Central Council of Church Bellringers

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1997

1. The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (“the Council”) was founded in 1891 and is a registered charity, no. 270036. Its address is that of its Honorary Secretary for the time being, namely 50 Cramhurst Lane, Witley, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 5QZ. The constitution and conduct of the Council is governed by its Rules.

2. The Council’s Trustees during 1997 were as follows:

   President	Mrs P. M. Wilkinson
   Vice-President	Mr J. A. Anderson
   Hon. Secretary	Mr C. H. Rogers
   Hon. Treasurer	Mr M. H. D. O’Callaghan (until 19th February)
   	Mr E. G. H. Godfrey (from 26th May)

3. The Council’s bankers are Lloyds Bank, Westminster House Branch, Dean Stanley St, London, SW1P 3HU. At the start of the year its auditors were Mr E. G. H. Godfrey, FCA, and Mr A. G. Smith, CPFA. At the Council’s annual meeting on 26th May Mr A. G. Smith and Mr S. J. Coleman were appointed independent examiners.

4. At the close of the Annual General Meeting on 26th May 1997 the Council’s membership comprised nine Life Members, 21 Honorary Members and 200 Representative Members representing 68 affiliated societies. Since that time one Honorary Member, Miss J. Sanderson, has become a Representative Member; and there have the following changes in Representative Members:

   • Ely Diocesan Association: Mr P. S. Seaman has resigned and has been replaced by Miss J. Sanderson.

   • Leicester Diocesan Guild: Following the death of Mr A. Cattell, Mrs W. M. Warwick has been elected to fill the resulting vacancy.

   • North Wales Association: Dr K. W. Price has resigned and has been replaced by Mr D. Hyde.

   • Peterborough Diocesan Guild: Mrs E. J. Sibson has been elected to fill a vacancy.

   • Truro Diocesan Guild: Mr I. P. Self has resigned and has been replaced by Mr D. R. Pope.

   • Yorkshire Association: Mrs E. S. Riley has resigned and has been replaced by Miss L. M. Bland.

   Subject to any further changes, at the start of the 1998 Council meeting there will be nine Life Members, 20 Honorary Members and 201 Representative Members.

5. The Aims and Objects of the Council are as follows:

   (i) To promote and foster the ringing of bells for Christian worship and on other appropriate occasions;

   (ii) To represent all ringers to national bodies and the world at large;

   (iii) To make available advice, assistance and information to ringers and ringing societies on all matters concerned with bells and bell ringing;

   (iv) To bring together ringers to discuss matters of common interest;

   (v) To recommend standards in change ringing and maintain such records as may be necessary to uphold these standards;

   (vi) To assist in the provision, maintenance and transfer of church bells.

6. The work of the Council in pursuing these aims and objects is for the most part carried out by its fifteen committees and by working groups appointed by them. Summaries of their activities during 1997 are given in the committee reports, which appear elsewhere on the Council’s agenda and are being published in the April 1998 issues of The Ringing World, the Council’s weekly newspaper. Two related matters have added to the Council’s work during the year and have attracted much media attention: the launch of the “Ring in 2000” campaign to recruit and train a large number of new ringers in time to ring in the new millennium; and the allocation to individual churches of the Millennium Commission’s grant of £3 million for the restoration and augmentation of rings of bells.

7. The Accounts for 1997 show total funds at the year end of £164,980, of which £29,992 is in restricted funds. The funds decreased by a total of £7,383 during the year, largely due to the writing down of the value of slow-moving publications stock. The income for the year totalled £33,685, compared with £27,338 in 1996. The Trustees have the power to invest money and adopt such measures as seem to them necessary in the interest of the Council. They do not have any power to borrow money.

8. It is confirmed that the Council’s assets, together with the expected income for 1998, are available and are likely to be adequate to fulfil the objects of the Council in that year.

C. H. ROGERS, Honorary Secretary

The Ringing World, April 24, 1998, page 411

CENTRAL COUNCIL OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 1997

CENTRAL COUNCIL OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Registered Charity Number 270036

Balance Sheet as at 31st December 1997

Eric Godfrey
Hon Treasurer March 1998

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 1997

1. Accounting Policies

   The accounts have been drawn up in accordance with the “Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Charities” known as the Charities SORP, issued by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, dated October 1995.

2. Fundamental Accounting Concepts

   The accounts have been drawn up in accordance with the going concern, accruals, consistency and prudence concepts as stated in Appendix 2 of the SORP.

3. Interest Receivable arises from investments in National Savings Bonds, Central Board of Finance of the Church of England Deposit Fund and bank deposit and current accounts.

4. Funds

   The General Fund is unrestricted. The Capital Fund is a designated fund. All other funds have been set up and maintained for restricted purposes.

5. Transfers between Funds

   1. £250 has been transferred as a grant from the General Fund to the Friends of the Library.

   2. £1,600 has been transferred from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve in line with inflation.

6. Tangible Assets

   The major tangible assets of the Council are the investments in National Savings Bonds and the library which is included in the Balance Sheet at a nominal £10. The Library is valued for insurance purposes at £40,000. The Council also owns two Ringing Simulators, two Microfiche readers and a 486 Personal Computer with printer.

   It has been the Council’s policy to treat these other tangible assets as fully depreciated in the year of purchase.

7. Emoluments of Employees

   The Council had no employees during the year.

8. Charitable Commitments

   There were no unfulfilled charitable commitments at 31 December 1997.

9. General Fund Committee Expenses

   These were as follows:	1997	1996
   	£	£
   Administrative	408	46
   Bell Restoration Funds	940	916
   Biographies	0	7
   Computer Co-ordination	346	80
   Education	1128	834
   Peals Analysis	29	0
   Public Relations	1342	1272
   Ringing Centres	137	0
   Towers & Belfries	782	447
   Ring in 2000	494	0
   Millennium	595	1234
   Total	6201	4836

The Ringing World, April 24, 1998, pages 412 to 413

The Ringing World Limited
Chairman’s Report 1997

1997 was an eventful year and one of considerable change for The Ringing World.

After a great deal of hard work by a few and particularly by Louise Bland, a ringing Solicitor from Yorkshire, the work permit for our new Editor, Tina Stoecklin, was finally granted in early May, immediately after the General Election. She flew in from America on 15th May officially to take up her duties the following week.

The intervening weekend saw the Board able to combine its usual May meeting with a valedictory Dinner for David Thorne, our retiring Editor and his wife Joan, held at Towcester with its legendary hospitality.

It was good that many friends, contributors and those connected with the paper both past and present were able to be with David and Joan on a most memorable and enjoyable occasion.

The Board were also pleased to be able to make their own personal presentation to David to mark his retirement as Editor and to express appreciation of his outstanding contribution to The Ringing World and ringing everywhere over the past 16 years. We wish David and Joan a long and happy retirement.

At the Central Council Meeting held later that month, the Council expressed its own thanks to David, made a presentation and honoured him with election as a Life Member of the Council.

David remained employed by the paper until the end of July to ensure a smooth transition to our new Editor, Tina.

Tina’s first few weeks were a real baptism by fire during which she had to deal with the ringing consequences of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Midge Mather Trial and an office move at extremely short notice. She coped admirably and came through with flying colours.

With Tina’s appointment as Editor finally confirmed, Howard Egglestone decided that the end of July was the right time for him to step down as Chairman of the Board - a position he had held since the formation of The Ringing World Limited as a company in 1983 and previously as Chairman of its predecessor Committee since 1982. His fellows directors acknowledge his firm and effective leadership, diplomatic skills and outstanding services as Chairman and are pleased that they will receive his continuing advice, guidance and contributions as a Board Member.

Your new Chairman has been honoured and privileged to have been elected - Howard will be an extremely hard, if not impossible, act to follow.

In April, we were pleased to be able to sponsor and be associated with the very successful Ringing World Roadshow held at Knowle, West Midlands.

More and more of our contributors are now making submissions via e-mail and we are pleased that this part of our operation has now been extended.

Those of you who have had occasion in the past few months to telephone The Ringing World office out of hours, would have heard the recorded message that the office is also “The Information Line For Ring In 2000”. This aspect has taken an increasing portion of Tina’s time and does indicate the extent to which the position of Editor carries a much wider role for “The Ringing Exercise” than the job title would indicate.

At long last the circulation figures do indicate an increasing trend and we hope that, with the new ideas which will naturally evolve with a new Editor, this will continue.

Our accounts disclose a satisfactory financial result for the year particularly bearing in mind the additional costs which were inevitably attendant upon the change of Editor - including the employment of two Editors for a period - but fortunately not including any staff agency recruitment fees!

We have a well balanced journal which is extremely good value and as is both usual and right this Report is the correct place to express the thanks of the Board to many people.

First, we thank all those who have contributed to the paper over the past year with special appreciation to our readers for the warm welcome and generous support given to the new Editor.

We must thank Tina for her hard work at Guildford which is already making some changes to the appearance of the paper. We feel sure that we have made an excellent selection in our new Editor - the paper is in every good hands.

We are grateful to Anne Carpenter our Assistant to the Editor for her work throughout the year especially during the transition from David to Tina. Anne has now taken on more work for us and can be found at Guildford more frequently than previously.

Finally, thanks to our loyal readers, advertisers and those who send in donations for their continuing and vital support to the paper.

M. J. CHURCH
Chairman

15th March 1998

Library Committee

The first Seminar for lovers of bell books was held at Thatcham in September, with 21 attending. Thanks to Bill and Jennifer Butler for its success. We plan to publish the proceedings, and the Committee will consider ways to encourage inter-library cooperation. The Library had a stall at The Ringing World Road Show. Only Cyril Wratten and Jean Sanderson were able to attend, but more than £100 were raised from the sales of surplus Annual Reports as well as the benefits of publicity and the pleasures of meeting people.

The conversion of the early records of the ASCY and SRCY from microfilm to microfiche has been completed, and we thank the two Societies for their permission to do this. Another good thing was that the cost was less than expected.

Although the newsletter for the Friends of the Central Council Library was later than intended, Essay no. 4 which accompanied it was enthusiastically received, and a Supplement has been prepared as more variants of Troyte’s book have been discovered. 19 new Individual members have joined, also one Corporate and a revived Corporate member. 16 have taken advantage of the Standing Order Mandates. Do ask Jean Sanderson if you want a form. 11 Individuals and eight Corporate members have not paid during this year, and one Friend, Philip Walker of Oxford, has died.

Chris Ridley has made a splendid start on the collection of society membership badges and certificates. He was not surprised to find that a number of societies appeared to have little knowledge of the history of their badges and certificates. He has identified 145 metallic badges (as well as other types) and we now have 37 examples of these. Tim Wooding has kindly supplied photographs of the remainder: many thanks. There is more diversity in the certificates, but 62 examples are now held and we hope to be able to expand both collections.

Usage of the Library continues at a very satisfactory level, with 53 loans being made this year, a few more than last year, and other enquiries have come in at about the usual rate. The continued regular publicity in The Ringing World, for which we are very grateful, has helped to keep a high profile for the Library and thus ensures that it is well used. It is not the only way, for queries come into The Ringing World office and are sent to the Library for response.

John Eisel has begun a rolling programme of checking the stock, and has checked books on change ringing published before 1900; the Snowdon series; Central Council publications; ringing periodicals (Church Bells, Bell News, The Ringing World, Campanology and The Bellringer); and lists of rings of bells. All was well.

71 items have been added to stock, in addition to annual reports and newsletter. Our collection of Guild/Association Annual Reports has continued to grow, with 33 current reports (slightly down on last year, alas) and a number of past reports that fill gaps. As always, we thank all the donors very warmly. Our set of Yorkshire Association Reports has been bound, and we want to bind others as and when funds permit, especially as most reports are stapled and it is essential that these staples are removed. Should any Guild or Association wish to sponsor the binding of the Library holdings of its reports either John Eisel or Jean Sanderson would be delighted to hear!

The Committee decided that it would be useful to have a Library logo and Graham Grant is working on this. It is disappointing that the Library Catalogue does not make more obvious progress. Although other members of the Committee have offered help, the work is not yet ready to be shared out, and Fred Bone has many commitments but he perseveres.

JEAN SANDERSON (Chairman)
FRED J. P. BONE
WILLIAM F. BUTLER
JOHN C. EISEL (Steward/Librarian)
CHRIS RIDLEY
CYRIL WRATTEN

Public Relations Advisory Group

During 1997 Derek Watson (health reasons) and Emma St John Smith (pressure of work) resigned from the Group. Both have indicated their willingness to continue to help whenever possible and we thank them for their support and work over the past few years. At the last Council Meeting David Thorne took over as Chairman and Clare O’Callaghan was elected as a member of the Group

Millennium Projects

The main focus of Public Relations activity during 1997 was centred on the two projects managed by working groups reporting to the Administrative Committee. PRAG members Lin Forbes and Stella Bianco, acting as joint project coordinators for the “Ringing in the Millennium” project, have put in a great deal of time and effort to ensure the fair distribution of grants from the £3 million award from the National Lottery Millennium Fund. John Anderson, Wendy Daw and David Thorne have continued working for the “Ring in 2000” group and assisted at the national launch of the project.

Ringing World Roadshow

Held on 12th April at Knowle, the Roadshow (sponsored by The Ringing World) proved to be an outstanding success. A total of 800 or so ringers attended the event and enjoyed the great variety of activities provided. Trade exhibitors did brisk business and expressed the hope that a similar event be organised in the future. Responses to questionnaires distributed to those who attended indicated that the Roadshow should be repeated in two years time and plans are in hand to hold a similar event on 17th April 1999, in the Tewkesbury area. The 1997 Roadshow was organised by PRAG members John Anderson and Derek Watson who received great support from local ringers, particularly Derek and Ann Smart.

PR Displays

The last year has been another very busy one with displays in use at locations from Wales to the North of England. One rather unusual setting was a National Trust stately home. It is anticipated that as the Millennium approaches there will be an increased demand for display material and organisers are urged to think and book well ahead for millennium exhibitions. The colourful panels available are 30ins x 20ins, some in Marler Hayley frames and some without frames, all prepared and supplied by Harold Rogers.

International Liaison

Fred Dukes has, as usual, produced a full report on overseas activities for publication in The Ringing World. During the year he produced three newsletters which were sent to all areas throughout the world where ringing takes place. Fred has also taken over responsibility for liaison with the ringers in Kilifi and an article urging ringers to visit and support this isolated band was published in The Ringing World. “Ring in 2000” posters were also distributed to all overseas rings. George Morris has continued to maintain close contact with the ringers of Italy.

Media contact

Adrian Udal has continued to advise the producer of “Bells on Sunday” of churches and associations celebrating special events. Many of these were featured in the programme during 1997. “Ringing in the Millennium” and the launch of “Ring in 2000” generated a great deal of national and local media coverage and local PROs, association officers and ringers are to be complimented on their efforts which resulted in so much publicity for ringing and ringers.

In many instances the first contact for the media is The Ringing World office and we thank the Editor and her assistant for continuing to deal so efficiently with such enquiries. Often these require considerable time and effort and this was particularly the case after the launch of “Ring in 2000”.

Complaints Working Group

John Anderson has continued to coordinate the activities of the group of advisers and consultants. Advice has been given to churches facing the possibility of complaints about bells and it is interesting to note that, very often, Environmental Health Officers have themselves found it useful to consult the advisers when possible problems arise.

Church

George Morris has produced a pamphlet for the clergy giving information about ringing and has run pilot courses for clergy in the Malvern area. Two more such courses are planned for 1998 and a report on their effectiveness will be prepared in due course.

Young ringers

Clare O’Callaghan has undertaken to act as the Group’s contact for young ringers. She is hoping to collect their views on ringing activities with the aim of suggesting the best ways to recruit and retrain youngsters.

DAVID THORNE (Chairman)
JOHN ANDERSON
STELLA BIANCO
WENDY DAW
FRED DUKES
LIN FORBES
GEORGE MORRIS
CLARE O’CALLAGHAN (elected May 1997)
HAROLD ROGERS
EMMA ST JOHN SMITH (resigned May 1997)
ADRIAN UDAL
DEREK WATSON (resigned May 1997)
TINA STOECKLIN (ex officio)

Education Committee

During 1997 the Education Committee has achieved a number of milestones, including the completion of two major projects: the training video and the Tower Handbook. The committee met in full four times during the year in Keele, Buxhall and twice in Gloucester, and in part at a number of organised events. George Doughty, who has served on the committee since 1993, stood down in May; George has contributed to several activities, most notably the training courses and the video. We welcome Adrian Semken as his replacement, elected at the Council meeting in May.

Ring in 2000

The Ring in 2000 initiative is concerned with training new bands in preparation for ringing in the Millennium, and more specifically ringing as part of the worship at the special services on 1st January 2000. This has naturally involved the Education Committee and the initiative has provided the focus, and in some cases the impetus, for a number of the activities reported below. All of these activities are valuable despite the Ring in 2000 project, and in some ways the project has facilitated training activities in which the committee would have engaged in any case. This is partly because the project has been viewed as a vehicle with which to achieve rather longer term benefits, than simply ringing on New Year’s Day 2000. One event which was focused exclusively on Ring in 2000 was the Education Conference, held in July at St Margaret’s, Leicester. Although the turnout was smaller than we had hoped for, nonetheless participants seem to find the day worthwhile; it included several presentations and a brains trust on training issues, which seemed to go down particularly well.

Training courses

The MTM (Management, Teaching, Maintenance) course continues to be the most substantial part of the committee’s taught course effort, with the weekend course being delivered twice, in Cirencester and Swanwick (Derbys.). We are very grateful to local ringers who have assisted with the organisation, and joined the sessions as helpers, ensuring the success of these courses. Effective advertising is still a major challenge for this course; it appears to be highly valued by students who take part, but it is difficult to attract them in the first place. A suggestion that the course might be taken to local associations was followed up, and a brochure setting out the course’s content, format and requirements has been widely distributed. We are pleased to have received a number of requests for in-association courses; two took place in the autumn in the Hereford DG, and the Bath and Wells DA, and these were well supported and, we believe, very effective. There are already six requests for courses during 1998, and our current plan is to pursue the in-association courses and provide materials etc., to assist the associations to repeat the course in the future for other members, in order to achieve our objective of the widest possible coverage for “training the trainers”. The “In-Association” courses will effectively replace those we have previously organised independently.

Seminars on listening and striking were delivered in Guildford, Aberdeen, Kent and Oxford during the year. The committee has six specific seminars which may be delivered within associations; these are flexible allowing them to be tailored to particular requirements and additional topics are provided on request.

Training video

The training video has been a committee activity for rather a long time, and so it was with both relief and a certain amount of excitement that the committee released the video, “Bell-handling - a tutor’s companion”, in May. The basic scripting was carried out by Colin Wyld, James Pailing and George Doughty and filming took place at Guildford Cathedral in February under direction of Colin Wyld. A professional cameraman, Tony Bye, was contracted for the filming, and he gave much helpful advice during the production. The first public, viewing was at the Ringing World Road Show, at which the committee had a stall, and the first videos were dispatched in May. The council agreed to underwrite the cost of production, and this allowed distribution of at least one copy to every affiliated association, and second copies to those associations involved in the Ring in 2000 project. Additionally videos were made available at half price on the basis of one per affiliated association branch, and over half of the eligible associations took up that offer. Video reproduction is carried out by Keele University, and this allows distribution on a make to order basis, which is handled by Phil Gay working with Barbara Wheeler (of the Publications Committee). We are grateful to the Open Churches Trust, the Whitechapel Bellfoundry, and Eayre and Smith Bellhangers, for sponsoring the videos. So far sales have been extremely pleasing, and it is hoped that the Council will recoup the full production costs within about three years.

Publications

The idea for The Tower Handbook was first mooted by John Turney in 1993; it was conceived as a reference book that could be kept, and used, in the tower. It is the work of quite a number of committee members, but particularly of John Harrison, who has compiled and edited the contributions, and written many extra sections to bring it to a state of completeness. The book is in the form of questions and answers and covers a wide range of topics related to ringing; it contains many illustrations, and cartoons. supplied by Yvonne Hall. It is written in a style which encourages browsing, and in particular each question and answer is kept brief so that it may be used to access information quickly (e.g. whilst a touch is being rung). Whilst billed as the “tower” handbook, we anticipate that it will also become the “ringers” handbook, and certainly it has something for everyone, so that many people will want their own individual copy.

A new edition of “Service Touches”, originally written by David Parsons, and updated (with permission) by David Salter and Fred Bone will be due for publication early in 1998. “Another 8”, a pamphlet with suggestions of alternatives to the standard eight Surprise Major methods aimed at those keen to expand their repertoire is nearing completion, as is a pamphlet entitled “Organising an Outing”. This latter covers not only the ubiquitous annual tower outing, but holidays and suggestions for different types of outing; it should prove particularly useful for those undertaking (landed with) the task for the first time. Two other publications in preparation are “Learning Methods” and a new edition of the “Beginners Handbook”.

Simulators

The Central Council simulators have been in near constant use throughout the year, borrowed mostly for training courses. Phil Gay has maintained the simulators and organised this service on behalf of the committee for a number of years. During 1998 he will hand over to John Turney.

Networking

During the year the committee has given a good deal of thought to ways in which it may develop communication both with Guilds and to “grass roots” ringers. The committee has, for many years, sent out a newsletter, and the Training Directory (which is produced jointly with the Ringing Centres committee) is an important source of information with regard to courses. However, we recognise that there is sometimes difficulty ensuring that the information actually gets into the towers and to individual ringers. Two initiatives have been started this year; the first is the setting up of a web page which will contain up-to-date information on committee and other training activities. The second is the use of networking, whereby each committee member will have special responsibility for liaison with five or six particular associations. Through this we hope to achieve greater integration of Central Council and Guild training activities, where this is appropriate so that activities and services are communicated more effectively to those who may benefit from them. We also hope to encourage greater communication between Guilds on training matters.

Other activities

In response to a number of letters in The Ringing World regarding the perceived difficulty of the Girl Guides Bell Ringers badge a number of approaches were made to that organisation in time for their review. However, The Girl Guides Association were not keen to make any substantial changes to their attainment requirements for the badge. A more positive response from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has ensured that we shall be able to assist them in the future.

The committee has carried out a feasibility study regarding setting up NVQ materials/courses for management in the voluntary sector. Although this is not yet complete, initial indications are that it would be of limited value to the bell ringing community. However, in response to some recent requests the committee is currently working on support material for local education authority night classes specifically on ringing.

The committee continues to respond to various and varied enquiries regarding training matters and, if anything, these have increased in number over the last year with the interest in the Ring in 2000 project. In particular, there have been numerous enquiries from the media, regarding training issues as a result of the heightened public interest in ringing.

The primary focus of our activities during the remainder of this triennium are seen as support for Guilds in training the trainers, and development of further publications, especially the new edition of the “Beginners Handbook”.

MICHAEL J. deC HENSHAW (Chairman)
RON R. WARFORD (Secretary)
FRED J. P. BONE
GAIL CATER
NEIL DONOVAN
PHIL W. GAY
JOHN A. HARRISON
FRANK W. LEWIS
MICHAEL MULVEY
DAVID SALTER
ADRIAN SEMKEN
JOHN TURNEY

The Ringing World, April 3, 1998, pages 335 to 337

Ringing Centres Committee

The Committee met twice during 1996, and has continued to work steadily on ongoing projects and also taken on some new ones. A significant part of our work is concerned with advising potential ringing centres, and progress continues to support our view that most ringing centres are likely to be fairly modest establishments. A number of Millennium Bells projects incorporate plans for ringing centres, and at least one millennium grant has been made conditional on the tower concerned becoming a ringing centre. Phil Gay continued to represent the committee on the Ring in 2000 Working Party. Responsibility for the 1998 Training Directory was transferred to Gail Cater of the Education Committee, but this committee continues to share the funding and supply information.

As a continuation of our policy of providing benefits to ringing centres, we are currently negotiating with an electronics manufacturer for batch production of sensors which can be supplied to ringing centres which are installing simulators based on Abel. Our budget for 1998 includes £1000 to fund this, which will be recovered as the sensors are sold on. Ongoing consideration of the best structure for the committee has resulted in a decision to recommend that in future one place on the committee should be filled by a nominee from the Education Committee rather than by direct election.

Methods Committee

The Committee met three times during the year, at Imperial College London on 11th January and in Winchester on 2nd March and 12th October (RW p.78).

The meeting at Imperial was an extra meeting as part of our consideration of “variable cover” peals which had been remitted to the Committee at the 1996 Council meeting. An article summarising work so far and our final report to Council were published in The Ringing World (1997 p.376 and 1998 p.78 respectively).

A machine-readable Collection of principles was added to the up-to-date collections maintained on the Ringers’ Bulletin Board and the World Wide Web. These collections provide the basis for all other method collections and the lists of Corrections and Amendments. We are always striving to improve their accuracy and are grateful to William J. Hall and Philip A. B. Saddleton for their help during the year.

Unusually, a number of methods were removed from the Collection of Plain methods. They were 259 Triples methods rung for the first and only time in a peal in 360 methods at Salford on 27 June 1974 for the Manchester University Guild (RW p.617). It was brought to our notice that 40 of the methods in this peal did not meet the Requirements for methods (Decision (E) A.1) and the performance would doubtless been excluded from the Peals Analysis had this been noted at the time. We considered that it would be inequitable to leave the other 219 methods in the Collection.

A Supplement to the Collections of Rung Surprise, Delight, Treble Bob and Alliance methods covering the methods rung during 1996 was available at the Council meeting and we will be preparing a further Supplement covering the methods rung during 1997. Once again we would ask that all conductors check that the place notations and first performances of new methods are reported correctly.

In a letter (1971 p.418) and an article (1991 p.790) in The Ringing World Vernon Bedford described “Differential” methods and several such methods have been rung in peals, although they were construed as Treble Place methods to conform to Council Decisions. It has been suggested that “Differential” methods should be recognized in their own right and, subject to Council’s approval, it is our intention to consider the matter and draft appropriate changes to the Decision on Methods and Calls.

We continue to seek an economical way of publishing the Four Way Table showing all the methods in Treble Dodging Minor Methods and plan further investigations into the relationships between lead heads groups at different stages.

We have, as usual, answered many enquiries about methods and method names by letter, telephone call and electronic mail.

Publications Committee

Three new publications were produced during the year. They were Starting a New Band, Rung Surprise Supplement (to end 1996) and An Index to Compositions in the Ringing World (1993-96).

Ten publications were reprinted: Jargon Leaflet, Ringing Skills, Listen to Ringing Cassette 1, Listen to Ringing Cassette 2, Conducting Stedman, Tower Captains’ Handbook, One Way to Teach Handling, Recruiting Leaflet, Organising a Bell Restoration Project and Belfry Offices.

The stock of Compositions of Spliced Surprise, a comprehensive collection in hardback, was exhausted at the end of the year. By then the rate of sales had fallen to a very low level. We have no plans to reprint the book but expect that the Peal Compositions Committee will make the information available on the Internet during 1998.

At the end of the year we received material for The Tower Handbook from the Education Committee. This is a major new work some 400 pages long, covering most aspects of ringing in a form suitable for reference or browsing. It will be available for sale early in 1998.

Our main printer has recently installed new equipment which will allow short print runs, including high quality illustrations, to be produced economically, together with easy updating of content when reprints are required. We are hopeful that this will allow us to operate in a more flexible way than hitherto. A collection of biographies of famous ringers will be used as a test case and should be available for sale before mid-1998.

Since the last Council meeting we have helped with distribution of the CC Video and have handled some of the financial aspects of its sale. It is not one of our normal publications and it was agreed that no allowance should be made for our overheads in determining the price. Video sales are shown in the accounts.

Income from sales, at £13,000 was about £2,000 more than in 1997 due mainly to video sales. At the same time the gross percentage profit on sales fell, again due to sales of the video. After discussion with the CC Treasurer and the auditors a large provision was made for stock regarded as unsaleable. Stock writeoff totalled over £9,000. Other expenses were as normal. The stock value at 31st December fell sharply to £10,500 as a consequence of the provision made. The disposable cash balance rose to about £12,500.

The Ringing World, April 10, 1998, page 361

Towers and Belfries Committee

As anticipated, 1997 has proved to be as busy as, if not busier than, 1996 for members. This is probably as a result of the overwhelming response to the “Ringing in the Millennium” scheme. Alan Frost and Adrian Dempster have attended the monthly meetings of the Millennium Working Party, which is responsible for recommending grant offers to the Millennium Commission. In addition to this, members of the committee have assisted a number of the applicants with advice, surveys, reports, etc, as and when necessary.

The committee met formally on three occasions to discuss, amongst other things, progress on publications, assistance required and given at courses and seminars and also problems encountered at the various towers visited by members. A major topic at each of the meetings was bearings. As a result of this, the committee has agreed to prepare advice notes to cover all aspects of bearings. The material on ball bearings is being collated and edited by Chris Povey and he will be grateful to receive comments from the exercise on their experiences.

The interest generated in the subject of ropes in 1996 has led one rope manufacturer to invite members of the committee to their works to discuss all aspects of rope making and to see it in action. We are encouraged by this constructive approach and hope that what we learn can be communicated to other ringers, probably by including this topic in a future seminar.

On the subject of publications, Jim Taylor is now preparing the final draft of “Sound Management”. This will be discussed with the Public Relations Advisory Group prior to publication. Roger Booth has now prepared the final outline of the model specification and some assistance is being given by other members of the committee on the more detailed work in the various sections. Pressure of work has prevented the final draft being available in 1997, but it should be ready for publication in 1998.

Again members have provided assistance on the belfry maintenance section of the Education Committee’s courses in February and November. We also assisted on a one-day maintenance seminar arranged by the Lichfield Archdeaconry Society North Staffordshire Association in September. Further seminars on belfry maintenance are planned for 1998 in North Wales and on the Devon/ Cornwall border.

Unable to resist John Anderson’s invitation to take a stall at the Ringing World Roadshow in April we duly “set up shop” on that wonderful day. Harry Windsor’s model of a swaying tower and associated measuring equipment generated a lot of interest - as did the “lego” church, complete with cracked masonry. Chris Povey brought along examples of failed bearings from Evesham. We dealt with many enquiries on the day and were pleased to see that the work of the committee was receiving more widespread publicity.

John Carter ringing machine

The machine was displayed and operated at the “Ringing World” Road Show at Knowle on 12th April 1997. A video recording of the machine prepared at the museum was also used. Great interest was expressed by many visitors.

The machine was selected for display in a special exhibition entitled “Favourite Things” held in the Gas Hall of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery during July and August. It was demonstrated on the opening day and displayed on a video for the remainder of the exhibition.

Maintenance work to improve the reliability of the machine has continued.

Towards the end of the year, seven ringing machine simulators developed by Peter Cummins and bequeathed by him to the Council were collected by John Anderson and delivered to the Birmingham Science Museum. The Officers of the Council have asked the Stewards of the John Carter Ringing Machine to inspect the simulators and make recommendations on their future. The Stewards have enlisted the help of Philip Gay and David and Geoff Bagley in undertaking this task.

These simulators, made between 1973 and 1985, incorporated then current technology in electronic and computer engineering. At the two sessions held so far by the working group, two of the machines have been put into working order and a start has been made in dating the equipment.

Our thanks are due to Dr J. Andrew, the Keeper of Industry Collections, and to Barry Ward, who is a Science Museum staff member and a ringer, for all their assistance.

ALAN BAGWORTH
JOHN ANDERSON
Stewards

Bell Restoration Funds Committee

The Committee met four times during 1997, in March in Peterborough, in May at Cambridge, in August in London and in October in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Membership - Following her election as a Honorary Member, Jackie Roberts was co-opted to the Committee particularly to operate the Funder Finder service.

Grants - We have continued to provide administrative support to the Manifold Trust. The number of applications has been much higher this year, with parishes also seeking help from the Millennium Commission umbrella project. The Trust has offered 22 grants on the basis of (a) no help for the scheme from the Millennium Commission OR (b) a lower amount with the full 50% Millennium partnership funding. The Trust has made a record commitment of £67,000 for 1997 (an advance of over £3,000 per grant) assuming none of the 22 successful parishes secured Commission help. However the cost to the Trust has been offset by savings of £21,500 on earlier commitments following Commission awards.

Surveys - The Bell Restoration Fund triennial survey forms were sent to Guilds and the replies are being analysed.

Central Council Bell Restoration Fund - The proposal for the Fund was agreed by Council and the Committee and the Administrative Committee have worked on the criteria for allocating grants and loans.

Funder Finder - We continue to respond to enquires for information about charities which might be approached. This information is provided from the Funder Finder database, to which the Council subscribes.

Dissemination of Information - During 1997 advice and information has continued to be provided to a large number of parishes and others in response to enquiries. Various articles and reports have appeared in The Ringing World. Members of the Committee took part in the very successful Ringing World Roadshow on 12th April. During the year members followed up, by telephone, parishes which had earlier applied for information and advice. This follow-up showed parishes progressing, albeit slowly, with their projects and that they were not being held up by lack of further information or contacts. The Committee also supported and took part in a very successful seminar at Orford organised by local ringers and the Suffolk Guild.

Legacies - We have started on the process of trying to provide parishes and Guilds with information and publicity to enable them to tap the legacy market.

Future Work - Work will continue on the Central Council Bell Restoration Fund proposal, fuller information packs for parishes, the Bell Restoration Fund survey, and legacies. The Committee will also continue to carry out its routine, but essential, work in supplying information to parishes and other interested parties and providing administrative support to the Manifold Trust.

Biographies Committee

The following members and past members of the Council have died since the 1997 meeting:

• Philip WALKER: Oxford Diocesan Guild 1960-1974. Died 25th June 1997. Attended 14 meetings.

• William Maldon ROWE: Honorary member 1947-1956. Died 28th September 1997. He did not attend any meetings.

• Alan CATTELL: Leicester Diocesan Guild 1984 until his death. Died 26th October 1997. Attended 13 meetings.

• John R. SMITH: Norwich Diocesan Association 1978-1986. Died 2nd November 1997. Attended eight meetings.

• Burley Potter MORRIS: Peterborough Diocesan Guild 1951-1953. Died 24th November 1997. Attended two meetings.

• Harold G. CASHMORE: Hertford County Association 1939 and 1945-1953. Died 29th December 1997. Attended five meetings.

• Alfred MOULD: Derby Diocesan Association 1951-1965. Died 30th January 1998. Attended 11 meetings.

With only four new members of the Council for the 1997 meeting it has been an easy task to obtain Biography Sheets for the members, but the Committee is still making efforts to complete its sheets for those joining the Council at the 1993 and 1996 meetings. There are still 12 outstanding from each of these Councils. There is some reluctance to provide photographs for the records and a drive to obtain these will be made.

Ageing plastic folders holding former and deceased members’ records are being systematically replaced by modern clear anti-static polypropylene pockets, which do not react with paper. Paper clips widely used to hold papers together in the past are being removed, as they are beginning to show signs of rusting. The new envelopes will remove the need to use paper clips.

Letters to the Chairman for biographical information held in his safe-keeping for the committee have increased again this year, reflecting the good that comes from the policy of including the addresses of committee chairmen in The Ringing World Diary. One interesting exchange led to the discovery of a serious omission from the committee’s attendance register concerning the record of Gabriel Lindoff and, since he represented the Irish Association, it is fitting that the record be made straight in the year the Council holds its meeting in Dublin. The register has been faithfully kept since 1891 and records every attendance absence with apology (A) and absence without apology (a). It is now confirmed that Gabriel Lindoff was a member of the Council, representing the Irish Association 1920-1923 and 1925-1933, and although he did not attend any meetings for these years the register has been amended to indicate he was a member. There is no problem concerning his membership and attendance for 1934-1939.

Information gleaned from The Ringing World is being added to members’ records but there is a dearth of information coming direct from members to the Committee for inclusion in their biographies sheets. All information is welcomed.

Committee for Redundant Bells

During 1997 23 more churches were declared redundant: one less than in 1996. This brings the total under the two Pastoral Measures, 1968 and 1983, to 1557. Nowadays redundancy proceedings appear more a tool of routine management than the response to a crisis that they were when the first Pastoral Measure came into force in 1969. Nonetheless, the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches has been working to the rather gloomy prognostication of 50 new redundancies each year until 2000. So far, though, the figures have remained much more encouraging: we hope that will continue.

Churches, redundant and otherwise, are living in interesting times. The Church of England, with most of the bells, is certainly one of the most unsettled. The Turnbull Report, with its prospect of radical change in church government, may well impinge on bodies dealing with redundant churches. As well, there has been a greater readiness of the State to get involved. On the negative side this has meant, as we mentioned last year, a penchant for requiring Listed Building consent for work to bells in redundant churches. On the positive side is the Millennium Commission’s funding of various projects, especially, of course, the Central Council’s “Ringing in the Millennium” project. Some churches, which have, or would have, sought second-hand bells, have now gone straight for schemes for new bells. This, obviously, is likely to be a fairly short term phenomenon, but for the moment it has altered the general pattern. Some bells, too, have become available as surplus to requirements after restoration. We are pleased that the “Ringing in the Millennium” project applications form asks applicants what bells or fittings might become available if their scheme proceeds.

In 1997 the Committee was involved with some 16 cases. One new enquiry was for a ring of bells, six for bells for augmentation, and six for bells for use as singles or replacements. Four came from churches overseas, in America, Nigeria and Transylvania. At the beginning of the year David Kelly was operating his computer lists of bells on a fairly informal basis which fitted neatly with the Committee’s lists. As the year progressed, David formalised his lists as the Keltek Trust, now a registered charity. At his invitation the Committee looked at the possibility that, with this more formal arrangement, there could be a conflict of interest, and decided unanimously that it was much to the advantage of the committee to have another list operated by one of its members.

Last year we viewed with some misgivings the prospect of the Churches Conservation Trust devesting or leasing churches. The Trust has now concluded that this is generally likely to be both unsatisfactory and wasteful of resources. As well, we looked forward to the new Pastoral Measure Code of Practice, anticipated in 1997: it continues to travel hopefully, but has not so far arrived.

Once again we thank the Church Commissioners and the Council for the Care of Churches for their help. Now that Mr Ranald Clouston has retired from preparing notes for the Council for the Care of Churches on the bells of churches potentially redundant, we look forward to the help of his successor in that task, the Revd David Cawley. We remain extremely grateful to Mr Clouston for the copies of his notes over many years: they have been invaluable. We were very sorry to lose Ron Johnston from the Committee when he stood down as a member of the Council in May.

Peals Analysis Committee

Introduction

We have recorded a total of 5304 peals rung in 1997, of which 4767 were on tower bells and 537 on handbells. This is again the second highest number of peals rung in a year, being 36 less than the total for 1994, and 49 more than the revised total for 1996, which was previously second highest. The change from 1996 is mainly caused by an increase of 98 for handbells, especially on even numbers, with an increase for Cinques on tower bells but an overall tower bell decrease of 49, mainly on less than eight bells. Full details are included in the methods table which accompanies this report. The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths celebrating their 250th anniversary are the leading society with 443 peals, this being the second highest all time high, behind the 497 set by the Oxford Diocesan Guild in 1989. The second society in 1997 is the Oxford Diocesan Guild with 431, also beating the previous second all time high of 420 set by that Guild in 1991. Bath and Wells D. A. come in third with 281 which would have secured second place with a comfortable margin in all recent previous years.

The Committee met once during the year, to finalise records for 1997 and to agree the format of the report. We are grateful for the work done by Andrew Craddock collating, editing and correcting the current peal data extracted from The Ringing World input system, which is being used to check our figures and also provides the leading tower list. We also thank William Hall for his independent analysis and those other peal secretaries who have compared figures.

As requested by The Council we have taken note of peals rung during 1997 which would not have been accepted by The Council previous to recent rule changes. There was one peal of Stedman Variable Cover Triples rung at Warsop on 3rd December by the Southwell Guild. There were also four odd bell peals rung without a cover bell; Horham 11th January Plain Bob Triples Suffolk Guild, Boston 2nd February Plain Bob Triples N.A.G., Basingstoke 2nd August Stedman Caters A.S.C.Y. and Basingstoke 30th December Grandsire Caters O.D.G.

After considering a suggestion at Council that peals on mini-rings should be analysed separately we agreed it is not necessary as such towers appear in the leading tower list if there are more than nine peals rung.

The number of peals which are incorrectly or incompletely reported continues to give cause for concern and the Committee would like to remind conductors of their responsibilities. The frustration also caused by the need to reclassify peals not acceptable by the Association or Guild for which they are rung must also be felt by many Peal Secretaries.

Peal not complying with the Decisions on Peal Ringing

A peal of doubles in six methods and 45 variations, rung at Gotham on 29th December for the Southwell Diocesan Guild, does not comply with Decision (D) C.3 with respect to the calls used in six of the extents. Following precedent, e.g. Almeley in 1996, we recommend that extents 19-20 be recorded as Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place, 27-28 as Plain Bob, 35 as St Martin’s Bob and 42 as St Simon’s Bob and that the peal be accepted as six methods and 28 variations. It has been included in the accompanying analysis.

Methods and change on year

The accompanying table incorporates a summary of the more popular methods with an analysis of the year on year change in the numbers of peals rung on each number of bells. “Single Surprise” means the total rung in single Surprise methods other than those listed specifically. There are no methods in this category rung more than 20 times. An “Other” category is included for completeness.

Towers

The following 71 towers had 10 or more peals in 1997:

The top 17 (more than 24 peals last year) are still in the top 17 except for Melbourne which has been replaced by Blackburn Cathedral. The highest new entries are Newcastle Cathedral and Turners Hill with 17 peals after only eight and nine respectively in 1996.

The leading societies

The following societies rang more than 150 peals:

Ely rejoins the list this year in its Centenary year. Despite the Chester Diocesan Guild ringing 20 more handbell peals than in 1996, Bath and Wells becomes the leading society for handbell peals with 89. A total of 18 societies rang more than 100 peals in 1997 (19 in 1996).

First pealers and firsts as conductor

There were 272 first pealers in 1997 (308 in 1996) and 39 first as conductor (46 in 1996). We congratulate all those who have contributed to these statistics, particularly where several firsts were included in one peal.

Corrections to the 1996 Analysis

There are plenty of alterations to the 1996 analysis as detailed below. Part of this is due to the computerisation of data which is increasing our eventual accuracy, but most is caused by late submission. To meet our deadlines, we have to report on the data as published by the end of February. Any changes notified later will be included in the following year.

All corrections relate to tower bells.

Revised totals for 1996 are: tower bells 4816, handbells 439, total 5255.

Details of the adjustments are available from the Chairman.

The Felstead Project
(joint with the Computer Co-ordination Committee)

Good progress is being made on capturing the data from the record cards created by the late Canon Felstead. At the time of writing over 2800 towers had been completed with over 120,000 peals entered. Another 1000 towers were being worked on by around 100 volunteers. This phase of the project is expected to be complete in the Autumn.

The Ringing World, April 10, 1998, pages 362 to 365

Computer Coordination Committee

The Committee held two meetings in 1997/98 for progress updates and to determine future actions and projects. Much of the Committee’s work is done “over the net” by electronic mail.

John Martin was elected to the Committee at the 1997 Council. Andrew Craddock stood down as chainman during the year, and the Committee wishes to record its appreciation of all the work he has done in leading the Committee during his time in office.

The Committee continues to depend a lot on its team of advisors and helpers. In particular, we would like to thank Simon Feather, William Hall, Ian McCallion and Philip Saddleton for the time that they have spent on Committee work.

Felstead Database

The Committee and the Peals Analysis Committee are jointly collaborating on this project, which aims to computerise the late Canon Felstead’s records of every tower bell peal that has been rung.

Data input began in late 1996 and as at 31st March there are now 197,000 peal inputs out of an estimated total of around 200,000. This results from the dedication of around 60 volunteers keying in the data from photocopies of Canon Felstead’s records. In addition, details of about 22,000 peals (1994 onwards) have been collected from The Ringing World’s peal database. We are indebted to William Hall for entering the details of the 1991-1993 peals.

The Felstead project now had its own draft web site (http://shelley.iclnet.co.uk/felstead/) and it is anticipated that data entry will be complete by around the end of 1998. The data will then be available via diskette and CD-ROM as well as electronically on the WWW and the Ringers Bulletin Board. Peal details can currently be accessed on the WWW and by using a special interactive program on the Ringers Bulletin Board.

This project is the major expenditure item of the Committee, using approximately 90% of its budget.

Web Pages

The Committee now has its own Web pages (http://ds.dial.pipex.com/fred.bone/CC-CCC/). These include contact details for Committee members, the Committee’s purpose, terms of reference and current projects.

Computer Exhibitions

The Committee organised an exhibition of ringing software at the 1997 Council meeting in Cambridge. It intends to continue organising such exhibitions at two year intervals.

Obituaries Database

A database program has been created for the Biographies Committee, initially to hold details of obituaries published in The Ringing World but with scope for additional information.

Desk-Top Publishing Survey

A survey has been carried out on the use of desk-top publishing software as an aid in publishing annual reports and newsletters. A questionnaire was sent to CCCBR affiliated Societies in Autumn 1997. The analysis is currently being carried out and we are expecting to be able to publish the results in The Ringing World soon.

Software Catalogue

The Software Catalogue continues to be a useful mechanism for informing the Exercise about what software is available for a variety of different types of computer. The Catalogue consists of a 12 page A5 leaflet and can be obtained from Peter Trotman upon receipt of an A5 stamped addressed envelope (Address: 57 Blanch Croft, Melbourne, Derby DE73 1GG) or by e-mailing him on 71202.2375@compuserve.com. This is currently being updated to identify the method file formats used by particular programs.

Ringers Bulletin Board

The Ringers Bulletin Board continues to see steady use and can be used by ringers as a low cost means of communicating and transferring data between one another. Various ringing software packages and method libraries can be downloaded from the Bulletin Board.

The Central Council pays for the electricity costs of the Bulletin Board’s 24 hour/365 days a year operation. Continuing thanks must be given to Ian McCallion who handles the day to day running of the system for the benefit of the Exercise. The Ringers Bulletin Board can be accessed on 01794 514754. Use 8 bit, no parity, 1 stop bit at speeds up to 14.4K.

Rolls of Honour

The Rolls of Honour are held in the Bell Tower of St Paul’s Cathedral and can be visited during Sunday ringing and Tuesday night practices or at any other time by arrangement. A page of the Rolls is turned every Sunday. Both the Rolls, and the oak case they are held in, are in excellent condition.

JAMES PHILLIPS
Steward

The Ringing World, April 24, 1998, page 411

Administrative Committee

Since the 1997 Council meeting the Committee has met twice in London, in October and March. The arrangements for the 1998 Council meeting were discussed and agreed, and the following other matters were considered:

Ringing in the Millennium - By the closing date of 31st January, 268 second stage applications had been received for a share of the Millennium Commission’s grant of £3 million towards bell restoration and augmentation. The grant was originally made on the basis that it would fund 100 projects. Because grants on average have been smaller than expected, the Commission has agreed that that number can be increased, and it now seems likely that about 140 projects will benefit from the grant. Although some applications have not met the criteria for funding, this still means that regrettably many applicants will be disappointed, unless approaches for additional funding turn out to be successful.

By the end of March the Millennium Working Party had recommended grants to 129 projects with a maximum total grant of £2,803,000, all of which had been approved by the Commission. Twenty projects had been completed and work was under way at many others. The Working Party will continue to consider applications as nearly as possible in the order of date received until the funds are exhausted. The Committee wish to record their appreciation to Lin Forbes and Stella Bianco, the project coordinators for their continuing hard work on this project.

Ring in 2000 - The Ring in 2000 project was officially launched in September 1997 with much press attention and willing help from Frank Field, MP, as a possible recruit. The project is now being taken forward by the guilds and associations. Feedback from them is very encouraging, with much recruitment and training in evidence. There continues to be a great deal of media interest in the project.

Meetings with English Heritage - Since 1994 the Council’s Officers, the Chairman of the Towers and Belfries Committee and other Council members as appropriate have met representatives of English Heritage (EH) once or twice a year to discuss matters of mutual interest. Reports of these meetings have been presented to the Committee. The matters considered range from general issues, such as EH’s attitude to the tuning of old bells, to problems encountered in particular towers. At the last meeting, in September 1997, attention was drawn to the conditions which EH impose when they are involved in making a grant to a bell restoration project, which might go beyond the principles of the Code of Practice on the Conservation and Repair of Bells and Bellframes.

These meetings provide a forum for ringers to express their concerns to EH and the Officers will be pleased to raise such matters with them. Details of specific concerns should be sent to the Hon. Secretary in writing.

Child protection and health and safety in towers - As foreshadowed in the Committee’s report to the 1997 Council meeting, a set of guidelines on child protection in the context of bellringing has been prepared to provide a working document for tower captains and those teaching children to ring. They seek to complement, but not to be a substitute for, the detailed guidelines which have been, or are being, prepared by the churches. Copies have been sent to affiliated societies, who were encouraged to circulate them to local bands in their areas, and they have been published in The Ringing World.

Following on from this, the Committee felt that there was a need for some guidelines on health and safety in towers. These are currently being prepared by the Towers and Belfries Committee.

International Striking Competition - At its 1997 annual meeting the Council agreed that a proposal by the Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZAB) to institute an International Striking Competition should be referred to the Committee for consideration. The Committee agreed that ANZAB’s proposal should be supported, subject to some minor changes to the proposed rules. As requested by ANZAB, the Committee also agreed that the rules could be deposited with the Council’s Secretary and that the Council could nominate the next host association if the winning band failed to do so. A motion seeking the Council’s support for the competition, put forward by two of ANZAB ’s representatives, appears separately on the Council agenda.

Central Council Bell Restoration Fund - The Committee had the opportunity to comment on the criteria proposed by the Bell Restoration Funds Committee for allocating money from the Fund and agreed that, subject to some amendment, they should be submitted to the Council for approval. They are the subject of a motion which appears elsewhere on the Council agenda. The Committee also approved proposals for fund raising for the Fund.

Central Council Elections - The results of the deliberations of the Elections Working Group and their proposals for the future have been endorsed by the Committee and are contained in the separate report which accompanies the motion for alterations to Rules 7 and 19.

Council meetings - Official report and Minutes - For many years the proceedings of Central Council. meetings have been recorded and reported in two forms, as follows:

(1) The “Official Report”, which contains a fairly full report of debates, but does not include the full text of motions, and is published in The Ringing World in July; and

(2) The Minutes, which are the formal but rather brief record of Council meetings and are presented to the next meeting for approval. They are usually published in The Ringing World early in the new year.

There is a considerable amount of duplication between the two and the Committee has decided that they should be combined into one document. In effect, this means that the Official Report will be discontinued and that the Minutes will be expanded to include reports of debates as well as decisions. They will be published in The Ringing World in July or August and will be circulated to the secretaries of affiliated societies with the Hon. Secretary’s autumn mailing.

One advantage of this change will be that any members who felt that their contributions to debate had been misrepresented in the report of the meeting will now have a formal opportunity to challenge the report before the Minutes are signed (although it is hoped that they will raise the matter with the Secretary well in advance of the Council meeting).

Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells

1. The full name of the Charity is: Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells

2. The Charity is not incorporated. The Constitution derives from Rules adopted on 29 May 1979 and registered with the Charity Commission on 22 October 1979. The Charity’s registration number is 278816.

3. The principal address of the Charity is that of. the Secretary, namely: 8 Lebanon Gardens, London SW18 1RG

4. The principal object of the Fund is to advance for Christian Religion by the rescue of redundant bells for the purpose of their being rehoused elsewhere for ringing in Churches.

5. The managing Trustees of the Fund are the members of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Redundant Bells Committee, namely:

   Dr. John Baldwin
   Roger Booth
   Michael O’Callaghan
   Robert Cooles
   David Kelly
   Jeffrey Kershaw
   George Massey
   Preb. John Scott
   Mrs Jane Wilkinson

   The Chairman of the Fund is: Preb. John Scott

   The Honorary Secretary is: Robert Cooles

   and Honorary Treasurer: Michael O’Callaghan

6. The Custodian Trustees of the Fund are the President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer of the Central Council and the Chairman of the Central Council Bell Restoration Funds Committee, namely:

   Mrs. Jane Wilkinson
   Christopher Rogers
   Eric Godfrey
   John Barnes

7. The Bankers for the Fund are Barclays Bank plc, Cambridge.

   The Independent Examiners of the Fund’s account are Andrew Smith and Steven Coleman.

8. The Committee’s Report on the Fund’s activities for the year is as follows:

   The Fund has deliberately had a quiet year. With so much bell restoration work in hand, any existing bells becoming available are much in demand and not likely to slip to scrap, as was the case before.

   The Committee has therefore continued to collect in moneys outstanding on the Escrick project and to follow the progress of the Scottish Association in funding its planned hanging of the ex Dunecht House bells (purchased via the Rescue Fund) as a full circle ringing peal for a Church in use.

   All loans save a balance of the CC loan and one major loan for the Dunecht project were repaid during 1997.

   As is always the case, the Committee are grateful for individuals’ support and look hopefully for new promises of loans in case of need.

9. The Accounts for the year to 31 December 1997 are set out separately.

ROBERT J.COOLES
Hon. Secretary to the Fund

The Ringing World, April 24, 1998, pages 413 to 414

M H D O’Callaghan
Treasurer

Unpublished

RECORDS COMMITTEE REPORT FOR 1997

Amendments to 1996 report

We have been notified of two amendments to last year’s report. Thorner A.Maj was rung for the Yorkshire Association and Yes S.Maj. should be deleted as it has been found to be false.

Derek E. Sibson (Chairman)
David W. Beard
Frank T. Blagrove
John R. Mayne
Cyril A. Wratten

The Ringing World, May 8, 1998, pages 459 to 461, corrections July 31, 1998, page 752

Peal Compositions Committee

The past three years have seen a steady fall in the number of compositions submitted for publication in The Ringing World and the first two of those a steady increase in the number actually appearing. Unfortunately after last year’s optimistic report it is disappointing to report that the number printed has fallen by 50% during the 12 months to April. We are trying to negotiate a more formal publication arrangement with the new editor with the aim of restoring levels next year. We thank David House and Glenn Taylor for their assistance with the time-consuming work of proving and reviewing during the year; a number of less diligent helpers have been taken out and shot. On the publications front, the new Spliced Surprise is now out of print, but a machine-readable version is available on the Word-Wide Web and will be maintained and extended. Disk copies are available for those without Internet access. Julian Morgan has checked General-Purpose Surprise Major using specially written software which can generate transpositions for other lead-head orders. Additionally, Philip Saddleton has provided many new computer-generated compositions. Philip has also prepared camera-ready copy for Stedman and Erin Triples, which is now at the final proofreading stage. We are working with the Publications Committee to try and make it available for the Council Meeting. David Hull and Rod Pipe have typeset and proved over 1000 compositions for Ten and Twelve Bell Compositions. The selection criteria are not decided but Grandsire and Stedman will probably be deferred to specialised collections. The previously anonymous compiler of Compositions in the Popular Major Methods can now be identified as the ever-industrious Roddy Horton; his letter appealing for contributions appeared in The Ringing World of 8th August and submissions are currently being collated. The Committee has as usual assisted Tony Smith with maintenance of his comprehensive Composition Index, and has continued to assist enquirers to locate suitable compositions.

The Ringing World, May 15, 1998, page 475

International Liaison Report for 1997 (Part 1 of 4)

by Fred E. Dukes

Central Council of Church Bell Ringers: The 1997 meeting was held in Cambridge University on 26th May and was attended by Representatives from South Africa, North American Guild, Veronese Association, Australia and New Zealand Association, Zimbabwe and Transvaal Guild. Great credit to these societies, that they were so well represented and it was delightful to have had the opportunity of meeting each one for a brief chat.

The usual International Display was laid on, with the Map of the World showing where the several rings of bells are located. Thanks to those who forwarded Press, etc mentions of activities, they were also displayed.

Communications: Three Newsletters were circulated during the year to over 40 destinations. As usual The Clapper reproduced them in full, and Ringing Towers depending on available space, included them in whole or just extracts.

George Morris, European Liaison, continues to be in constant and close contact with the Italian ringers and enjoys arranging ringing exchanges between Italy and the UK. He deserves our gratitude for all he is doing to foster change ringing UK style in Italy.

Much correspondence by letter and some communications by telephone are made to ringers in all areas. Replies received are very much appreciated and looked forward to. It is encouraging to note that the Newsletters are appreciated, as well as the general correspondence. To all concerned, officers and members alike very thanks and keep writing.

Publications: There were three changes of Editor. In place of the ladies who so valiantly produced The Clapper and Ringing Towers, Kit Almy and Esther Perrins respectively, are two men. In the case of The Clapper, we await the results of the ballot between two nominated persons, and in the case of Ringing Towers, Matthew Sorrel, has dropped into “Esther’s shoes” and fits in very well.

The other change was with The Ringing World, where for the first time a female Editor has replaced David Thorne, who did a superb job during his 16 years at the helm.

Ringing Towers celebrated its golden jubilee and with the Jubilee issue, Vol.51, No.1. a copy of Vol.1, No.1, then a monthly production - was included. It also had a “rogues gallery” of all previous Editors. More recently six issues are presented annually, all of which contained much news of interest to the world at large.

The Clapper too, appeared regularly, but at quarterly intervals. Its articles and news items for NAG towers continue to interest a wider audience outside of America. Issue Vol.24, No.1 was nostalgic in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the North American Guild. It included extracts from previous issues, including Vol.1, No.1.

The Verona Society had its Notizario appearing at quarterly intervals. It contained interesting notes about Italian bells and belfries as well as news of interest to ringers. They were all in Italian, but some of them were translated into English by John Gallimore from Malvern.

It was pleasing to note that nearly every week reports and notes from overseas were included in The Ringing World. Some were accompanied with photographs taken at events.

Look-to No. 22 appeared earlier in the year. It is the newsletter of the Zimbabwe Guild and as usual it contained a comprehensive report of the Guild’s activities as well as personal notes about the ringers.

In Australia a local newsletter was produced in Adelaide under the title Adelaide Bell News. Its first appearance was in a four page A4 tabloid form.

The North American Guild had an A4 calendar for 1997, which noted all American ringing meetings by date and place.

Elizabeth E. Gatland, née Wein, former Editor of The Clapper had a review of her fiction story called “The Bellcaster’s Apprentice”. The story deals with ringing lore and fantasy.

“There was Life before NAG” made its appearance. It gave a fascinating account of all the rings of bells in America up to 1971, that is the year before NAG was born. Michael Simpson, PRO of NAG is to be congratulated in spearheading the production of such an interesting publication.

A Video recorded at the dedication of the new ring of 12 bells in St James’s Cathedral, Toronto was created, and it is obtainable from the Cathedral Book Shop.

St George’s Church, Parktown, Johannesburg produced a red card about BELLRINGING which showed photographs of the church and two of the bells ready to be “dropped into the bell pits”. There was a brief history of the church and one side was devoted to the Parktown bells and ringing in general.

The Western Australian Branch of ANZAB, produced six leaflets, one was a general ringing leaflet, and the other five were for each of the five towers in the Branch with details of their bells, diagrams of raising a bell, and hints on learning change-ringing. The front covers showed sketches of the respective churches and towers.

Recruitment: In Zimbabwe, it is learned that Crispin Nyatsaro who is one of the younger ringers in Harare Cathedral, is a leading light in the Harare Cathedral Youth Group. He arranged for one of the older ringers James Milford to give a talk about bellringing in the hopes of recruiting from among the members of the Group new ringers. In all ten of the attendees expressed interest in learning to ring.

At Christ Church Cathedral, New Zealand a dozen or so learners are in training, being the results of a large influx of learners following a media appeal for recruits, in order to avoid the cessation of ringing in Christchurch. One of these recruits has rung the treble to a quarter-peal and another rang the tenor to another quarter.

A large number of recruits have been learning to ring at St James’s Cathedral, Toronto where Jeff White from Vancouver was engaged for some months from Sundays to Wednesdays weekly, teaching the change-ringing side of the Art on handbells as well as on the new 12.

Progress has been made at Quebec thanks to a visiting party who taught the Cathedral organist how to ring after he showed a keen interest in the Cathedral bells. Later it was reported that 11 locals were able to ring the Cathedral bells.

Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria BC has found it necessary to arrange Saturday morning practices because of having so many beginners to teach, partly as a result of the Family Circle publicity about “Ring in 2000”, and there are more lined up!

St Hilda’s School, Mosman Park, WA reported that another 30 pupils and four members of the teaching staff are being taught how to ring, making it necessary to hold six practice sessions weekly, three before school starts, two at lunch time, and one after school finished. Progress has been made with Plain Hunting on up to seven bells, and method ringing is being practiced with a view to some of the pupils soon recording quarter peals.

In the USA reports of recruitment come from a number of places, including Kalamazoo, Little Rock, with six learners progressing to Plain Bob, and Sullivan’s Island, where the 1996 learners are now teaching a number of newcomers. Houston after a period of lull has had an infusion of learners some of whom were at the Plain Hunting stage. Charleston St Michael also gained new recruits, and for a projected new ring there 25 people have expressed an interest in ringing and have signed up to learn all about it.

Philadelphia recruited the Organist of St Mark’s Church, where the bells repose in the cellar of that church, which should be a good omen for the restoration of these bells to ringing again.

Perhaps the smartest recruitment idea came from Sue Clopper of Newcastle, who is with Borders Book Store. In order to sign up new ringers, she planned a ringing demonstration in Borders Shop when a number of the Newcastle ringers were on hand with bell-ropes, a clapper, muffles, handbells, video tapes, etc. The demonstration was such a great success that almost 40 people showed up to learn how to ring bells.

As well as the above cases, there is much activity in all areas, maybe not as big as in these cases, but it is good to know that recruitment is well supported elsewhere. Those who read Planet Bell will have noted that interest being taken by young ringers and the enthusiasm displayed by them, hopefully for the future of ringing after 2000.

The news from South Africa is not too good. Capetown doesn’t seem to have young people to call upon. Johannesburg is not doing too badly and are teaching a number of learners and Grahamstown have three young students at Rhodes University in training.

Ring in 2000: Copies of the poster issued by the Committee concerned, were dispatched to all areas to ensure that each tower with a ring of bells would receive one.

In America, Family Circle had a column along with a photograph which was devoted to “Ringing in Year 2000”. It also included an interview with Bruce Butler, President of the North American Guild. The article outlined the British plans for ringing on 1st January 2000 and mentioned the fact that the NAG proposes signing up over 300 volunteers for that event. It gave both the contacts in the Central Council and in the NAG who would handle any queries on the subject.

NAG gave its blessing to have all towers in North America to ring at noon on the day. Their Education Officer, Eileen Butler reports that many towers hopefully will be providing demonstrations and giving instruction to persons who are anticipating to be ringing on the date. Bruce and Eileen Butler and Michael Simpson, PRO, were amazed to receive so many calls from interested parties as a result of the Family Circle publicity.

The committee of ANZAB have doubts that the same impact would be created as in other places from the “Ring in 2000” plans but they nevertheless support the idea behind the proposals.

St Thomas’s Church bell ringers in Kilifi are also supporting the plans and have appointed one of their ringers as co-ordinator, in the person of Moses Shaha.

Meetings: The annual general meeting of ANZAB was held in April in Albury, Beechworth and Wangaratta area, at which a striking contest took place and was won by the New South Wales team. The usual Ringing Course took place prior to the meeting proper.

The business meeting took place in Jolimount Conference Centre, Ruther Glen. It included a decision to hold an International Striking competition between 21st and 29th April 2001. A decision was also taken to write to the Prime Minister regarding the provision of a major ring of bells for Canberra.

Adelaide towers Open Day was held on the Sunday of HM Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. A striking contest was held at Walkerville, and one of the conditions of entry was that at least three learners should be included. St Francis Xavier, Adelaide were awarded the Gudgeon Prize.

Smith College, Northampton was the venue for the NAG meeting from 6th-10th August. The meeting itself was held on the 10th and the usual ringing courses were included beforehand over the days from 6th. Handbell practices, were included and a visit to Boston for learners, and to ring quarter peals.

The 11th annual Three Towers festival was held this year at Houston from 4th-6th April. The Kalamazoo Society had four quarterly weekends.

Philadelphia held its usual annual events - quarter-peal weekend in January, the Spring dinner which coincided with the sighting of the spectacular Hale-Bopp comet. Both of these events attracted many visitors from other towers, who all enjoyed the ringing and the social sides of the events.

The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths held their country meeting in Charleston in August and they took advantage of ringing in Charleston towers, and Marietta.

The Hawaiian ringers visited Vancouver where they joined ringers from Victoria as well as from Vancouver for socialising and ringing.

The Quebec weekend in May, where many visitors from North America and UK joined the locals. It was lots of fun and extremely positive from the ringing aspect. Thanks to once again having an active tower at the Cathedral under the mastership of Pierre Chartrand, the cathedral organist and choirmaster.

Grahamstown was the venue for the South African Guild’s annual general meeting, when those visiting St George’s Cathedral had their first opportunity of ringing on the augmented ring of ten bells.

In Italy, the annual conference of the ASCSV guild took place in Venice, when representatives of the Central Council were in attendance some of whom added their voices to the proceedings in both English and Italian.

We continued to send messages of good wishes to each of the affiliated international societies on behalf of the Central Council and of the Public Relations Advisory Group where we are aware of the dates of their annual meetings. This action is to let our friends abroad know that we do sincerely think about them and appreciate their efforts to advance bell ringing everywhere abroad.

Miscellaneous: South Africa: St George’s, Parktown, bells have been rung every Sunday since 1984, Ringers Alastair and Felicity Christian, and Maureen and Richard Roberts celebrated 20 years’ membership this year.

There was a photograph in The Ringing World, of Professor Colin Lewis, presenting Catherine Aldborough of Durban with the South Africa Guild Certificate of Competence as a change-ringer.

Kenya: The bell ringers of St Thomas’s Church, Kilifi would love bell ringers to visit Kilifi and help them to advance in their method ringing.

A letter from Anthony Tunnell in which he said he and his wife Claire spent their honeymoon in Kenya, and they highly praised the Kilifi ringers for their courtesy and standard of ringing.

The Ringing World, April 17, 1998, pages 394 to 395

International Liaison Report for 1997 (Part 2 of 4)

by Fred E. Dukes

Public Relations and Publicity:

Canada: The bellringers of the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver were asked to ring their bells before two concerts - one for the Cantata singers and the other for a children’s Group.

There was a front page photograph of the Tenor bell of Victoria Cathedral of Christ Church together with an accompanying article in the Times Colonist. Members of the Cathedral band instigated some publicity for the Cathedral ringers in marking the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the installation of the bells by “appearing” on CFAX Radio, which provided an interesting insight into bell-ringing in Victoria.

Over in Quebec, the local TV channel CANAL 9 televised the ringing at the Holy Trinity Cathedral for a 30 minutes programme in French. The cameraman established himself among the bells so that ringing the bells “up” and “down” could be recorded.

Perhaps the greatest Canadian event was reserved for the installation of America’s first ring of 12 bells and their dedication at St James’s Cathedral, Toronto. The Financial Post included an article about “Old York” bells and included a picture of the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” beside the big bell. The Toronto Star produced a photograph of Dean Douglas Stoute standing beside the Tenor bell. It also carried a report on the progress on the then proposed 12 bell ring. There was another article under the title of “Metro Cathedral will ring changes with historic bells”. In the Sunday version of the Toronto Star there were two pages of a well written article about these bells and the bellringers, including three photographs - one of Derek Sawyer beside the newly installed bells, Madeleine Cheesman at a rope, and a bird’s eye view of the ringers at practice. On the other pages the caption was “Change bells of St James will entertain HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip” along with another photograph of Madeleine pulling off at the Sally stroke.

The Globe and Mail included a photograph of Derek Sawyer standing beside the Tenor bell in its pit. “Ringing Endorsement” was the caption of a picture with notes about the Tenor bell in Anglian Journal. Its sister paper The Anglian had a two-page feature about Toronto bells under the title “Cathedral set to Ring in Spring”. There were six photographs of the bells and ringers.

The installation of the Toronto Cathedral bells was given wide publicity on the local TV station. On dedication day City TV requested that their Breakfast TV programme be set up in the Cathedral ringing room. So at 7am over 20 ringers were in attendance to broadcast live for four segments up to 9am. The mic was set up in the carillon above the 12 bell ring, which enabled broadcasts of the bells to be heard during the day.

At the dedication an overzealous cameraman from TV slipped past Security and entered the ringing room at the start of the quarter-peal attempt of Stedman Cinques. He was requested to leave but refused; so, the ringing stopped and the intruder was escorted out of the tower before the attempt was re-started.

During the visit of HM the Queen to the Cathedral on the Sunday after the dedication both Derek Sawyer and Patrick Vernon were presented to Her Majesty.

To show how “bad” news travels far and wide, the CBC As it happens programme producer contacted Steven Hansen-Smyth to enquire about the damage to a tower in the UK by an irate neighbour who objected to the bells of the local church and took action to stop the ringing at Compton Bassett. The “good” news however, was that the CBC took the opportunity to publicise and explain about bell-ringing in general.

On New Year’s Eve, Derek Sawyer along with the Cathedral Organist in Toronto were given an hour’s slot on local Radio to examine the relationship of organ music with change-ringing and in October there was a 15 minute segment of prime time given to bells and bell-ringing.

Victoria Cathedral ringers rang on six occasions for the two weeks of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra’s summer series in the Cathedral. They had large audiences in the ringing room, even the General Manager of the Orchestra discovered the ringers and raved about the bells introducing the concerts.

India: A report in The Ringing World said that the late “Tenor King”, Pat Cannon rang up the Tenor of Lahore Cathedral. At present the six bells in the Cathedral are unringable and it has been suggested that the tower would sway considerably if all six were rung full-circle.

Africa: St George’s, Parktown ringers gave a ringing demonstration to publicise the Art during “Know St George’s Week”. It was repeated later for the benefit of the Parktown Heritage Association. A short note “B for Bellringing” was included in a new leaflet on the ABC activities of St George’s Church. A photographer from the local press came to the belfry and an article resulted as a result of an interview with Richard Roberts, as well as a photograph of mainly the Roberts family, appeared in both the Rosebank Killarney Gazette and the Sandton Chronicle. The membership of the society increased as a result of the publicity. Richard Roberts was also approached for a Radio interview on SAFM’s Woman Today programme.

St George’s Cathedral, Grahamstown was featured in Grocotts Mail and included a photograph of Doctors Colin Lewis and R. Ayres. There was a note “Bells-a-comin”, which referred to the arrival of the two new Treble bells to augment the ring of eight to a ten. The same paper showed the pallets with the new bells on them, which were unfortunately unseeable because of a cover over them. In the photograph was Gill Lewis, Rev C. Newitt, W. Robinson, bell-hangers and three other ringers. A Radio programme in South Africa featured Grahamstown ringing. There were interviews with Colin Lewis, Gill Lewis and Carolyn, with a mention of Rhodes University student Alison Botha who is writing up a Master’s Degree on bell harmonics.

In Zimbabwe, Harare Cathedral bell tower was invaded by a crew from the local TV Station to film ringing for a publicity film. It included Anne Phillips ringing a bell. It was shown on the Gospel Four programme and also on TV2 before a religious programme.

Australia: From Australia the following copies were received in the publicity area:

Western Australian had an article by Vanessa Gould about St Hilda’s Mosman Park bells, which included a photograph of Bernard Ongley amongst the bells. Weekend Courier showed photographs of the Mayor of Rockingham, Fred Gardiner and a note bearing the title “International cast bells for Rockingham Civic Centre”, with which was a poem “Chime Time”. The Sound Telegraph carried a photograph of Bert Woolven among the Rockingham bells and it had some notes titled “New Hobby just 135 Steps Away” and “City Bells a Draw”. Also the Rockingham Bay Weekly pictured Ron Chapman standing beside a bell in the tower and an article under the title “A Sound Impression”.

The local Mandurah paper presented an article about the redundant Oxford bells being erected in Christ Church, Mandurah.

The Catholic Weekly produced a photograph of George and Diana Pipe as well as a full-page account of their visit to lead the cultural development project of St Mary’s Basilica and the Sydney City Council. The Sydney Morning Herald in a note “Bye to the Bats, Bring on the Pipes” dealt with the St Mary’s and City Council project, the same paper had invited applications for the Heritage 2001 projects and it was suggested at the ANZAB annual general meeting that ANZAB should submit an application.

ABC and Channel 9 TV showed up to 17 minutes ringing feature which took place largely at St Mary’s Basilica a number of well-known ringers were seen some of whom were interviewed.

The Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne organised a Cathedral Open-day for which he asked the ringers to play tunes on handbells and to demonstrate ringing on the tower bells.

A “community” e-mail circular about St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane bells, led to an article appearing in the Queensland University newspaper and it is understood to a segment on TV about these Bells, as a result of the newspaper article ABC news seized upon the subject and after two weeks of filming it ended up as the main item on ABC news. Channel 10 then got into the act and a film of the ringers was shown in the Totally Wild programme and on Radio, an appeal for people to come and try bell- ringing was made.

Martin Fellows’ touring party received good publicity in the Daily Advertiser when they visited St John’s Church, Wagga Wagga.

Believed to be the first time that the bells of Yass “rang out the old and rang in the new”, It was featured in the Yass Tribune along with a photograph.

Hobart had its share of publicity, with good newspaper coverage of the 150th anniversary of the installation of the bells in Holy Trinity Church, especially an account of the successful Peal of Grandsire Triples a first for the local band was highlighted. The ringing at St David’s Cathedral was heard and seen before a Service in the Cathedral. In Hobart an Adult Education evening was devoted to an “Introduction to the Bell Tower”. Result - Probus Club has requested the ringers to do another guest speaker spot.

ABC Classic FM has bells every Sunday morning between 6.00am and 8.00am in the programme For the God who Sings. Also on each Christmas Eve, Karl Haas devotes his 7.00am weekday programme to bells - sometimes it is continental ringing and in other years it is full-circle ringing.

When the Hapless tour came to the UK from Australia they went to Yorkshire, and were greeted by the local Press at Marsden.

Malta: The In-flight magazine of Air Malta for November 1997 contained a 4-page article about the bells of Malta G.C. and their bell-founders, which included John Taylor of Loughborough under the title “For whom the bell tolls” and was written by Kenneth Cauchi. Included were coloured photographs of bells which included the island’s largest bell “Great Siege” cast by Taylor’s in 1992 and was dedicated by HM the Queen in May 1992. It weighs 12 tonnes.

USA: The Freeman included a photograph of Ronald Perschon standing beside the eight bells he donated to Pewaukee. The Public Radio Show, had an interview with Ronald to talk about the Pewaukee bell installation. Two pages of the Lake Country Reporter were devoted to “Bells due in Pewaukee” which was well written by Chuck Stevens.

Harold Rogers, PRAG, received much publicity on a Radio Show, when he gave explanations to queries raised in the Show about the “Ring in 2000” plans. The name of Mike Simpson, PRO NAG, was given in the programme as the contact for the American continent regarding the recruitment of ringers. Publicity of the Central Council initiative received much good mention in the printed media and through the US Public Broadcasting stations.

The Cumberlands touring party had good publicity in the Marietta Press, where they were welcomed by a Press photographer. At Hendersonville the Press also met the party for interviews and pictures. The latter had Derek Sibson on the front page of the Hendersonville Times News.

During the visit of UK ringers to Abilene in August a local TV crew recorded the ringing of the Abilene bells and on the following day another TV crew, not to be outdone, did likewise for the Texarkana Gazette and they took advantage of the Three Towers Festival to present a note about the Festival ringing with two photos - one of a bell “down” and the other of visiting ringers.

The local Philadelphia newspaper in its “Home News” section, provided an article about Bruce and Eileen Butler with outlines of their careers, an explanation about change-ringing and bellringing, in general. A photograph of the Fairmount couple ringing at St Martin-in-the-Fields was included.

The Hampshire Gazette and the Hampshire Union News gave good media coverage about aspects of the 25th Anniversary of the North American Guild and had front page coverage in their “Weekend” editions. The local Press also gave good publicity of the NAG weekend in Smith College, Northampton together with a number of photos

The Chronicle of Higher Education in “The Arts” supplement, produced a full page article on “Factorial Mathematics and the Art of Change Ringing”, which centred on ringing at Kalamazoo College and its bells. There was a photograph of T. Jefferson Smith among the bells of the College. In the “highlights;” section there was a photograph of the Kalamazoo ringers at the ropes “standing for long hours in an unheated tower to practice their craft”!

Burlington ringers gave a demonstration of change-ringing to the S W Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Sue Clopper’s demonstration in her bookshop, Border’s Book Store in Newcastle received prominent mention well before the event in the local newspaper. As it happened, the demonstration took place in the week after HRH Princess Diana’s funeral, which enabled the bells of Westminster Abbey, London to be heard ringing for the funeral.

In July Advent Church, Boston bells were rung as the “bells of Moscow” for the nationally televised “pops” concert on the Boston Esplanade.

New Zealand: A Christmas Eve service in Wellington Cathedral was shown on TV and it included the ringing of the Cathedral bells beforehand.

The City Council on Hamilton asked for the bells of St Peter’s Cathedral to be rung for the dawn service held on ANZAC day.

General: In the Bells on Sunday BBC Radio 4 programme, the Gloria Dei Ringers from Orleans Mass, USA were heard. This programme is broadcast at 5.50am on each Sunday, with a repeat at the end of the day at 12.20am.

Sue Leeman’s visit to Harold. Rogers in preparation for her article about “Ringing in 2000” resulted in her article being publicised in papers throughout the world, such as the Bangkok Post, Denver Post, San Fransisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle.

Miscellaneous:

Australia: The sesquincentenary of the bells in Holy Trinity Church, Hobart was celebrated in November 1997.

The sesquincentenary of St Paul’s Church, Maryborough was celebrated with the ringing of the bells twice daily over the four days of the celebrations. The Governor of Queensland who had never seen bell-ringing went up the tower to meet the ringers and thanked them for their part in the celebrations.

Deryn Griffiths, Adelaide weather girl prefers being on Radio National rather than on TV as no one can see that she is not the big dangling earrings sort!!

Two days before Christmas eight under-18 year olds went to Burwood.

Two days before Christmas Day, a quarter-peal of St Nicholas Doubles was rung after the temperature rose to 42C!

Canada: Twelve members of the WI attended at Vancouver Cathedral to listen to the quarter peal being rung to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Women’s Institute. They joined the ringers later in the tower afterwards for refreshments. Victoria Cathedral not to be outdone welcomed 30 WI members who were treated to a reception in the Choir Room and a visit to the tower.

Calgary decided not to ring if the outside temperature is below -25C. At that temperature the grease in the ringers bicycles rear hubs solidifies and the pedals start free-wheeling. It is just as bad for cars. Calgary has four seasons, June, July, August and w-i-n-t-e-r!

The Ringing World, April 24, 1998, pages 418 to 419

International Liaison Report for 1997 (Part 3 of 4)

by Fred E. Dukes

Tours: Martin Fellows’ party of about 50 ringers visited 25 towers on their Australian tour in April.

St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane ringers went to Armidale to join 15 of the local ringers for combined ringing which was to benefit both towers.

Fifteen Adelaide ringers travelled to Ballarat and Bendigo in October, whilst a party of 15 Sydney ringers went to Goulburn on Labour Day. There they engaged in ringing schedules, teaching and learning, service ringing, and scoring a total of six quarter peals enabling three Goulburn ringers to ring in their first quarters.

Melbourne ringers joined the Beechworth, Wangaratta and Albury societies for a three-day ringing together experience to the benefit of the three towers visited.

The Cumberlands went to Sydney for the Society’s peal weekend when a peal was rung at Burwood tower.

In the opposite direction, the Hapless tour was to Yorkshire in the UK. There they rang peals for ANZAB and for Non-association records. The visiting party consisted of eight “Aussies” and one “Kiwi”.

What must be unique to ringing took place, when ringers took to the air in Western Australia and picked out the five active towers in the Branch, all within the time of 100 minutes!

Seventeen members of the Fellows’ touring party lead by Wendy and Ray Daw extended their visit to include New Zealand and rang at several towers there and scored two quarter peals.

Christchurch ringers made a week of it in Dunedin, for some general ringing and two striking contests one each for call-changes and method. Both contests were won by the “home” tower.

Bob Cater led a party of 14 to Verona in Italy for a weekend in June. The Italian exchange was to Malvern in August to engage in ringing with Malvernians. This visit was returned with a visit by 18 Central Council party ringers to Italy from 27th August until 3rd September. During the latter, visits were made to several towers and it included a call into Venice for the ASCSV Convention which is run on similar lines as the Central Council meetings, The Central Council representatives, George Morris and John Gallimore were welcomed and they addressed the Convention. It was a most instructive and pleasant tour.

America received four UK touring parties, namely - the Cumberlands, St James’s Guild, a party from Bristol area, and David Manger’s 18 strong party of present and former residents of Kent.

A party went to the Bahamas to meet Lynn Walters, all of whom were members of the Cambridge University Guild. They rang two quarter peals in hand and a peal en route at Miami.

The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths held their country meeting in America to honour the 250th Anniversary of the Society. During their stay they rang 12 peals at four towers, and 11 quarters at five towers.

The ringers of the Whitechapel Guild, Washington DC crossed the Atlantic to ring in Devon and Cornwall in June, there were 11 girls in the party and were watched over by four chaperons.

The Butler tour this year was spread over Somerset and Kent in July.

Fifteen ringers from Vancouver, BC crossed the sea to celebrate Victoria Day holiday in Victoria itself, where they were joined and welcomed by the local ringers.

A party of ringers from Honolulu called into Vancouver to join the ringers of the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary at their practice.

Members of the Cheesman family from the UK joined with their relatives in Toronto to make a total of ten members of the Cheesman family and who enjoyed ringing the back ten at St James’s Cathedral.

Augmentations and restorations, and new rings

Australia: The new ring of six bells at St Alban’s Cathedral, Griffith was completed in February, and they were dedicated in June.

Christ Church, Mandurah, have acquired the ring of six bells from St Mary Magdalene, Oxford, thanks to the generosity of Laith Reynolds. An appeal was launched to raise $158,000 to provide the tower, frame and bell- fittings, plus two bells from Whitechapel to complete the octave. The bells arrived there in August, and it is expected that the tower will be completed and installation of bells effected early in 1998.

Two more bells have been ordered for Wagga Wagga to augment the present four to a ring of six bells. It was learned that a donor offered an additional bell and the locals are endeavouring to provide another bell to complete the octave.

For Manukau, A C T, it is learned that a ring of eight bells has been approved for St Paul’s Church.

Matthew Sorrell has been appointed Steeple-keeper at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, in Adelaide, and is regarded as the unofficial Steeple-keeper for all five towers in South Australia. He has been initiating eager beginners into the area of bell maintenance.

The 41cwt tenor of St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide was out of action for a time because of a broken gudgeon. A new one was fabricated and all’s well again.

Italy: It is noted that the chime of five bells in Castello Parish Church which were electrically chimed, have been converted to manual ringing with the addition of a new treble and a stronger bell frame.

Canada: The first ring of 12 bells to be installed on the American continent took place at St James’s Cathedral, Toronto and they were first rung on 21st April. They were dedicated at a special service held on 27th June, and two days later, HM Queen Elizabeth honoured the Cathedral by visiting it and having two of the ringers presented to Her Majesty, namely Derek Sawyer and Patrick Vernon.

In Quebec, some attention has been given to the two rings of bells in the City, resulting in improved handling at the Cathedral. The ring at the Bibliotheque was considered to be too dangerous to ring, but the City authorities spent some time working on them effecting necessary repairs. They are once again ringable.

South Africa: Grahamstown Cathedral had the two new treble bells installed to complete the augmented ring often bells.

Two projected additional rings have been deferred, the one for Christ Church, Grahamstown, because of necessary work on the tower, and the other for Bloemfontein Cathedral due to the tower being unsuitable. Architects however, have been requested to design a tower suitable for carrying a ring of bells.

The grand ring of ten at St Mary, Greyville, Durban has been silenced because of structural defects in the tower. An appeal has been launched to raise R60,000 to fund the necessary repairs. Hopefully, the repairs can be effected in time for “Ring in 2000”.

America: At Marietta, some work continued in the tower, which included automatic sound control controlled from the ringing room.

It has been reported that the ring of eight bells ex-Escrick, Yorkshire, along with their fittings and frame were on their way to St Luke’s Church, Atlanta, Georgia where they will be accommodated in a tower designed by ringing Architect, Dan Beaman from Charleston. The front six bells from Preston Parish Church, Lancs have been designated as an additional ring for Charleston, SC where they are to be installed in First Scots Presbyterian Church. The Grace Church, Charleston is expected to be an additional tower where the ring of eight bells from St Mary Magdalene, Enfield, London will be installed, the bells being on site.

The Pewaukee project is moving in regard to the erection of a suitable tower.

It is hoped that the unringable bells at St Mark’s, Philadelphia will soon be ringing again as a result of the success of a scheme to restore them to ringing condition. St Martin’s Philadelphia have “one foot in the door” of Christ Church, with a parishioner being taught to ring. It is hoped to have Christ Church ringing again in the not too distant future.

Also the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that because of so many restrictions required in the Will of Miss Enid Trehane who left $200,000 for the building of a new tower to accommodate the ring of bells in Bathurst Cathedral so that they may ring out again, the Cathedral authorities had turned down the Bequest. However, there is a possibility that the bells will be hung under the carillon in the present tower.

Noise pollution: Following strong complaints about ringing at Old St Paul’s in Wellington, New Zealand, the bells were silenced for one and a half years. The good news is that the Historical Places Trust have invited Wellington Cathedral ringers to re-establish ringing at the five bell tower. Practices are being held on the first Wednesday in the month and ringing takes place for weddings on Saturdays.

In America, during a Cumberland peal attempt at Texarkana, a policeman stopped the ringing with only five leads of the peal from “home”. He said there was a complaint and that the ringers were in violation of the Noise Ordinance requirements. Unfortunately the belfry door was left unlocked and it was a ready access for non-ringers, like the policeman. Derek Sibson was named in the police report. However, the City Manager was informed of the three remaining peal attempts there, and it was then learned that the Noise Ordinance requirements applied to amplified noises and not to the ringing of church bells.

Little Rock had to suffer continuous complaints from the occupant of a house beside the church. The matter was resolved by the church purchasing the property and turning it into church offices. The complaints were made in spite of effecting Sound Control.

An appeal was launched in the Union Leader, a New Hampshire newspaper, for funds to aid the defence of several citizens arrested in July. One was a person who was arrested for refusing to stop ringing a bell after midnight, since it was an unofficial local custom to do so.

Italy, too, has its problems with noise complaints. The priest of the Church of Purgatory in Niscenni was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, fined the equivalent of £3,000 and the church bells confiscated, all because of a four year campaign by a couple next to the church, who endeavoured to have the bell ringing stopped. The Mayor had ordered the bells to be muffled and the priest refused to comply with the penalties imposed.

St Hilda’s School, Mosman Park, Western Australia are restricted by the Western Australia government to two sessions of ten minutes per day but not more than 12 sessions in two months, unless the sound emission measured in other premises is less than 55 dB(B).

The bell chamber of St Thomas’s Church, Kilifi, Kenya is of open formation and the enthusiasm of the local ringers is such that some complaints about the noise of the bells has been received. Such complaints have not deterred the keenness of the ringers in any way.

St James’s Cathedral, Toronto has a different type of complaint about the noise of the bells, it is not the external sound that is complained about, but that for inside the ringing room. There is only a single floor between the bells and the ringers. Professional advice has been sought, and a recommendation was made for the steps to be taken to reduce the noise nuisance to the ringers.

Diana, Princess of Wales: The shocking, sad and tragic death of Diana, on the 31st August 1997, brought immediate action from throughout the Commonwealth, and the USA. To commemorate her memory it is recorded that the bells in churches were generally half-muffled for memorial services and during the period of mourning. A peal was rung at Victoria, and 24 quarter peals were rung in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe, all to her memory.

The ringing of the bells at Westminster Abbey London, on the day of her funeral, was relayed by America’s NBC. It was so well received that many non-ringers posed some questions about how it was done.

An Ecumenical service was held in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, before which the Tenor bell was tolled for half-an-hour, to be followed by the six tellers.

Christ Church Cathedral, New Zealand, had their bells half-muffled for both of the services on the Friday and the Saturday after Diana’s death. Also on the Saturday a half-muffled quarter peal was rung before a candlelight vigil in the Cathedral Square.

The half-muffled quarter peal rung before the memorial service in St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide which was attended by 3000 persons, was televised by ABC.

Personalities: Amongst those who were reported to have died during the year were:

Dom Antonio Peruzti, who was for 43 years Rector of Mistrorigini in Northern Italy. He was a great lover of bells and bell-ringing.

Deborah Rossell aged 27 years, was killed in a road accident while cycling in Wangaratta. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Rossell of Melbourne. Deborah was taught to ring at St Paul’s Cathedral, and as well as being a keen cyclist and a long distance walker, she was a staunch member of the Wangaratta tower. As a tribute to her memory the cyclists of Melbourne organised a cycling tour of the six towers in the city during which three quarter peals were rung.

Sally Coad, aged 37, of Vancouver Cathedral died of cancer in August. She had been a keen member of the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary band in Vancouver for about five years after immigrating from St Neot, in Cornwall where she died. As a tribute to the memory of Sally five quarter peals were rung in Canada and in the USA.

William Rowe founder of Ringing Towers and former New South Wales Association was in his 85th year when he died in September. He had been for 66 years a ringer in the Sydney area, after having learned to ring at Randwick. He was attached to St Mary’s Cathedral for some time before finally settling down at St Benedict’s, Broadway. He was also Tower Captain for a while at St Andrew’s Cathedral tower. Many tributes were paid to his memory especially for his organisational abilities, which in no small way assisted, in creating the high standards of ringing in Australia.

William Smith aged 76 and a long serving ringer in Cape Town, South Africa died. Very high tributes were paid to him for his leadership in bell ringing in Cape Town.

The ringers of Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand rang for the funerals of two distinguished personages. Very Rev M. Underwood. CBE who was a very great friend of bellringers, and Jack Hinton VC, New Zealand’s last surviving holder of the VC. During the funeral of the latter it was necessary to stop the ringing, because being a military funeral the Orders could not be heard above the bells.

Congratulations to the following on their achievements: The Very Rev Paddy Glover, former Incumbent of Parktown, Johannesburg and Dean of Bloemfontein Cathedral, was enthroned there as the Lord Bishop of Bloemfontein. The Right Rev Paddy did much for bellringing at Parktown, and endeavoured to have a ring installed at his Cathedral. A quarter peal was rung at Parktown to mark the occasion and the South Africans and others were delighted to learn of his consecration and offered their congratulations to a much loved Pastor and friend.

Congratulations were accorded to David Bleby of Adelaide on his appointment to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. It is unique that St Peter’s Cathedral ringers include having two QCs as Judges in their midst?

Esther Perrins former Editor of Ringing Towers has been ranked second in Australian Scrabble order of merit and was selected to be one of the team of four for the World Championships being held in Washington DC.

Miscellaneous:

Zimbabwe: A quarter peal of Plain Bob Major was rung at Harare Cathedral as a thanksgiving for the life of the late Standford Hanscombe, founder member of the Guild.

Dr Ruth Hutchinson has been busy organising the International Anaesthesia Congress - the first to be held in Harare.

New Zealand: A letter in The Ringing World from David and Pam McAdam of Auckland thanking all who made their “world” tour so pleasant in October and November 1996.

There has been another arson attack at Christchurch Cathedral. Result, doors locked and visitors having to contact Mike Clayton, or Chris Oldham in advance of Tuesday practices to gain admittance.

The Ringing World, May 1, 1998, pages 442 to 443

International Liaison Report for 1997 (Part 4 of 4)

by Fred E. Dukes

Ringing Courses: In America, Ringing Courses were held in conjunction with the Three Towers Festival held in Houston on the Wednesday, prior to the Annual General Meeting of the North American Guild in Northampton which was very successful in advancing, and in Charleston, for the benefit of the Stella Maris and Charleston towers which included sessions for beginners and more advanced ringers.

Hendersonville held a special course which was well supported by those anxious to practice, learn and even to, observe.

Bob and Ruth Smith along with Gary and Sue Mason led a group of ten ringers at Abilene, to provide a busy three days of intensive instruction to the locals, some of whom took part in ringing in associated quarter-peals.

Alan Regin along with other members of the SRCY were hosted by Marietta, Raleigh, Hendersonville and Charleston, where Alan conducted a Workshop for less experienced ringers.

The usual Sydney Ringing School in January was centred on Christ Church St Lawrence and St Mark, Darling Point. The seven sessions were conducted by leading ringers. Beechworth also ran a Ringing School with three tutors for correct handling, progress in method ringing and team spirit, etc.

Matthew Sorrell was the author of a well written three page article in Ringing Towers which dealt with bell maintenance, Steeplekeeping, including essential skills, and safety in the tower. Rope care and splicing was also covered.

On Easter Monday, the Western Australian Branch held a successful ringing event St Hilda’s School, Mosman Park, which included recruits from the new tower of Rockingham Town Centre, who as well as others benefited from improved ringing standards.

Maryborough, St Paul’s, were delighted when a team from New South Wales, travelled for the “Ringing Out of the Old Year and Ringing In the New”. They spent two days in Maryborough and did a magnificent job, benefiting the local ringers who very much appreciated the visit. On the party’s return to NSW they called into Brisbane to ring at both towers there.

Perhaps the master-stroke of the year was the initiative of St Mary’s Basilica, Sydney in conjunction with the Sydney City Council to invite George and Diana Pipe from the UK to conduct a ringing project. A programme of events consisting of nine pages of hard work for the Pipes was issued. The events included lecturing to the public, instructing ringers, ringing peals and quarter peals, leading ringing schools at Armidale, Goulburn, Griffin, Wagga Wagga, etc. The project covered the period from end of March to end of May.

During the weekend of the Annual Meeting of the Zimbabwe Guild held in Harare, a number of visitors joined in with the locals for theory sessions, followed with practical sessions in methods such as, Plain Bob, Double Norwich Court Bob Major, London and Wells Surprise. Later on, with Kwe Kwe as the main centre of activity, Paul Harden’s party spent a week and a half teaching some recruits and the five locals to ring rounds, plain hunting, and Plain Bob. One local was given instruction in teaching, another as a maintenance expert. Quarter peals were rung which included a Kwe Kwe ringer who scored his first. Another quarter peal of Rutland S. Major was successful in Harare.

Peals and Quarter Peals: The appended Table summarises the number of peals and quarter peals rung in the various countries abroad during 1997, and which were recorded up to 13th March 1998.

The figures in brackets against each country are the 1996 respective figures which were amended to take account of those performances which appeared after the 1996 Report was completed. Those figures not bracketed relate to 1997.

It will be observed that each country had fewer Peals than in 1996, with the exception of Canada, which had one more.

As regards quarter peals, there were increases in numbers rung on tower bells in Australia, Canada, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe. “In hand” quarter peals showed a considerable decrease in Australia. Italy had a barren year.

In the section reporting on the ringing in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, mention is made of a peal at Victoria Cathedral, BC and a total of 24 quarter peals rung.

Noting those who rang their firsts in peals, quarter peals, and as conductor, there were: 13 ringers rang their first peal; 70 rang in their first quarter peal; and four conducted for the first time.

Worthy of mention should be Ivan Campbell, aged 12, who rang in his first quarter peal at Christ Church Cathedral in New Zealand.

Ven Allan Huggins, Archdeacon of Hackett, Canberra, who was on an exchange duty throughout the year at Bozeat, Northants, was keen to learn how to ring a bell, which he did via silent practices and eventually rang for services, all of which culminated in ringing in his first quarter peal of Grandsire Doubles just before his return to Australia.

The first by a student of St Hilda’s School, Perth was by Laura Davies who rang in a quarter of Plain Bob Doubles.

A quarter-peal at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide was by a team of ringers all between 13 and 18 years of age, being of Plain Bob Doubles.

The first quarter peal at Abilene, USA, was by a mixture of local and visiting UK ringers.

Vancouver, BC, scored its first peal since 1911 by a local band to celebrate Canada Day. Also at Vancouver Cathedral a quarter-peal was rung to mark the centenary of the founding of the Women’s Institute in Canada. It was one of Plain Bob Major.

Landmarks were noted for peals and quarter peals, as recorded hereunder:

• Jack Cummins, GOM of Adelaide rang his 500th quarterpeal.

• 1000th peal to have been rung in Australia was one of Spliced Surprise Major at St Philip’s, Church Hill, where No 1 was rung.

• 450 quarter peals rung at Perth Cathedral.

• 50th quarter peal at Vancouver one of Plain Bob Major, in June.

• A quarter peal of Rutland Surprise Major at Harare Cathedral was the first in the method rung in Zimbabwe.

• The peal of Grandsire Triples at Holy Trinity, Hobart, was the first by the local band.

• The Society of Royal Cumberlands Youths celebrated its 250th birthday in Boston, with a peal of Semiquincentenary Alliance Major.

• Michelle Harrision of Adelaide, SA rang her 50th quarter peal within one year of her first and her brother, Peter, did likewise earlier on the same day.

• St James’s Cathedral, Toronto celebrated its birth of the 12 bell ring, with two peals of Cinques and a number of quarter peals.

Philadelphia held its usual quarter peal weekend in January.

The visit of George and Diana Pipe was sufficient encouragement for a number of peals to be rung, with both George and Diana in them which included the first peal on the new ring of 12 bells at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral being one of Little Bob Maximus.

In the schedule of Leading quarter peal ringers in 1997, which appeared in The Ringing World the following were included in the list:

First peals in new methods rung were:

• Prague S Major in hand in Prague.

• Lone Star S Major at Houston.

• Texarkana S Major at Texarkana.

• Marietta S Major at Marietta.

• Smithsonian S Royal at Washington Cathedral.

• Stella Maris S Major on Sullivans Island, Charleston, SC.

• Carlisle S Minor at Princess Anne.

• Bradman Alliance Major at St Philip’s Church Hill, Sydney.

• Turramurra S Maximus at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Miscellaneous:

USA: There was a photograph of the Ringers of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Honolulu in the Cathedral tower under which was the words, “Hawaii - its no sweat”. It announced the introduction of air conditioning. There was an invitation to any ringers passing through, to call.

The President of NAG is negotiating with others for the establishment of a Bell Restoration Fund.

Dan Beaman of Charleston, and others are researching colonial rings, bells and towers, and in particular, chime stands.

Italy: A bells and choir composition by Bepi De Marzi was performed at Castello Church in December. The six bells of the church and the parish choir were brought together for the first time.

Alan Blair had an article in The Ringing World about The Pontificia Bellfoundry in Agnone - with photographs in the Museum and moulds in preparation and being broken.

Thanks: Quite a number of people have to be thanked most sincerely for their co-operation with the writer in the preparation of this Report. The Editors of the regular ringing publications both those who retired and their successors who have already been mentioned in the Publications Section.

Those who correspond with me, provide much useful information and news from their areas, which is all appreciated.

The bell ringers themselves, those who instruct, who ring the bells and the steeplekeepers who ensure that the bells are in good ringing condition, and those who by their persuasion and encouragement help to provide additional rings and augmentations.

I have already mentioned George Morris, who has performed trojan work with the bell ringers of Italy. To one and all a sincere thank you.

The Ringing World, May 8, 1998, pages 466 to 467