The Novice practice will take place at St. George in the East (Cannon St. Rd E1 OBH, between The Highway and Cable St. and a short walk from Shadwell DLR station) on Thursday, 14 August at 7.0pm. This practice is particularly for ringers in the early stages of ringing, up to Plain Bob or Grandsire.   Experienced ringers are needed to help. … [Read more...]

The bells of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, will ring out on the afternoon of Monday 7th July to celebrate a leg of the Tour de France taking place in London. This continues the tradition of ringing for sporting events in London as there was ringing at St Margaret's Church for the three Olympic Marathons in 2012 and for the London Marathon in 2013, the courses of which took in a side of Parliament Square. This time the competitors will be coming in from the East and once they have … [Read more...]

The annual Eucharist for the Ordination of Deacons at St Paul’s Cathedral provides a focus for Middlesex Association 12 bell ringing each year. In 2014 the service was held on the Eve of St Peter, Saturday 28 June, and the St Paul’s Cathedral band once again invited the MCALDG to ring before and after it. The bells at St Paul’s are heavy and challenging. In preparation for this, we rang two quarter peals of 1311 Stedman Cinques at Southwark Cathedral, on 11 May and 15 June. This experience … [Read more...]

The N&E District Striking Contest was held last Saturday, 17th May, at Christ Church Southgate, ringing on the front six bells.  The judges. Peter Jasper and Edmund Mottershead, placed the competing bands in the following order: First - Kilburn (57 faults); Second - Aldgate (64 faults); Third - Foster Lane A (70 faults); Fourth - Hackney 74 faults) and Fifth - Foster Lane B (97 faults). Very many thanks to the judges, to the stewards,  to those who brought and served the … [Read more...]

The inaugural striking competition for the ‘Roger Bailey Cup’ took place at Hillingdon (St John the Baptist) on the afternoon of Saturday 26th April, with 40 members taking part. Two teams from each District rang 287 Grandsire Caters, and the ringing was judged by Lucy Woodward, to whom we were most grateful, not least for disregarding the prevailing weather conditions in the churchyard whilst carrying out the task so proficiently! Lucy reported to the Association’s AGM that by far the best … [Read more...]

The Association AGM at Uxbridge (St Margaret) on 26th April was very well attended, with 50 members signing the register of attendance (and some people escaping without doing so!). The key outcomes were as follows: 1. Two grants were approved from the Bell Restoration Fund: i  All Hallows, Twickenham – up to £4000 ii St Mary the Virgin, Norwood Green – up to £10,000 2. Reports were received from all the Association’s officers, most of which are printed in the Annual report 2013-14, … [Read more...]

The sixth bell at Acton suffered a broken gudgeon during ringing in September 2013 and all ringing was suspended at Acton until the bell could be stabilised.  This was done in January 2014 and the broken gudgoen was removed shortly afterwards with a hope of a repair. Today, 7th April, the sixth bell has now been rehung not with a repaired gudgeon but with a newly made one! The work both the stabilise the bell and to rehang it with the new gudgeon was carried out by Stephen Jakeman, … [Read more...]

On 18 January at St Anne's, Highgate, the District Planning Meeting discussed the calendar of events for 2014, shared a meal, and enjoyed a Quiz.  Following the meeting we were turned loose on the most amazing bring-and-share buffet - better than I've seen at many professionally catered events.  There followed the Quiz under Quiz Master Patrick Draper (Saffron Walden) who kept a tight rein on proceedings and kept us marching along at a brisk pace.  Our grateful thanks go to Patrick for … [Read more...]

The N & E Annual District Meeting  at St. James, Islington on 15th February, with 43 people attending, 20 towers represented.  The programme for the year was circulated and agreed.  Paul Norman retired as Assistant Ringing Master and was thanked for his services, and the following officers were elected: Chair:                                                       Margaret Peirce                                                                   Ringing Master:                               … [Read more...]

The South & West District Annual Meeting took place at St Mary's Church, Hayes, on Saturday 8th February 2014. The following officers were elected: Chairman: Michael Palmer Ringing Master: John Manley Deputy Ringing Master: Dorothy Barker Secretary: Peter Kemp Treasurer: Janet Baker Assistant Treasurer: Jill Wigney Bell Restoration Committee Representatives: Ray Pearce and John Barrance Training Committee Representatives: John Manley + vacancy Independent … [Read more...]