Guild Week 2002

The usual 40-odd (some very) members turned up for all or of the week 17-24 August, at Ratcliffe College by the ancient Fosse Way, brilliantly organised by Trevor and Anita Kirkman and family. As ever with the Guild, appearances and opinions are as individual, and eccentric, as modes of transport; in addition to every kind of motor vehicle, there are those who come and go by train; those who cycle whenever distance permits; one who sleeps on his Land Rover roof; all co-ordinated with quiet aplomb by Nick, Transport Officer emeritus for the past quarter-century - not forgetting the President whose 50th Guild Week this was. Indeed, Chris showed himself well worthy of his office, on the treble at the Cathedral for the opening peal attempt - following advice on a hot day, we left both (opposite) doors open, and the gently rising summer breeze wrapped the curtain behind him round him like an imperial toga at intervals during the Stedman. Sadly, his famous imperturbability at these unwelcome attacks went unrewarded, since one of the band turned a most interesting green colour after 2 hours and we had to stop. The young ladies' common room at the college was swiftly converted to Guild use with the installation of a barrel of best local brew; the peal committee produced its usual optimistic work of fiction (actually, this year, the nominated bands did stick approximately to the script), and the stage was set for another vintage Week.

The fine Taylor eight at Colston Basset saw many members at Sunday service ringing; others spread their favours more widely; but the multiple attractions of another barrel, a croquet lawn, handbells and an excellent lunch brought us all in like wasps to a jampot to the Kirkmans at home at Long Clawson. We dragged ourselves with reluctance from the table to attempt the challenging long unguided ropes of the central tower.

The peal ringing, for the first half of the week, can only, charitably, be described as a disaster. London at Measham was lost for reasons now forgotten, for reasons now forgotten, at any rate by this scribe. On Tuesday, the conductor very carefully briefed his band on exactly what each bell was to do at the only half-lead single; unfortunately he briefed the wrong bells, with predictable confusion, and premature demise, when they got there. Still more way-out was the carefully planned conspiracy by Jonathan to attempt something-or-other Treble Jump Minor at Copt Oak, stoutly promoted (and vigorously defended against the diehard conventionalists) as the future of the Exercise. Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately) for the future, this valiant attempt turned up a slight difficulty in the method construction, and had to be abandoned when it became clear that, alongside these exciting Jumps, there were also (unintended) changes with more than one bell trying to fit into the same 'ole, being a deviation from the conventions a step further than even the most rabid futurists could stomach. The Jumper-in-chief has retired back to the drawing board to refine the great TJ revolution for next year, while his opponents, it is rumoured, are plotting to bribe HMS Endurance to maroon him in the Antarctic, next time he goes there to map the ozone hole, for the duration.

It took the cavalry, riding in to the rescue in the unlikely guise of Bernard, to stop the rot, with a (mostly) veteran band at Long Clawson to show the youngsters how it is done with Stedman Triples and unguided ropes; admittedly this did include at times the enthralling spectacle of a very senior Past Master of the College Youths chasing the treble sally round the chancel. The real hero among such senior PM's (well represented on the Week) was Chris Rogers, who, having dislocated his shoulder at the CY Country Meeting in circumstances a trifle obscure, rang two peals as a one-armed bandit. The remaining peals all came home where they should; hon mention to Eric, ringing his first of 8-spliced - in his 70th year!

The touring bands, each day, enjoyed a fine variety of bells, methods and ales. We were delighted to welcome our Past President, Bill Ridgman, for a day of, happily, mainly ground-floor rings, which he rang with a zest and precision belying his 80 years. Brian Threlfall showed us how to find your mislaid mobile phone - borrow another, dial your number, and wait for the sound of a rugby song in bleeps, to emanate from the area of your seat where you have been sitting on it. The programme included a tour of the Foundry and George Dawson's mini-ring, kindly set up for us at the back of Willoughby church - two grabs for the price of one.

The Week ended with a peal of Stedman Cinques at St Margaret's, Leicester. Score: 4 peals, 3 barrels of beer, wine bottles beyond count, 1 good time had by all; with thanks to all incumbents and captains for their bells, and especially to Trevor, Anita and family far a Herculean labour of love in organising it all.

Peals

Quarter Peals

Ratcliffe On The Wreake, Leics, Ratcliffe College. 19 Aug, 1280 Plain Bob Major: Martin J Bright 1-2, Nicholas J H Small 3-4, Philip A B Saddleton (C) 5-6, Nicola D Baxter 7-8. First in hand: 7-8. Birthday compliment to Owen Baxter, 16 today.

Ratcliffe On The Wreake, Leics, Ratcliffe College (in a tent). 19 Aug, 1250 Spliced Major  (2m): Jillian E Galloway 1-2, Ian J Wells 3-4, Andrew J W Tibbetts (C) 5-6, Philip J Earis 7-8.

Copt Oak, Leics. 20 Aug, 1320 Treble Jump Minor (2m: 720 London, 600 Cambridge): Philip J Earis 1, Richard P I Lewis 2, Richard A Smith 3, Ian J Wells 4, David J Lynch 5, Jonathan D Shanklin (C) 6.

Saturday 17^th August

Sunday 18^th August

Lunch at 43 Church Lane Long Clawson

Monday 19^th August

Tuesday 20^th August

Wednesday 21^st August

Annual Guild Week Meeting in the evening

Thursday 22^nd August

Friday 23^rd August 4, 2002

Saturday 24^th August

Philip's Home Page

CUGCR Peals

Cambridge University Guild

This page created by Philip Saddleton

Last updated 28 September 2002