Tuesday, Jan 2nd - Pig-le-Tower - 5088 Eardisland Delight Major in 1h43 conducted by Brian Mountjoy. This was the usual Devon Boys peal with Marg ringing in my place as I was listening from my Penthouse suite. Good peal.
Saturday, Jan 6th We welcomed Matthew's Mini-Ring bash most of whom had rung here before. We then whizzed off to Chilcompton for a super supper provided by Clare. Thanks a lot.
Tuesday, Jan 9th - Pig-le-Tower - 5024 Rutland Surprise Major in 1h47 conducted by Richard Newman. Many thanks to David Purnell for the loan of some of his Twelve Bell Competition band! A 65th birthday compliment to the Sick Geezer in his Penthouse.
Sunday, Jan 14th - Pig-le-Tower - 10528 Xonville Surprise Major in 3h55 conducted by Brian Woodruffe. Umpired by Tom and Marg this was an excellent peal which constitutes a record in this new method. Let's hope that Brian manages to get all the information to both the Records Committee and the Ringing World without one of them losing it.
Monday, Jan 22nd - Pig-le-Tower - We rang 2 quarters - 1272 Cambridge S Minor pre lunch and 1440 Kent & Oxford T B Minor afterwards. This was to test Tom who called the K&O whilst Matthew called the Cambridge. Thanks to Wendy Bishop, Mike Stone, Rob Caton and Matthew for participating. I also had a look at the Campanophile thingy, I do love a piss take. Wonder how many lumps of data they'll manage to lose?
Saturday, Jan 27th - Pig-le-Tower - We welcomed the Australian mob here to ring and the ended up with a quarter of Cambridge S Minor called by Robin Turner. This was after a peal of Uxbridge S Major at Mells earlier in the day.
Monday, Jan 29th - Marg arranged another 2 quarter day - 1260 Stedman Triples called by Marg before lunch and 1260 Grandsire Triples called by Richard Newman after lunch. A good day and I was in high spirits.
Tuesday, Jan 30th - Pig-le-Tower - 5040 DNCB Major in 1h 50 called by Roy LeMarechal. I really enjoyed this peal, my first since the beginning of November last year! Thanks to the band who were all prepared to stop if I fell apart.
Tuesday, Feb 6th - Pig-le-Tower - 5088 Luppitt Delight Major in 1h46 called by Brian Mountjoy. I enjoyed this peal and am glad to report no ill effects afterwards. Anne Carpenter tells me her bells are back in from their American holiday and are pealable again thanks to Matthew. So get ringing you wetland people !!
Thursday, Feb 8th - Pig-le-Tower - 1250 Cambridge Surprise Major in 35 mins called by Robin G Turner. This was the first quarter for Pips Osborne for ages and very well she rang. The social afterwards was very enjoyable with gossip etc.. Then we went to the Chilcompton dedication. I must say I was disappointed with the new ten. Listening outside the back 4 seemed to produce a thin quality without the umph one would expect from a brand spanking new ring.
Sunday, Feb 11th - Pig-le-Tower - 10976 Helmingham Surprise Major in 4h7 called by Brian J Woodruffe. This was a good peal and enabled me to complete my circling of the tower to record lengths. The peal was umpired by Marg and Rob Perry.
Tuesday, Feb 13th - Pig-le-Tower - 5152 Superlative Surprise Major in 1h45 called by Richard Newman. We had 10 for this attempt so Marg and Caroline sat out and got the supper ready. Good stuff.
Wednesday, Feb 14th - Pig-le-Tower - 1440 Cambridge Surprise Minor in 36 mins called by Tom. This was the annual St Valentine's Day ringing with the front five manned? by females.
Tuesday, Feb 20th - We welcomed Brian Woodruffe with daughter Ceri and grandson Andrew to ring here. Grand-daughter Harriet, Marg and myself completed the party. Young Andrew (7) rang call changes on 8 and covered for some doubles. We had a good lunch and then some more ringing. Great day.
Wednesday, Feb 21st - Pig-le-Tower - 2 quarters - Oxford Minor (3m) called by Tom before lunch and Cambridge S Minor called by Richard Newman afterwards. Thanks to Mike for a quick dash to Homebase for a new light fitting. Ted Chivers rang in both quarters but remains adamant about not pealing here. We'll keep working on him !!
Saturday, Feb 24th - East Huntspill, Little Orchard - 5039 Grandsire Caters in 2h15 called by Tom. This was the first peal of G9 on the bells and was was enjoyed by all. Caroline supplied proper slices of bread and we had a good lunch!
Sunday, Feb 25th - Pig-le-Tower - The record attempt of 11000 odd Tannington Surprise Major was lost at about 1500 changes which was a shame as the ringing had been very good with course lengths of about 5min 6 secs. A touch slower than normal but a good speed for settling in.
Monday, Feb 26th - Pig-le-Tower - we lost a peal of Minor after 1440 as the fifth clapper was plucking against the soundproofing, which had bowed out of place, and was striking very late and very quietly at backstroke.
Tuesday, March 6th - Pig-le-Tower - 5120 Aldwickbury Delight Major in 1h42 called by Brian Mountjoy. This was the usual Devon boys band sneaking one in whilst Margand I were away for a week!
Saturday, March 10th - Pig-le-Tower - 5056 Cambridge Surprise Major in 1h55 called by Barrie Hendry. This band included Richard Shere who has now rung his first peal on small bells. All after the original arrangement had been scotched due to the foot and mouth outbreak.
Sunday, March 11th - Pig-le-Tower - 11424 Nördlingen Surprise Major in 4h17 called by Brian Woodruffe. Yet another record length scored here which brings the total to 14. Marg and I umpired and can report an excellent peice of ringing.
Monday, March 12th - Pig-le-Tower - 1440 Bourne Surprise Minor in 33 mins conducted by Tom Chapman. This was followed by lunch at The George Hotel, Nunney before ringing a 1260 Minor (2m) in 27 mins conducted by Robin Turner. The usual chat ensued and we consumed a wonderful chocolate cake made by Joyce Chivers. A good day.
Tuesday, March 20th - Chilcompton campanile - 1320 Bourne Surprise Minor in 27 mins conducted by Matthew Higby. Then we had lunch at Tesco's in Norton where Mike managed to drop half his all day breakfast on the waay to the table! After lunch we rang 1320 Ipswich Surprise Minor in 30 mins conducted by Tom. All this was finished by yet another superb chocolate cake from Joyce Chivers. We have to report that Ted rang the tenor with his usual aplomb!
Wednesday, March 21st - Pig-le-Tower - 1320 Plain Bob Minor in 33 mins conducted by Tom. John and Joyce Croft brought down Elizabeth Johnson to join in this quarter with Mike Stone and us. We had a false start due to a deliveryman walking up to the campanile wanting to know where Marston House was! I did tell him politely where to go, honest.
Saturday, March 24th - Lyme Regis - after a very early phone call we realised that Roy LeMarechal's band of umpires for the 21600 Yorkshire S 10 would be depleted. Marg and I arrived at Lyme at 11.00am to find that Kate Coldrick had been umpiring since the start at 9.30. I took over from her whilst I observed a slack jawed look from Roy and some of the band. All of this worried Roy to the point where he was in the comp. and he called a spurious middle. This resulted in little mayhem and after a couple of leads he called stand. They had rung nearly 5000 changes or not yet a quarter. We repaired to the pub leaving a note on the belfry door for Jane Johnstone who was due to take over at 1.00pm. After we went to Abbotsbury for their meeting ringing. and enjoyed a cream tea in a plonk tearoom.
Monday, March 26th - Pig-le-Tower - 5040 Surprise Minor (7m) in 1h44 called by Chris O'Mahony. This peal was rung to celebrate Bill Thompsett's 80th birthday. We all hope he had a good one!
Saturday, March 31st - Pig-le-Tower - 5040 Plain Bob Major in 1h50 called by Tom Chapman. We rang this peal after the long length attempt for Quymper S 8 was lost at the second part end of five. After lunch some bright spark thought it would be a great idea to ring a peal of Bob Major to celebrate my 300th peal on the bells. Thanks everyone for making the decision for me which is something I find hard to do these days.
Pig-le-Tower
supports equal opportunities and is a Founder member of the world-wide
Heterosexual Association of Change Ringers.
(Membership details on request from here, Roy LeMarechal or Chris Caton).