‘Ringing Remembers’: A National Campaign to Recruit 1400 New Bell Ringers

On 11^th November 2018 it will be 100 years since Armistice was declared at the end of the First World War.

To mark this centenary, bells will ring out in unison from as many churches as possible across the UK as they did 100 years ago.

In preparation for this event, it is hoped that 1400 new bell ringers will be recruited and trained in honour of the 1400 bell ringers who lost their lives during the Great War.

At St Andrew’s we know of at least one ringer by the name of John Brockhurst, who lost his life during WW1, in November 1917.

 WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN AT ST ANDREW’S?

It is easily possible between now and November 2018 for you to acquire the basic skills required to ring for Armistice 2018 and thereafter for other services and events.

Initial training is on a one-to-one basis in easily manageable steps and is suitable for ages 12 – 70.

If, after a few sessions, you want to register with the National Campaign to become one of the 1400, we will show you how.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Contact: Clive Stephenson on 07896 342010 or email: clive-stephenson@sky.com

An open day will be arranged for March 2018.

Ringing Remembers is a joint campaign run by  two government offices and the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.

New Year’s Eve in the Bell Tower

Every New Year’s Eve for as long as we can remember, St Andrew’s bell ringers have celebrated by ‘ringing in’ the New Year.

This year was no exception and at 11.30pm a small group of ringers gathered to begin their ring.

As the midnight hour approached, the number of bells gradually reduced leaving just Gavin Carpenter to strike the tenor 12 times at midnight. The rest of the ringers then joined in again to welcome 2018 with their joyful sound.

In recent years, our vicar Barry and wife Mary have come along to watch the fireworks from the top of the tower and open a bottle of champagne whilst the bells ring.

The photo shows Mary and Barry joining the ringers afterwards for a celebratory drink. Barry then thanked the ringers for their efforts during the past year, particularly the peals.

What a lovely way to start the New Year!

Bell Ringers Christmas Peal 2017

The bell ringers’ Christmas peal was successfully completed in 3 hours and 9 minutes.

All 10 bells were rung to the tune of Grandsire Caters and a short 3 minute extract can be found on YouTube using the link: https://youtu.be/kUcHsHPmpJw

Full details of the peal are as follows:

Essex Association

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Saturday, 23 December 2017 in 3h 9min

5021 Grandsire Caters

Composed by A Colin Banton

1. Paul J Bloomfield
2. Anthony J Bloomfield
3. Jillian Laken
4. David E Rothera
5. Clare M Merivale
6. M Louise Booth
7. Jonathan C Mills
8. William J Stungo
9. Clive J Stephenson (C)
10. Alan S M Street

Rung for The Festival of Christmas.

First on 10 – 5 & 7; First Grandsire – 2,5 & 7.

350th peal – 1.

Peal for Platinum Wedding Anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

On 20th November 2017, HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrated their Platinum (70th) Wedding Anniversary.

On 18th November 2017, a peal of Stedman Caters was rung at Hornchurch to mark the occasion. A 5 minute extract of the peal can be accessed below:

Full details of the peal are as follows:

Essex Association

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Saturday, 18 November 2017 in 3h 7min

5055 Stedman Caters

Composed by John Pladdys

1 Christina D A Brewster

2 Paul J Bloomfield

3 John Pladdys (C)

4 Stephen A Waters

5 Jon Waters

6 Ian P Hill

7 Clive J Stephenson

8 Peter G C Ellis

9 Robert J Crocker

10 Andrew P Brewster

Arranged and rung to mark the 70th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Quarter Peal for 100th Anniversary of WW1 Victim

The August 2017 edition of the Hornchurch parish magazine records the death of a Hornchurch ringer, John Brockhurst, on November 2^nd  1917 in Palestine during WW1. C.T. Perfect’s book about Hornchurch, written  that year, lists among the ringers J.W. Brockhurst and J. Brockhurst who was the Tower Captain. It is likely that it is the former who was killed and the latter possibly his father.

On November 5^th, the nearest Sunday to the centenary of John’s death, the current Hornchurch ringers rang a quarter peal for evensong and in memory of John Brockhurst.

The published details are as follows:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Sunday, 5 November 2017

1250 Yorkshire Surprise Major

1. Christopher C M Pain
2. Ros C Skipper
3. John W Stephenson
4. Jillian Laken
5. James Laken
6. Matthew E Rayner
7. Paul J Bloomfield
8. Clive J Stephenson (C)

For Evensong and in memory of Private John Brockhurst, a ringer at St Andrew’s who fought in WW1 in Gallipoli and Palestine and was killed in action 100 years ago on 2/11/1917 aged 27

First in method – 2

Remembering Sylvia Blows

Sylvia Blows was known to the bell ringers through her late husband Dennis who was a bell ringer and chorister.

Sylvia was a very active member of the church here at St Andrew’s in the 1980’s and 1990’s before moving away to be closer to her family. One of her many roles included a long period as PCC Secretary.

She passed away on 28th August 2017 and the following quarter peal was dedicated to her memory:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Sunday, 8 October 2017

1312 Double Norwich Court Bob Major

1. Dennis Ellisdon
2. Gavin S Carpenter
3. John W Stephenson
4. Elizabeth C Rayner
5. Colin G Wright
6. Christopher C M Pain
7. Paul J Bloomfield
8. Clive J Stephenson (C)

For Evensong and remembering Sylvia Blows, widow of Dennis Blows and previously an active church member at St Andrew’s, who recently passed away.

First in method – 2.

First Quarter Peal Success for Rosemarie

Bell ringer Rosemarie Edwards rung continuously for about 45 minutes prior to Evensong at St Andrew’s on Sunday 24^th September to achieve her first quarter peal at the first attempt.

Although a member of the bell ringers at Holy Cross Church in South Ockendon, Rosemarie learnt to ring here at St Andrew’s and visits us regularly for extra practise.

Her efforts have now been rewarded with this success and we send her congratulations from all the team.

Full details of the quarter peal are as follows:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew
Sunday, 24 September 2017

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1. Rosemarie P Edwards
2. Christopher C M Pain
3. John W Stephenson
4. Neil P Booth
5. Clive J Stephenson (C)
6. Anthony F Ammerlaan

For Evensong.

First quarter peal – 1.

The 6 ringers that took part:
L-R: John Stephenson, Rosemarie Edwards, Chris Pain, Clive Stephenson, Neil Booth & Tony Ammerlaan

Bell Ringers’ Prizes on Promotion Sunday

During the service on Promotion Sunday (10^th Sept.) prizes were awarded to 5 bell ringers who have rung their first quarter peal in the past year or so.

It takes a long time to learn to ring to the standard of a quarter peal (years rather than weeks) and requires a lot of hard work and practise. Our congratulations therefore go to Jacky Stockwell, Paul Shrubsole, Jane Harper, Ethan Musham, and Michelle Long for achieving their first quarter peals and receiving their prizes from Ken Wylie, our Associate Priest.

The bell ringers with their prizes together with Ken Wylie, Clive & Leonie

September Outing to Central London

On 9^th September 2017, Hornchurch bell ringer Jonathan Slack organised our Autumn Outing to central London. The churches were chosen specially because they had new sets of bells or because their bells had been overhauled in recent times.

At 10.00am, more than 30 ringers and friends arrived by public transport at St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street, to have a ring on their new set of 10 bells, cast in 2011 by Whitechapel and installed in 2012. These are a fairly light set of bells with the tenor weighing 10 cwt, enabling us to ring well and finishing with a good piece of Stedman Caters.

We then caught the bus to Bank Station and walked the short distance to St Michael’s, Cornhill to have a go on their new ring of 12 bells, again cast in 2011 but this time by John Taylor of Loughborough. These bells are a lot heavier than St Dunstan with the tenor weighing more than 32 cwt (1.5 tons) and required more skill to ring. Again our ringers performed well with many ringing on 12 bells for the first time, including Jane Harper, Lisa Schofield, Rosemarie Edwards and Michelle Long.

Ringers in the tower at St Michael’s, Cornhill.

Jane, Rosemarie & Lisa: rang on 12 for the first time.

A welcome lunch-break was followed by a walk to Lower Thames Street to ring on the 12 new bells of St Magnus the Martyr cast in 2008/09 by Whitechapel. Here, Leonie McCaughren and Rebecca Woolward rang changes on 12 and we attempted our most ambitious ringing of the day; Stedman Cinques and Little Bob Maximus.

Leonie and Rebecca: rang well on 12.

Our final tower of the day, St Katharine Cree in Leadenhall Street, was again within walking distance. These are an easy-going set of 6 bells having been re-hung in a new frame in 2009. The ringing here was well organised by Gavin Carpenter and made for a relaxing end to a successful day.

Our thanks go to Jonathan, our organiser, and to the many ringers and friends who supported.

Quarter Peal Success for Michelle

Prior to the evening service on Sunday 9th July, St Andrew’s bell ringer Michelle Long attempted her first quarter peal.

After 45 minutes of pulling and concentrating, the bells came back into rounds and success was achieved.

Michelle enjoyed the experience and said that she is looking forward to the next one ‘as soon as the blisters have healed!’

Here are full details of the quarter peal and the ringers that took part:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Sunday, 9 July 2017 (6–3–3 in B♭)

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 Michelle A Long
2 John W Stephenson
3 Paul J Bloomfield
4 Christopher C M Pain
5 Clive J Stephenson (C)
6 Anthony F Ammerlaan

For Evening Service.

First Quarter Peal – 1.

L – R: Michelle, John, Paul, Chris, Clive & Tony