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Twelve Guernsey ringers and holiday guests Jessie and Charles Kippin travelled by scheduled aircraft, but some of the intrepid ringers from Alderney decided to make the journey by speedboat. However, when they were part-way over the Force 7 wind caused them to have a change of heart and to join the remainder of the party of ten and travel by air.
The day started with coffee at St. John’s Parish Hall, and shortly after 10 o’clock ringing commenced at the Parish Church. Many were the expressions of delight and approval from those hearing this beautiful little ring for the first time and seeing the various fitments. With the emphasis on catering for young and/or inexperienced ringers, many of whom were sampling ringing for the first time away from their ‘home’ tower, rounds, call-changes, plain hunt and Grandsire Triples were the staple diet, with a course of P.B. Major and a touch of Stedman Triples as special treats. Coffee and biscuits were available in the Parish Hall throughout the morning.
At the conclusion of the ringing the bells were rung down and the party adjourned to the belfry for an inspection of the bells. As the ringers made their way across to the Parish Hall for lunch the bells were hurriedly rung up again in readiness for ringing for a wedding after lunch! Lunch was served at 12.30 p.m. and we were pleased to welcome among us the Rector of St. John, the Rev. Peter Manton, whose vision and enthusiasm were responsible for the installation of the new ring at his Church. After a few words of welcome and an unusual and amusing grace, the party sat down to a most pleasant buffet lunch, accompanied by wine. A count of heads showed there to be 50 ringers present.
At the conclusion of the meal Ian Blondin, tower captain of St. Anne’s, Alderney, proposed a vote of thanks to the catering team of Jean Gray, Rosemary Bleasby and Jenny Totty and their helpers, which was carried with acclamation. The whole party then assembled in the churchyard for a commemorative photograph.
ADVANCE PARTY
An advance party moved to St. Mark’s to open the ringing there with a well-struck course of Cambridge S. Minor, while a group remained at St. John to ring for the wedding. Again, it is hoped, all ringing tastes, but in particular the needs of those with limited ringing experience, were catered for: rounds, call-changes, plain hunt, Grandsire and P.B. Doubles, Plain, Little Bob and combined Kent and Oxford T.B. Minor.
At 3.30 p.m. the party gathered in St. Mark’s Church Hall for the business meeting. Mrs. Jessie Kippin, as a serving officer of the W & P Guild, was prevailed upon and graciously agreed to take the chair. Discussion was lively and centred on three points:-
By a unanimous decision it was decided to form a Channel Islands District within the W & P Guild. The following officers were elected, establishing the precedent that there should always be one from each Island.
They were given the remit to go ahead with the necessary arrangements for the formation of the District. At the end of the meeting Jack Worrall expressed thanks to Chris Totty for his meticulous organisation of the day, and to Mrs. Kippin for chairing the meeting. Various members from all towers decided to join the W & P Guild at the meeting.
After tea and sandwiches had been served most of the party went to St. Thomas’ R.C. Church to inspect the bells there, whilst at St. Mark’s another historic event took place. A representative band for the three Islands rang a quarter peal of P.B. Doubles, the conducting being shared by the four ‘inside’ ringers and with Alex Bleasby, tower captain of St. John’s, ringing his first quarter at his first attempt at the Church where he received his first instruction.
Unfortunately various ringers and guests were unable to be with us on this memorable occasion: the Rev. William Hall, Vicar of St. Mark’s, and his family; Constable and Mrs. John Le Sueur of St. John’s, the V. Rev. Tom Goss, Dean of Jersey; John Gill, the first Ringing Master of St. Mark’s, and his family.
A fleet of cars transported the visitors to the Airport, with all talking of the next occasion already. A truly happy day.
Jersey (St. Mark). 13 Sept., 1260 Pl Bob Doubles: Andrew Montgomery (St. Anne, Alderney) 1, Michael Bubb (tower captain, Vale, Guernsey) 2, Peter Gallienne (tower captain, Forest, Guernsey) 3, Ian Blondin (tower captain, St. Anne, Alderney) 4, Jack Worrall (tower captain, St. Mark’s, Jersey) 5, Alex Bleasby (tower captain, St. John, Jersey) 6. Conducting shared by 2, 3, 4. 5. First quarter - 6. For the first meeting of the Channel Islands District, Winchester and Portsmouth D.G.
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The Ringing World No. 3626, October 24, 1980, pages 918 to 919