July Country Meeting 2026

Birmingham

The 2026 Country Meeting was held in Birmingham. The traditional summer weekend delivered very warm weather this year, which was felt both in the peals and pubs.

Eleven peals were scored in as many towers over the three days, totaling a slight decrease from recent years. They ranged from Major to Maximus, including the less common methods of Holbeach S Major and Swindon S Royal. Both Maximus peals were of Bristol, with one rung by a band of all women.

The event also included general ringing on Saturday afternoon. St Martins in the Bullring offered ringing on 12 and 16. St Bartholomew Edgbaston may have only half as many bells, but in a ground floor ring with plenty of space to gather in the body of the church. Children of members in attendance took advantage of the play area, and some even joined in the ringing as well.

The meeting was held in the Guild of Student’s Debating Hall at the University of Birmingham. Conversation often returned to the hot weather as members enjoyed the available beverages (and ice!) while socialising. The meal featured an abundant buffet catered by a local business. This was followed by a quiz written and emceed by Estella Haynes, with questions tailored both to Birmingham (“which heavy metal band from B’ham”) and the Society (“who is an anagram of ‘gained peal’”). Nearly everyone from the meeting formed into teams, and I for one learned that I haven’t been paying enough attention to the designs on beer pumps.

Several members stayed on into Sunday and joined service ringing around Birmingham. Many thanks to the officers and organising team for a successful event.

Myles Louis Dakan

Peal details on Bellboard

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Peals rung for the Society July Country Meeting

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

Birmingham, West Midlands
Cathedral Church of St Philip
Saturday, 11 July 2026 in 3hrs 25mins (31-0-21 in D)
5040 Bristol Surprise Maximus
Composed by Richard J Angrave (5040 no 7)

  1. Tina R Stoecklin
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Shirley E McGill
  4. Linda M Garton
  5. Catherine E Morley
  6. Estella J Haynes
  7. Annabelle F Frost
  8. Evie Newton
  9. Mary E Holden (C)
  10. Claire F Roulstone
  11. Ruth E R Corney
  12. Julia R Cater

In memory of Alison Regan.
For the SRCY country meeting.

Coleshill, Warwickshire
St Peter and St Paul
Saturday, 11 July 2026 in 3hrs 4mins (14-0-24 in F#)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Composed by Anonymous

  1. Geraldine R Forster
  2. Theo A Johnson
  3. Thomas R Groves
  4. Felicity S Warwick
  5. Lucas J Williams
  6. David A Warwick (C)
  7. Andrew W Gordon
  8. Frank W Rivett
  9. Alan Regin
  10. Harry E Blamire

Rung during Society Country Weekend.

Harborne, West Midlands
St Peter
Saturday, 11 July 2026 in 2hrs 47mins (12-3-24 in F#)
5088 Superlative Surprise Major
Composed by Sir Arthur P Heywood

  1. Myles Louis Dakan
  2. Joel A Cairns
  3. Jenny M Page
  4. Timothy J Peverett
  5. Anthony P Cotton
  6. Daniel J Page (C)
  7. Janet E Archibald
  8. Nicholas D Brown

Rung for the SRCY Country Meeting 2026.

Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Collegiate Church of St Peter
Saturday, 11 July 2026 in 3hrs 24mins (33-0-21 in C#)
5009 Stedman Cinques
Composed by A S Riley

  1. Alex S Riley (C)
  2. David C Bath
  3. Simon J Gay
  4. Logan T S Anderson
  5. Fraser A Storie
  6. Matthew L Dancy
  7. Andrew J Cairns
  8. Samuel C Cave
  9. Ewan G A Hull
  10. Matthew C Frost
  11. Thomas B Mack
  12. Michael R Crockett

On the occasion of the Society's Country Meeting.

Edgbaston, West Midlands
St Bartholomew
Friday, 10 July 2026 in 2hrs 56mins (10-0-14 in G)
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by Robert D S Brown

  1. Nicholas G Robinson
  2. Kiyoshi W Thompson
  3. Mary E Dunbavin
  4. Elizabeth A Hibbert
  5. Miles F E Baker
  6. John P Loveless
  7. Matthew C Frost (C)
  8. Linda M Garton

Remembering Frances Hibbert (née Laflin) born 9th July 1926, mother of 4.
Rung for the SRCY Country Meeting.

Handsworth, West Midlands
St Mary
Friday, 10 July 2026 in 2hrs 54mins (15-2-22 in F)
5152 Spliced Surprise Major (5m)
Composed by D F Morrison (Op. 1293)
1120 Cambridge, Superlative, Yorkshire; 896 Bristol, London; 125 com; atw.

  1. Theo A Johnson
  2. David C Bath
  3. Evie Newton
  4. Ruth Curtis
  5. Myles Louis Dakan
  6. Daniel J Page (C)
  7. Alan Regin
  8. Claire F Roulstone

Rung for the SRCY Country Meeting. The greatest country meeting in the world.

Knowle, West Midlands
St John the Baptist, St Lawrence, and St Anne
Friday, 10 July 2026 in 2hrs 47mins (9-3-7 in G)
5056 Holbeach Surprise Major
Composed by Ian Butters no 834A

  1. Paul M Mason
  2. Joanne P Druce
  3. Hana Booth
  4. Alistair M Donaldson
  5. Catherine N Merlane
  6. Andrew W Gordon
  7. Colin M Lee
  8. Ian Butters (C)

Tamworth, Staffordshire
St Editha
Friday, 10 July 2026 in 3hrs 11mins (21-2-9 in Eb)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Composed by Anonymous

  1. Joel A Cairns
  2. Simon J Gay
  3. Penny V J Sharpe
  4. Felicity S Warwick
  5. Tina R Stoecklin
  6. David A Warwick (C)
  7. Peter J Waterfield
  8. Samuel C Cave
  9. Andrew J Cairns
  10. Nicholas D Brown

Rung as an 80th Birthday compliment to Andrew Else the tower captain at Tamworth.
Rung during the SRCY Country Meeting.

Birmingham, West Midlands
St Paul
Thursday, 9 July 2026 in 2hrs 52mins (12-2-13 in F#)
5040 Swindon Surprise Royal
Composed by D F Morrison

  1. Ruth Curtis
  2. Claire F Roulstone
  3. Paul M Mason
  4. Ian Roulstone (C)
  5. Anthony P Cotton
  6. Peter J Waterfield
  7. Andrew W Gordon
  8. Colin M Lee
  9. Alan Regin
  10. Ian Butters

A jeweller in Jewellery Quarter: 7.
For the Country Meeting.

Edgbaston, West Midlands
St Bartholomew
Thursday, 9 July 2026 in 2hrs 44mins (10-0-14 in G)
5088 Turramurra Surprise Major
Composed by Robert D S Brown

  1. Joanne P Druce
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Helen Phillips
  4. Jenny M Page
  5. Jimmy L Yeoman
  6. Paul M Mason
  7. Anthony P Cotton (C)
  8. Claire F Roulstone

Walsall, West Midlands
St Matthew
Thursday, 9 July 2026 in 3hrs 14mins (25-2-18 in D)
5042 Bristol Surprise Maximus
Composed by J Clatworthy

  1. Janet E Archibald
  2. Ewan G A Hull (C)
  3. Daniel J Page
  4. Theo A Johnson
  5. Catherine E Morley
  6. Joel A Cairns
  7. Michael R Crockett
  8. Andrew J Cairns
  9. Ian Butters
  10. Frank W Rivett
  11. Alan Regin
  12. Colin M Lee

1st on 12 and for the Society: 6
100th for the Society: 5
50th Peal: 4