March Country Meeting 2019

Redhill 9 March

On Saturday 9th March the Society ventured just south of the Surrey Hills for a day of ringing, business and socialising. In the morning, peals were scored at Dorking and Ranmore. Meanwhile, the rest of us went on tour, starting at Reigate (10 bells, described by the local as ‘very available’...) before moving on to the pleasant light eight at Betchworth (of Four Weddings and a Funeral fame), followed by the six at Leigh, where the bells are rung standing on pews in the organ gallery. Despite this unique set-up, we rang some of the more obscure methods from the standard 41.

There were several pub suggestions on the tour programme, so inevitably everyone ended up at the same one for lunch, resulting in some slightly disgruntled bar staff who suddenly had lots of work to do. At least the beer and food were excellent!

Post-lunch ringing took place on the fine ten at Bletchingley before we moved on to Redhill for the main event.

The business meeting and meal were held in the shiny new parish centre right next to Redhill church. Pre-meeting teas and coffees were served, and I spent far too long trying to decide which one of the multitude of delicious-looking cakes I wanted most of all.

During the business meeting we remembered six members who had recently passed away, and elected one new member, Chris Mansfield, to whom kudos should be given for making the long journey down from the North East for the occasion. We also congratulated Andrew Davey, Adam Greenley, and the Master, Ben Constant, on their respective 1000th peals.

As the meeting was remarkably speedy and uncontentious, this left plenty of time for consuming beverages and catching up with friends before dinner. The food was huge dishes of lasagne, which, as I discovered, are not that easy to divide more-or-less equally among eight people. Sorry to anyone at my table who felt short-changed! Dessert was lemon posset or chocolate brownie, which I also made a hash of serving, but at least this time only to myself! The day was rounded off with after-dinner drinks and mingling.

Many thanks go to Shirley McGill for co-ordinating the day and to Anne Rueff and her team of caterers and helpers for a very enjoyable meal.

Heather Forster

Peals rung for the Society’s March Country meeting

2 peals so far has been rung for the Society’s March Country meeting.