Chandler’s 23-spliced at Huntingdon. Well done to all the band.

Karen Dickenson and Rachael Dyson

View photos from this event in our gallery.

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Peals rung for the Society July Country Meeting

18 peals have been rung for the Society July Country Meeting.

Burnley, Lancashire
St Peter
Sunday, 10 July 2005 in 2hrs 56mins (18-0-8)
5056 Victoria Alliance Royal
Composed by D W Beard (Byroc)

  1. Anne E Pettifor
  2. C James Hustler
  3. Carol A Marchbank
  4. E Jane Sibson
  5. Jennifer A Town
  6. Michael H Tompsett
  7. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  8. Derek E Sibson (C)
  9. Andrew D Sibson
  10. Andrew W Gordon

With congratulations to Victoria Lord and Andrew Beet on their marriage the previous day.

Hexham, Northumberland
Abbey Church of St Andrew
Sunday, 10 July 2005 in 3hrs 9mins (21)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Composed by Matthew J L Durham

  1. Wendy Winter
  2. Julia A Lysaght
  3. Matthew J L Durham (C)
  4. Fiona M Wheeler
  5. Joanna K Dorling
  6. Peter J Waterfield
  7. Stephen A Wheeler
  8. Graham A Duke
  9. John P Loveless
  10. Alan Regin

Rung to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II

York, North Yorkshire
All Saints, Huntington
Sunday, 10 July 2005 in 2hrs 44mins (5)
5152 Spliced Surprise Major (23 methods)
Composed by S D Chandler
224 each Glasgow, Whalley, Malpas, Belfast, Bristol, London, Essex, Caterham, Buckfastleigh, Yeading, Chertsey, Sussex, Colnbrook, Sonning, Moulton, Richmond, Newcastle, Willesden, Chesterfield, Northampton, Claybrooke, Newlyn, Pudsey. 160 changes of method, all the work & each lead different.

  1. Catherine N Merlane (C)
  2. George Brown
  3. Joanne R Fielding
  4. G Jessica Lansberry
  5. E Alyson Kerr
  6. Christine Richardson
  7. Linda M Garton
  8. Mary E Holden

Rung by a ladies band

Allendale, Northumberland
St Cuthbert
Saturday, 9 July 2005 in 2hrs 45mins (10)
5120 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by A J Cox

  1. John J Ford
  2. Shirley E McGill
  3. Julia A Lysaght
  4. Jennifer A Town
  5. Graham A Duke
  6. Richard M Hobbs
  7. Simon R Holden
  8. Ian R Fielding (C)

Rung on the SRCY country meeting.

Ryton, Tyne and Wear
Holy Cross
Saturday, 9 July 2005 in 3hrs 5mins (14)
5056 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by R Baldwin

  1. Michael J Edwards
  2. Claire F Edwards
  3. Mary E Dunbavin
  4. S Kathleen M Baldwin
  5. Ian K Bushell
  6. Ian Roulstone
  7. Roger Baldwin (C)
  8. Peter J Waterfield

Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
North Shields, Christ Church
Saturday, 9 July 2005 in 3hrs 1min (16cwt)
5040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
Composed by J Clatworthy

  1. Matthew J L Durham (C)
  2. Wendy Winter
  3. Barbara Davies
  4. Nicola E Firminger
  5. Andrew J Cairns
  6. Stephen Borman
  7. Anthony P Cotton
  8. Ian G Campbell
  9. Ian Butters
  10. Michael Angrave

Wigton, Cumbria
St Mary
Saturday, 9 July 2005 in 2hrs 50mins (8cwt)
5184 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by D F Morrison

  1. Anne P Cook
  2. John P Loveless (C)
  3. Simon J Davies
  4. Penelope J V Sharpe
  5. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  6. Nicholas W H Haggett
  7. Russell A Brown
  8. Frank W Rivett

Bamburgh, Northumberland
St Aidan
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 55mins (14cwt)
5024 Bamburgh Surprise Major
Composed by D W Beard

  1. E Jane Sibson
  2. Julia A Lysaght
  3. Mary E Holden
  4. Andrew J Cairns
  5. Peter J Waterfield
  6. Derek E Sibson (C)
  7. Claire F Edwards
  8. Ian Roulstone

First peal in the method by all the band.

Heworth, Tyne & Wear
St Mary
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 30mins (6cwt)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Minor
(7 exts)

  1. Michael J Edwards
  2. Karen P Maughan
  3. B Haley Barnett
  4. Mary E Dunbavin
  5. Christine Richardson
  6. Ronald R Warford (C)

Houghton le Spring, Tyne & Wear
St Michael & All Angels
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 46mins (12cwt)
5088 Pudsey Surprise Major
Composed by R A Pearce

  1. Ian R Fielding
  2. Jennifer A Town
  3. Joanna K Dorling
  4. S Kathleen M Baldwin
  5. Roger Baldwin
  6. Alan Regin
  7. Stephen A Wheeler (C)
  8. Simon R Holden

A 25th birthday compliment to Mary Holden.

Shincliffe, Durham
St Mary the Virgin
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 21mins (4cwt)
5040 Surprise Minor (17m)
(17m: (1) London & Wells (2) Ipswich, Bourne & Cambridge (3) Durham, Beverley, Surfleet, Hexham & Berwick (4) Cambridge, Primrose, Bourne, Hull, Ipswich & Norfolk (5) Beverley, Surfleet, Hexham, Berwick, York & Durham (6) Westminster & Allendale (7) Norwich)

  1. Penelope J V Sharpe
  2. John J Ford
  3. Simon J Davies
  4. Richard M Hobbs
  5. Simon R Holden
  6. Ian R Fielding (C)

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Minster Church of St Michael and All Angels
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 33mins (12)
5024 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by T G Pett

  1. Ian Smith
  2. Matthew L Durham
  3. Jennifer A Town
  4. Debby Talbott
  5. S Kathleen M Baldwin
  6. Stuart P B Talbott
  7. Roger Baldwin (C)
  8. Ian G Campbell

First in method-4
Wedding Anniversary compliment to Kath and Roger

Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
St Paul
Friday, 8 July 2005 in 2hrs 52mins (17cwt)
5024 Spliced Surprise Major (4m)
Composed by A J Pitman
(4m: 1280 Cambridge, London, Superlative; 1184 Bristol; 110 com, atw)

  1. Derek E Sibson (C)
  2. Julia A Lysaght
  3. Anne P Cook
  4. E Jane Sibson
  5. Peter J Waterfield
  6. Andrew J Cairns
  7. Ian Roulstone
  8. Claire F Edwards

Darlington, Durham
Holy Trinity
Thursday, 7 July 2005 in 2hrs 42mins (7)
5040 Surprise Minor (8m)
(8m. (1) Carlisle. (2) London. (3) Durham. (4) Beverley, Surfleet. (5) Ipswich. (6) Norwich. (7) Cambridge.)

  1. Simon J Davies
  2. Matthew J L Durham
  3. John J Ford
  4. Richard M Hobbs
  5. Graham A Duke
  6. Peter J Waterfield (C)

Darlington, Durham
St Cuthbert
Thursday, 7 July 2005 in 3hrs 1min (18cwt)
5152 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by D F Morrison

  1. E Jane Sibson
  2. Stephen A Wheeler
  3. Mary E Holden
  4. S Kathleen M Baldwin
  5. Andrew J Cairns
  6. Derek E Sibson (C)
  7. Roger Baldwin
  8. Alan Regin

Rung for the 25th anniversary of the priesting of the Rev. Robert Williamson.

Hartlepool, Durham
St Oswald
Thursday, 7 July 2005 in 3hrs 3mins (22cwt)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Composed by A R Patterson

  1. Jennifer A Town
  2. Anne P Cook
  3. Philippa M Whittington
  4. Ian Smith
  5. Ian Roulstone (C)
  6. Anthony P Cotton
  7. Claire F Edwards
  8. Ian K Bushell
  9. Ian G Campbell
  10. Frank W Rivett

Hartlepool, Durham
Stranton, All Saints
Thursday, 7 July 2005 in 2hrs 47mins (13cwt)
5024 Greybury Surprise Major
Composed by D W Beard

  1. E Jane Sibson
  2. Christine Richardson
  3. B Haley Barnett
  4. Christine Mills
  5. Mary E Holden
  6. Derek E Sibson (C)
  7. Andrew J Cairns
  8. Matthew J L Durham

First peal in the method by all the band except 1 and 6.

Shildon, Durham
St John
Thursday, 7 July 2005 in 2hrs 54mins (16cwt)
5056 London Surprise Major
Composed by A J Cox

  1. Anne P Cook
  2. Joanna K Dorling
  3. Barbara Davies
  4. Stephen A Wheeler (C)
  5. Jennifer A Town
  6. Alan Regin
  7. Peter J Waterfield
  8. Ian G Campbell