July Country Meeting 2024

Strensall and Towthorpe Village Hall, York, Yorkshire

For 2024, the July Country Meeting headed to York, hosted by Ed Mack and Joe Waters.

The Thursday started out with peals scored at Bradford Cathedral, Wetherby and St Lawrence York. There were then a couple of losses in the afternoon – at Bishopthorpe and Tadcaster – and an attempt at Sherburn in Elmet which unfortunately never started due to illness. Many of those staying in or around York got together in the pub for a good catch up in the evening, and a few also joined the local practice night at the York Oratory before heading there.

Friday saw peal bands score at Doncaster, Pocklington, St Giles Pontefract, Selby and Sprotbrough, as well as both the Oratory and St Martin le Grand in York itself. There was only one loss of the day, at Thirsk. Again, lots of people came back together at the designated pub for the evening – a different pub this time. By this point, even more people had arrived for the weekend, so there was plenty of catching up to do – be it about the week’s peals, sightseeing, or an emergency shopping trip that had been required earlier in the day when one car made it most of the way up the motorway before discovering they were a suitcase down!

Five bands headed out on Saturday morning to attempt peals ahead of the afternoon’s meeting. Peals at Clifton, Helmsley and Norton juxta Malton were successful, while two attempts of Stedman, at Escrick and Ossett, met premature ends. However, the Ossett band rang a respectable quarter peal afterwards.

Those who opted out of Saturday peals were treated to a tour around some towers in the centre of York – the Oratory, St Olave’s, the Spurriergate Centre, and finally the Minster. Ringers in the peal attempts were able to rejoin the last leg of the tour for a ring on the glorious Minster bells, where the ringing chamber was very busy.

The evening entailed a trip out to Strensall for the meeting, in which ten new members were elected, four members who have died were remembered, and several members were congratulated on significant membership milestones. This was followed by a hog roast and a lively ceilidh, accompanied by beer from Saltaire brewery (or various other drinks from the Tesco just round the corner for those who didn’t want beer).

There were no official plans on the Sunday, but both the Minster and the Oratory had a visiting Cumberland contingent join them for Sunday service ringing. Two independently organised peal bands also went off to Ranmoor and Penistone on the way home, bringing the peal total for the weekend to fifteen.

Thanks to Ed and Joe for organising, and also to the officers and all the other locals involved for their hard work in putting together an excellent weekend.

Catherine Morley

View photos from this event in our gallery.

Peals rung on Bellboard

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15 peals so far have been rung for the Society July Country meeting.

Penistone, South Yorkshire
St John the Baptist
Sunday, 14 July 2024 in 3hrs 10mins (14-1-12 in F#)
5184 Spliced Surprise Major (7m)
Composed by D F Morrison
7 methods: 960 Cornwall; 768 Lessness, London, Superlative, Yorkshire; 576 Bristol, Cambridge; 150 com.

  1. Alison J Molyneux
  2. Paul A Cammiade
  3. Lorraine M Trebble
  4. Alison McCormack
  5. David C Bath
  6. Jack E Page (C)
  7. Catherine N Merlane
  8. Alan M Trebble

Paul’s 750th peal for the Society.
Marking the 30th anniversary of Alison McCormack’s first peal for the Society.
The band would like to thank Shirley McGill for making the arrangements for this peal.

Ranmoor, South Yorkshire
St John the Evangelist
Sunday, 14 July 2024 in 3hrs 8mins (16-1-5 in F)
5000 Spliced Surprise Royal (4m)
Composed by Robert C Kippin
1280 Superlative No. 2; 1240 Bristol, Cambridge, London No. 3; 101 com; atw.

  1. Annabelle F Frost
  2. Ruth E R Corney
  3. Daniel J Page (C)
  4. G Jessica Durham
  5. Samuel C Cave
  6. Matthew J L Durham
  7. Timothy J Peverett
  8. Evie Newton
  9. Estella J Haynes
  10. Matthew C Frost

Clifton, North Yorkshire
St Philip and St James
Saturday, 13 July 2024 in 2hrs 42mins (3-1-23 in Eb)
5040 Cambridge Surprise Minor
Composed by Paul M Mason (No.319)

  1. Mary E Dunbavin
  2. Paul M Mason (C)
  3. Janet E Menhinick
  4. Myles Louis Dakan
  5. Simon Kemp
  6. Christopher E J Kilgour

1250th peal: 3.
First tower-bell peal for the society and first in the UK: 4.
A complement to Richard and Janet Menhinick for their Golden Wedding Anniversary today.

Helmsley, North Yorkshire
All Saints
Saturday, 13 July 2024 in 2hrs 46mins (15-0-0 in F#)
5056 Spliced Surprise Major (8m)
Composed by A G Reading & M B Davies
768 Cornwall; 736 Bristol; 640 each Cambridge, Superlative; 608 Cassiobury; 576 Lessness; 544 each Glasgow, London. 124 COM, ATW.

  1. Paul F Curtis
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Beryl R Norris
  4. Felicity S Warwick
  5. Alex S Riley (C)
  6. Roger S Riley
  7. David A Warwick
  8. Luke S P Riley

Celebrating Roger Riley's 50th year of membership of the Society.

Norton juxta Malton, North Yorkshire
St Peter
Saturday, 13 July 2024 in 2hrs 58mins (14-2-20 in F#)
5088 Dunbar Surprise Major
Composed by R D S Brown

  1. Ian G Campbell
  2. Anne L Rueff
  3. Margaret H Ross
  4. David C Bath
  5. Ian Roulstone (C)
  6. Benjamin D Constant
  7. Adam S Greenley
  8. Claire F Roulstone

Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Minster Church of St George
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 3hrs 46mins (29-2-17 in C#)
5056 London Surprise Major
Composed by Benjamin D Constant

  1. Claire F Roulstone
  2. Helen Phillips
  3. Catherine N Merlane
  4. Daniel J Page (C)
  5. Andrew D Sibson
  6. Anthony P Cotton
  7. Ian Roulstone
  8. John P Loveless

Rung in memory of Richard Brown.

Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire
All Saints
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 2hrs 57mins (17-0-1 in E)
5056 Denford Surprise Major
Composed by Paul M Mason (No.81)

  1. Paul F Curtis
  2. Beryl R Norris
  3. Ruth Curtis
  4. Simon J Plackett
  5. Stuart P B Talbott
  6. Lewis D Benfield
  7. Michael Angrave
  8. Paul M Mason (C)

Pontefract, West Yorkshire
St Giles
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 3hrs 2mins (18-0-19 in F)
5019 Spliced Caters and Royal (5m/p)
Composed by M R Eccleston
2059 Stedman Caters; 760 each Bristol Surprise Royal, Sgurr a'Chaorachain Surprise Royal; 680 Superlative No.2 Surprise Royal; 640 Dumfries Surprise Royal; 53 com

  1. Jack E Page (C)
  2. Adam S Greenley
  3. Daniel J Page
  4. Catherine E Morley
  5. Estella J Haynes
  6. Samuel C Cave
  7. Edward R Mack
  8. Matthew C Frost
  9. Benjamin D Constant
  10. Thomas B Mack

Rung in memory of Richard C L Brown and James H Foster.

Selby, North Yorkshire
Abbey Church of St Mary and St Germain
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 3hrs 22mins (25-2-20 in D)
5042 Bristol Surprise Maximus
Composed by E G A Hull

  1. Matthew J L Durham
  2. David C Bath
  3. David A Warwick
  4. Catherine E Morley
  5. Ian Butters
  6. Roger S Riley
  7. Ewan G A Hull (C)
  8. Andrew J Cairns
  9. Harry Z Helyer
  10. Frank W Rivett
  11. Alan Regin
  12. Thomas J Waterson

Rung as a farewell compliment to the Right Reverend Dr John Thomson, Bishop of Selby.
First peal on 12: 9
100th peal for the society: 8

Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire
St Mary the Virgin
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 2hrs 46mins (8-1-26 in Bb)
5088 Spliced Surprise Major (8m)
Composed by Noel J Diserens
736 Superlative; 704 each London, Rutland; 608 each Cambridge, Pudsey, Lincolnshire; 576 Bristol; 544 Yorkshire; 120 com, atw

  1. C Anita Blundell
  2. John P Loveless
  3. Felicity S Warwick
  4. Andrew J Cairns
  5. Anthony P Cotton
  6. Alan Regin
  7. Ian D Butters
  8. David A Warwick (C)

Rung during SRCY Country Weekend.
A get well compliment and with the best wishes from the band to the local ringer who came with the keys to let us in, but broke his arm and nose on his way to the tower.

York, North Yorkshire
Oratory Church of St Wilfrid
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 3hrs 4mins (18-1-21 in F)
5040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
Composed by John H Fielden

  1. Paul M Mason
  2. Ruth Curtis
  3. Elizabeth A Hibbert
  4. G Jessica Durham
  5. Penelope J V Sharpe
  6. Paul F Curtis
  7. Russell A Brown
  8. Stephen A Rossiter (C)
  9. Evie Newton
  10. Adam W Kilgour

In memory of James H Foster
850th Peal: 3

York, North Yorkshire
St Martin le Grand, Coney Street
Friday, 12 July 2024 in 3hrs 0mins (10-1-23 in G#)
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by James Clatworthy

  1. Linda M Garton
  2. Mary E Dunbavin
  3. Janet E Menhinick
  4. Graham A Duke
  5. Stephen R Aldridge
  6. Christopher E J Kilgour
  7. Christine B Potter
  8. Claire F Roulstone (C)

Remembering Alison Regan on the anniversary of her death.

Bradford, West Yorkshire
Cathedral Church of St Peter
Thursday, 11 July 2024 in 3hrs 24mins (25-2-21 in D)
5040 Spliced Surprise Maximus (5m)
Composed by A G Reading
5 methods: 1056 Bristol, Rigel; 1008 Barford; 960 Cambridge, Yorkshire; 33 com; atw.

  1. Felicity S Warwick
  2. Daniel J Page
  3. David C Bath
  4. Ewan G A Hull
  5. Estella J Haynes
  6. Ian Roulstone
  7. Jack E Page (C)
  8. David A Warwick
  9. Ian Butters
  10. Alan Regin
  11. Thomas J Waterson
  12. Claire F Roulstone

Rung to celebrate the birth of Seren Cleo Rawlinson, born yesterday. A first child for Andrew and Carrie.
Also rung as a third birthday compliment to Chloe Waterson for yesterday.

Wetherby, West Yorkshire
St James
Thursday, 11 July 2024 in 2hrs 38mins (11-3-27 in F#)
5024 Lessness Surprise Major
Composed by Alan G Reading (no2)

  1. Ian G Campbell
  2. Paul A Cammiade
  3. Ruth Curtis
  4. Lewis D Benfield
  5. Stephen R Aldridge
  6. Michael Angrave
  7. Paul F Curtis (C)
  8. Roger S Riley

Rung in celebration of the 95th birthday of Charles Usher, local parishioner and faithful bellringer at churches across the country.

York, North Yorkshire
St Lawrence
Thursday, 11 July 2024 in 2hrs 44mins (7-3-24 in A)
5024 Cambridge Surprise Major
Composed by Paul M Mason (No.81a)

  1. Michael H D O'Callaghan
  2. Paul M Mason (C)
  3. Beryl R Norris
  4. Alistair M Donaldson
  5. Graham A Duke
  6. Anthony P Cotton
  7. Christina D A Brewster
  8. Frank W Rivett