70th Birthday and First Quarter Peal Congratulations

Birthdays, Commemorations, Quarter Peals

On Sunday 23rd June 2024, St Andrew’s bell ringer Tina Gornall celebrated her 70th birthday. Thiswas an opportunity for the bell ringers to mark the occasion by ringing a quarter peal for Tina.

It was also a chance for young bell ringer Carys Hayward to attempt and succeed in ringing her first quarter peal. The changes were conducted by her mother Marianne and Carys effortlessly rang her bell for 45 minutes without stopping.

Carys’ godfather, Jeremy, was also able to give his support, travelling all the way from Kent to take part.

Congratulations to Tina (aged 70) and Carys (aged 14).

Full details of the ringing as follows:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Saturday, 22 June 2024

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 Carys E Hayward

2 John M Church

3 Jeremy R Byers

4 Marianne R Hayward (C)

5 Clive J Stephenson

6 Mark E Lendon

Specially arranged to celebrate the 70th birthday of Tina Gornall on 23rd June.

First quarter peal – 1.

The team of bell ringers with Tina in front

Bell Ringing For The 80th Anniversary of D-Day

Church, Commemorations, Quarter Peals,

The D-Day operation of June 6th, 1944 was the largest invasion in history which would ultimately defeat Nazi Germany and end the Second World War.

On the 80th anniversary of this day, it was more than fitting that the St Andrew’s bell ringers should ring out to mark the occasion.

Former Hornchurch Ringing Master Frank Gant was involved in the Normandy landings of 1944.

On D-Day, Frank was in command of a tank landing craft which, on approaching the beach in Normandy, lost its rudder on an underwater obstruction. He managed to reach the beach, however, offload the tanks and return to England without a rudder.

He steered the boat by varying the speeds of the twin propellers and received official recognition for this remarkable feat.

Today’s bell ringers met at 9.30am on Thursday 6th June to ring before and after the Communion Service where Mark gave thanks for our country’s role in the liberation of Western Europe.

Our ringing included a quarter peal shown in detail below along with the ringers that took part:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Thursday, 6 June 2024

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 James P Riley

2 Michael J Warren

3 Paul T Crick

4 John M Church

5 Clive J Stephenson (C)

6 Mark E Lendon

Rung to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Remembering Frank Gant, former Hornchurch Ringing Master, who took part in the D-Day landings.

First quarter away from cover – 1.

St Andrew’s Ringers on D-Day