July Country Meeting 2013

Edinburgh, Scotland

I'd been looking forward to the country meeting weekend in Scotland for almost a year, and eventually the day itself arrived. The journey up took quite a long time for us owing to an accident on the Forth Road Bridge, and we were overdue for a drink by the time we arrived at Tulloch. Thanks to the tempting prospect of a walk in the seemingly endless evening light we managed not to spend all night in the pub.

This was fortunate as table-football is certainly not something I'd like to attempt with a hangover. Yes, not only does Tulloch have a ring of 12, but upstairs there is a train set and the football table which some people seem to be able to operate and, last but not least, a ping-pong table! I watched in admiration while Alan and Jack Page somehow managed to manipulate the little footballers into obeying their every whim. However, Jo and I had been getting our eye in on the ping-pong table while they were twitching and twiddling away, and we redeemed ourselves as soon as Alan and Jack dared to come and take us on at a proper sport.

After some truly delicious flapjacks and lemon drizzle cake it was time for a peal attempt. Tim Forster had discovered a while ago that Geraldine had rung a peal on every bell at every stage from Minor to Maximus except the tenor to Maximus, and she completed the set by ringing the tenor to Yorkshire Max in a most enjoyable peal. We then had about an hour for refuelling in the cake-laden kitchen and for another burst of ping-pong before the next attempt: Cambridge Royal. Unfortunately it wasn't successful, but at least that meant that we could obey the siren-call of the gin bottle - clearly audible from the Tulloch ringing room - without any further delay.

On Friday the Dunblane band gathered in the heat and tried to summon up sufficient energy for the task ahead, with the added pressure that it was a "must score", given the press where there before, during and after the peal. We were the lucky ones though: some people's timetable for Friday sounded even more exhausting. JJ and Lee, for instance, drove from Tulloch down to Dunkeld and then up to Inverness and then all the way back down to Edinburgh! I must say, though, that it's probably just as well that JJ was too busy on the Friday to pop in at Dunblane, as there's a good chance that he would have provoked the locals into launching Trident by affecting ignorance of some recent sporting headlines. "Andy Murray? Oh...... is he the one who won some tournament or something?"

On the Saturday morning several peals were attempted and there was a general ringing route around Edinburgh. I can safely say that I've never been hotter while ringing a peal, but just as I thought I was certain to expire I looked at Richard Smith, who had misjudged the weather while packing and who was wearing a long-sleeved top! The fact that he was still managing to ring under those circumstances persuaded me that it might be possible to continue without dying of heatstroke.

The meeting on Saturday afternoon was relatively uneventful, and then it was time for the eating and drinking! At first the ceilidh was an excellent spectator sport in fact - but alas, all too soon I was wrested from my lurking-place on the sidelines and found myself shambling around like a circus elephant in flippers, being pushed and pulled from pillar to post. There seemed to be no escape from Peter's camera's all-seeing eye. In the middle of a particularly bewildering dance Lee Pinnington's trousers fell down! Even the band had to stop playing for everyone to recover from the scene.

The beer was really good, but unfortunately everybody thought so and it ran out rather early on in the proceedings. The food was very good too, and everything had been organised very efficiently. Many thanks to Matt Edwards and his team, and to Peter and Helen for their wonderful hospitality in Tulloch. Thanks also to Shirley and the Officers, who ensured that everything ran perfectly smoothly; no mean feat when the towers are spread all over the country! It was a thoroughly enjoyable country meeting. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Janet Archibald

View photos from this event in our gallery.

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Peals rung for the Society July Country Meeting

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

Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland
Town Hall
Sunday, 14 July 2013 in 3hrs 17mins (21)
5056 Spliced Surprise Major
Composed by A N Tyler
8m: 704 Lincolnshire & Superlative, 672 Rutland, 608 Cambridge, Pudsey & Yorkshire, 576 Bristol & London: 139 com, atw

  1. E Jane Sibson
  2. Janet E Menhinick
  3. Ruth Curtis
  4. Richard C Smith
  5. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  6. Derek E Sibson (C)
  7. Paul F Curtis
  8. Peter J Waterfield

Darlington, Co Durham
St Cuthbert
Sunday, 14 July 2013 in 3hrs 15mins (18-0-14)
5152 Spliced Surprise Major (17m)
Composed by Norman Smith
448 each of Ashtead, Cambridge, Ipswich, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Yorkshire. 224 each of Bristol, Cassiobury, Cornwall, Cray, Double Dublin, Lindum, London, Pudsey, Superlative, Uxbridge, Whalley. 153 changes of method, all the work.

  1. Barbara Davies
  2. Jennifer A Town
  3. Andrew G Enzor
  4. G Jessica Durham
  5. Kristopher King
  6. Jeremy Housden
  7. Christopher H Enzor (C)
  8. Matthew J L Durham

To welcome Samuel Enzor.
500th peal - 5

Derby & Edinburgh, England & Scotland
University of Derby & Edinburgh Napier University
Sunday, 14 July 2013 in 2hrs 29mins (10)
5024 Plain Bob Major
Composed by Simon Humphrey

  1. 1–2Anthony P Cotton
  2. 3–4Emma J Southerington
  3. 5–6Simon Humphrey (C)
  4. 7–8Christian M Peckham

Ringers of 1-2 and 3-4 were in Edinburgh, 5-6 and 7-8 were in Derby.
With thanks to:
Gill Davies, Paul Ferguson and Niall Sinclair from Edinburgh Napier University
Claudio Allocchio and the lola project team
Emma Smith from Janet
Roger Browne from EMMAN
Mark Randell and Tony Iveson from University of Derby
.
This gives you an idea of the setup in Derby, 5-6 in the foreground:
http://youtu.be/rWX1mW1cd8Y

Alloa, Clackman, Scotland
St John Evan
Saturday, 13 July 2013 in 2hrs 58mins (13)
5056 Cambridge Surprise Major
Composed by T B Worsley

  1. Andrew J Davey
  2. Stephanie J Pattenden
  3. Margaret E Oram
  4. Emma J Southerington
  5. Richard C Smith
  6. Ian H Oram
  7. James W Belshaw (C)
  8. Janet E Archibald

Haddington, East Lothian
St Mary
Saturday, 13 July 2013 in 2hrs 45mins (11-1-20)
5088 Spliced Surprise Major
Composed by D.F. Morrison (No. 71)
4 methods: 1536 Rutland; 1344 Bristol; 1152 Yorkshire; 1056 Cambridge. 74 changes of method.

  1. Ian G Campbell
  2. Janet E Menhinick
  3. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  4. Malcolm M Powell
  5. Peter J Waterfield
  6. Anthony P Cotton
  7. Ian Roulstone (C)
  8. Claire F Roulstone

Paisley, Strathclyde
St James
Saturday, 13 July 2013 in 3hrs 20mins (22½)
5152 Spliced Surprise Major
Composed by Albert J Pitman
4m: 1504 Cambridge, 1312 Bristol, 1280 London and 1056 Superlative with 106 com and atw

  1. Shirley E McGill
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Felicity S Warwick
  4. Penelope J V Sharpe
  5. Richard L Thumwood
  6. Julia R Cater
  7. David A Warwick (C)
  8. Paul F Curtis

Rung during SRCY Country Weekend

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Cathedral Church of St Machar
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 2hrs 56mins (14)
5056 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by Anthony J Cox

  1. Helen Brotherton
  2. Mary E Holden
  3. Derek J Wilsden
  4. Richard C Smith
  5. Andrew J Cairns
  6. Peter J Waterfield (C)
  7. William A Brotherton
  8. Colin M Lee

Dunblane, Stirling
Cathedral Church of St Blane and St Laurence
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 3hrs 20mins (25)
5056 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by D W Beard

  1. E Jane Sibson
  2. Stephanie J Pattenden
  3. Janet E Archibald
  4. Geraldine R Forster
  5. James W Belshaw
  6. Derek E Sibson (C)
  7. Michael Angrave
  8. Ian V J Smith

Rung following the wedding of Natalie Angela Cairney and Charles David Beattie and to celebrate Andy Murray's Championship win at Wimbledon.

Dundee, Tayside
Old Steeple
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 3hrs 10mins (19)
5152 Lessness Surprise Major
Composed by E J Southerington (No 2a)

  1. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  2. Joanna K Dorling
  3. Andrew J Davey
  4. Janet E Menhinick
  5. Alan R Baldock
  6. Stephen A Elwell-Sutton
  7. Emma J Southerington (C)
  8. Alan Regin

On Society country weekend

Dunkeld, Tayside
Cathedral
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 2hrs 36mins (6)
5040 Surprise Minor (7m)
(7m: (1) Northumberland (2) Alnwick (3) Newcastle (4) York (5) Durham (6) Berwick (7) Hexham)

  1. Penelope J V Sharpe
  2. John J Ford
  3. Anthony P Cotton
  4. Lee Pinnington
  5. Emma J Southerington (C)
  6. Andrew J Davey

On SRCY country weekend.
700th peal: 1

Inverness, Highland
Cathedral Church of St Andrew
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 3hrs 9mins (17 cwt)
5040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
Composed by Benjamin D Constant

  1. Nicola A Marshall
  2. Lee Pinnington
  3. Christine M Carter
  4. Penny V J Sharpe
  5. Stephen J Hall
  6. John J Ford
  7. Malcolm M Powell
  8. Christopher I Griggs
  9. Graham A Duke (C)
  10. Ian G Mills

Rung during the SRCY country meeting weekend.

St Andrews, Fife
The College Chapel of St Salvator
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 2hrs 40mins (8)
5040 Surprise Minor
7m: 1. Westminster 2. Bourne 3. Netherseale 4. Ipswich 5. London 6. Cambridge 7. Norwich

  1. Ian G Campbell
  2. Claire F Roulstone
  3. Ruth Curtis
  4. Ian Roulstone
  5. Timothy J Peverett
  6. Paul F Curtis (C)

4500th Peal - Treble
21st Tower for a peal in Scotland - 5

Tulloch, Highland
The Ringing Centre
Friday, 12 July 2013 in 3hrs 2mins (7-2-4)
5042 Cambridge Surprise Maximus
Composed by R W Pipe

  1. Joanna K Dorling
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Shirley E McGill
  4. Richard L Thumwood
  5. Timothy J Peverett
  6. Paul F Curtis
  7. Helen M McGregor
  8. Stephen A Rossiter
  9. Claire F Roulstone
  10. Alan Regin
  11. Ian Roulstone (C)
  12. Ian G Campbell

North Shields, Tyne & Wear
Christ Church
Thursday, 11 July 2013 in 2hrs 54mins (16)
5024 Bristol Surprise Major
Composed by Anthony J Cox

  1. Andrew J Davey
  2. Janet E Menhinnick
  3. Emma J Southerington
  4. Malcolm M Powell
  5. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  6. Richard C Smith
  7. Peter J Waterfield (C)
  8. Kristopher King

500th peal of Major - 7.
500th peal as conductor.

South Shields, Tyne & Wear
S Hilda
Thursday, 11 July 2013 in 2hrs 45mins (9)
5056 Spliced Surprise Major
Composed by E J Southerington
(5m: 1056 Cambridge, Lincolnshire, Superlative, Yorkshire, 832 Rutland, 76com, atw)

  1. Barbara Davies
  2. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  3. Janet E Menhinick
  4. Emma J Southerington (C)
  5. Andrew J Davey
  6. Alan R Baldock
  7. Malcolm M Powell
  8. Peter J Waterfield

For Society Country weekend

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Minster Church of St Michael and All Angles and St Benedict Biscop
Thursday, 11 July 2013 in 2hrs 50mins (12-2-7)
5000 Bristol Surprise Royal
Composed by R Baldwin

  1. Sophie E Palmer
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Jennifer A Town
  4. Christine Richardson
  5. Andrew J Cairns
  6. Claire F Roulstone
  7. Colin M Lee (C)
  8. Anthony P Cotton
  9. Paul F Curtis
  10. Ian Roulstone

Part of The Society's Country Meeting.

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
St Andrew, Roker
Thursday, 11 July 2013 in 3hrs 9mins (22-2-26)
5000 Spliced Surprise Royal
Composed by R.C. Kippin
4 methods: 1280 Yorkshire; 1240 each Bristol, Cambridge, London (No. 3). 101 changes of method, all the work.

  1. Jennifer A Town
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Christine Richardson
  4. Ian Roulstone (C)
  5. Andrew J Cairns
  6. Anthony P Cotton
  7. Paul F Curtis
  8. Colin M Lee
  9. Ian G Campbell
  10. Claire F Roulstone

In anticipation of the Society's Country Meeting in Scotland.

Tulloch, Highland
Tulloch Ringing Centre
Thursday, 11 July 2013 in 3hrs 13mins (7-2-4)
5040 Yorkshire Surprise Maximus
Composed by F Blagrove

  1. Janet E Archibald
  2. Lee Pinnington
  3. Shirley E McGill
  4. Ann Smith
  5. E Jane Sibson
  6. John J Ford
  7. Richard L Thumwood
  8. Ian V J Smith
  9. Graham A Duke
  10. Derek E Sibson (C)
  11. Alan Regin
  12. Geraldine R Forster

Rung during SRCY Country Weekend.

Newcastle upon Tyne,
Cathedral of St Nicholas
Wednesday, 10 July 2013 in 3hrs 16mins (17)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Composed by Anthony J Cox

  1. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Janet E Menhinnick
  4. Malcolm M Powell
  5. Alan R Baldock
  6. Clive R Moon
  7. Richard C Smith
  8. Peter J Waterfield (C)
  9. Claire F Roulstone
  10. Paul F Curtis

Birthday compliments to Nicholas Winter, with best wishes from the band.