The latter part of the summer passed by so quickly, we suddenly realised it was October already, and we hadn't done a roundup since July!
Apologies for the delay in service, and here is our handbell roundup for August 2014.
Not many milestones this month, except for Ian Redway, who has rung his 100th handbell peal.
But there were plenty of firsts:
- David Maynard has rung his first Bristol Max in hand (on Lundy Island, jammy)
- on the same trip, Simon Roberts has rung his first Kent Major
- Colin Woods has conducted his first major.
- Daniel Page has run his first quarter inside.
- And a first quarter for Dan Parker (so nice to see the Farthings active again too). And also for Sally Mew, and Joy Scanlan.
- Bradley Lewis has rung his first quarter in hand, as has Justin Read.
- Henry Pipe has rung his first Surprise major in hand (and with his leg in a stookie). Meanwhile Alfred Pipe is treble bobbing right after him.
- Lynne Hughes is moving from strength to strength - ringing her first of Bristol Major.
- In the meantime, Tim Bayton has conducted his first royal (and a first in the method too).
- A first as Conductor for Alistair Smith, and a first peal as Conductor for Daniel Jones.
- Janet Morris has rung her first inside (and on a new set of bells)
- Sam Austin has rung his first Bristol in hand, with some style.
Also in the news
We are putting Lundy Island up on our list of ideal handbell holiday locations. No one can escape or plead other engagements. Marvellous.
A new handbell venue in West Sussex was christened as well (but we are wondering if there was a reason behind the method selection, Peter).
We see some of the Exeter crowd are branching into multi-surprise minor - are they building up to something?
Oh, and Sam Shead has made some handbells. We like his term - rainbow bells - better than anything we have come up with. (See Simon's post on how to convert a set of children's bells).
The Central European ringers have made good use of visiting handbell ringers, including a first of Surprise Royal for Eric Trumpler, and a first of Surprise Major for Rodney Yeates.
Phillip George has christened his new handbells.
A walking handbell quarter - of course handbell ringers are mad enough to do this, we are just disappointed that only two rose to the challenge. Next year go for minor! We are, however, liking the amphitheatre.
And finally.....
Not many people choose Stedman Triples as their first handbell peal, although it is possible that Arthur Reeves wasn't offered much choice. Still pretty special anyway.
We thought that the 70th anniversary of Michael Moreton's first peal was worth a mention too....
However, for our featured peal, we have two this month, both rung in memory of Catherine M Ladd:
Yorkshire Association
Leeds, Headingley, W Yorks
11 St Chad's Drive
Wednesday, 13 August 2014 in 2h16 (9)
5088 Spliced Surprise Major (2m)
3648 Yorkshire, 1440 Lincolnshire; 65 com; atw.
Composed by J W Holdsworth
1–2 Katharine M Thorley
3–4 James W Holdsworth (C)
5–6 Paul Brook
7–8 Penelope J Thorley
Rung in memory of Catherine M Ladd, a member of this handbell band.
Yorkshire Association
Leeds, Headingley, W Yorks
11 St Chad's Drive
Wednesday, 27 August 2014 in 2h20 (9)
5059 Superlative Surprise Major
Composed by J W Holdsworth
1–2 Katharine M Thorley
3–4 James W Holdsworth (C)
5–6 Paul Brook
7–8 Jeffrey P Ladd
Rung in memory of Catherine M Ladd.