By most standards, scoring less than half of one's scheduled quarter peal attempts would be considered a bit of a letdown.  However, our haul of five quarters from thirteen attempts felt – and was – very successful.  And the mix of Plain Bob and Kent on 6 and 8 represented a very ambitious programme with a particular goal.

Although we have a hard core of regular attenders, none of our Scottish Handbell Days has ever been the same or been completely predictable, because there are always new people attending for the first time.  This is great, and keeps everything from getting stale, even within the context of a well-rehearsed programme of quarter peals attempts, practices and lots of food in between.

This year, our company was skewed northwards, as the entire Aberdeen handbell band came down to Glasgow.  Because they are all mostly learning all at the same time, they are struggling to complete things, and are making slow progress.

So, Simon devised a specific programme of quarter peals and practices dedicated to creating strong bands around each Aberdeen ringer, to help boost confidence and resilience.  It was easy enough to also include Judith and Alex Frye into this programme as well.  They had each rung their first quarters in hand at our last handbell day.

Creating three or four reasonably balanced bands across each of five sessions was no mean feat, and as usual, we came away from the day with some ideas as to how to improve on the format.  Certainly, several back-to-back hour long sessions work fine when each group leaps into a quarter peal attempt.  But where some rehearsal and practice was beneficial before starting into a quarter, possibly a couple of longer sessions might have been more fit for purpose.  Food for thought.

Jenny Holden rang a quarter of Yorkshire Major, which has been long on her wish list, and a very steady attempt it was.  Kate Telford rang her first quarter inside (and completed her first even plain course of Kent Major – from more than one pair).  And Judith Frye rang her first quarter on 8.  For those of us that were less obviously successful, the day was no less useful.

We closed the day with our now traditional comedy attempt at three leads of Kent Max.  Which came off at the first attempt, and was definitely our best ever.  Little by little we get better......

Scottish Association
Glasgow
1 Albany Quadrant
Saturday, 5 October 2013
1260 Plain Bob Minor
1–2 Judith Frye
3–4 Stephen A Elwell-Sutton
5–6 Nicholas W Jones (C)
 
1260 Plain Bob Minor
1–2 Alex Frye
3–4 Stephen A Elwell-Sutton
5–6 Nicholas W Jones (C)
 
1344 Plain Bob Major
1–2 Jennifer A Holden
3–4 Kate Telford
5–6 Simon J Gay (C)
7–8 Isabel Crane
First on an inside pair: 3-4.

1344 Plain Bob Major
1–2 Stephen A Elwell-Sutton
3–4 Nicholas C Tithecott
5–6 Jonathan S Frye (C)
7–8 Judith Frye
First on 8 handbells: 7-8.

1280 Yorkshire Surprise Major
1–2 Angela H Deakin
3–4 Simon J Gay (C)
5–6 Nicholas C Tithecott
7–8 Jennifer A Holden
First of Surprise Major on an inside pair: 7-8.