Bell Ringers Spring Outing to Kent

Ringing Outings

On Saturday 23rd May 2026, the weather had turned warm and sunny as 50 bell ringers and friends left St Andrew’s by coach for nearby Kent.

It took about 1 hour to reach Farnborough, our first destination. Non-ringers could enjoy coffee in the quiet village or a walk in the fields behind the church. A light ring of eight bells tested the ringers handling skills but we all coped well with Ellen and Jamie ringing a course of Grandsire Triples together.

Our next stop was Shoreham, the first of three villages along the Darenth Valley. The roads became too narrow for the coach and a short walk to the church across a farmer’s field was necessary. Coffee was gratefully received inside the church and the ground-floor ring allowed us to socialise whilst ringing the bells. Jonathan organised the ringing well and our newer ringers Kim, Val, Angela. Jane & Connor rang well, commenting that they were probably the easiest going bells of the day.

Next was lunch in the pretty village of Eynsford. Tina & Bill found a seat next to the River Darenth where children splashed and played in the sunshine. Others enjoyed a picnic inside the remains of Eynsford Castle which was free to access. The photos show Angela & friends and Val & Kim with partners inside the castle ruins.

After lunch, Marianne organised some good ringing which included Erin Triples and Spliced Surprise Major.

Our afternoon stop was a short drive to Chelsfield, another quiet spot with the church separate from the village. Another nice ring of 8 bells saw James and Carys ring three leads of Kent Major whilst Michelle completed Double Norwich for the first time. We finished with another good attempt at Spliced Surprise Major well conducted by Tony B.

For our final stop we drove back into the Darenth Valley to the pretty village of Farningham where we enjoyed a pleasant ring on the six bells before dinner at the Lion Hotel by the side of the river. A lovely end to an enjoyable day before our short journey home with no queues at the Dartford Crossing!!

Tina, Bill, Clive & Michelle by the river
Angela & friends in the castle grounds
Val & Kim and partners in the castle ruins

Bell Ringers’ September Coach Outing

Ringing Outings

The bell ringers’ autumn coach outing took 40 of us to Hertfordshire for the morning and Bedfordshire for the afternoon.

We started in Stevenage, the first of England’s ‘New Towns’ with the church a long way from the town centre. The church had excellent facilities and we were provided with refreshments throughout our visit. The bells here were easy to ring and everyone rang well from Call Changes to Bristol Major.

Our next stop in Baldock coincided with the annual ‘Balstock’ street festival to entertain our non-ringing friends. Here the bells were heavy and more difficult but our young ringers Charles, James Dunhill and James Riley enjoyed the challenge of the tenor to Grandsire Triples and Stedman Triples.

Our lunch venue in Henlow was opposite the church and aptly named ‘The Five Bells’; non-ringers could take their time whilst the ringers went off to ring.

At Clifton we enjoyed another pleasant and easy-going set of bells before our final stop in the market town of Biggleswade. These are a lovely ring of ten bells where we were able to ring Stedman Caters and Little Bob Royal.

Our younger ringers were able to ring well here with Jamie Slack ringing the treble to Bob Caters and Ellen Hayward the treble to Grandsire Caters; both for the first time. The photos below show both Jamie and Ellen outside the church at Henlow along with their parents and other ringers.

Our thanks must go to organisers John Church and Jonathan Slack for a well-planned day with excellent food, ringing and company from our members and friends.

Bell Ringers’ Spring Outing to Surrey

Ringing Outings,

On Saturday 3rd May, the sun was shining as our full coach of 51 ringers and friends left St Andrew’s for our journey to Surrey.

It took just over an hour to reach our first stop in Ashtead, an unspoilt town with plenty of interest for non-ringers. The 8 bells here were enjoyable to ring and well managed by our young ringers, Ellen & Jamie, as they did throughout the day. They rang well to Call Changes as did John & Michelle to Cambridge Major.

Our next church in Leatherhead had 10 bells in an attractive setting overlooking the downs.

Here it was Carys’ & James’ turn to ring well to a course of Bob Caters.

Our lunch stop in Thames Ditton was an old historical pub once used by King Henry VIII on his journey to Hampton Court Palace. We enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine on the banks of the River Thames.

After lunch we rang in the busy town of Esher close to Sandown racecourse before moving on to the 8 bells of Epsom Common. The church here is surrounded by woodland and Marianne & Paul rang some well-struck Superlative Major.

Our final stop in Epsom town centre had 10 bells and Tony organised some successful Stedman Caters for Alex, Jan & Michelle, all ringing it for the first time.

It was then a short drive for our evening meal at a venue overlooking Epsom racecourse and downs before our journey home after a full and successful day.

Lunch by the Thames
Ringers outside Leatherhead church

Bell Ringers Spring Outing

Ringing Outings

On Saturday 18th May 2024, 45 ringers and friends from St Andrew’s enjoyed a coach trip to North Sussex and Surrey.

Our first stop was a drive of 1.5 hours to the town of East Grinstead. Here the ringers madea nice sound on all 12 bells whilst the non –ringers visited the museum next door dedicated to wartime plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe.

At our next stop, Balcombe, a lighter ring of 8 bells allowed some more advanced ringing in a pretty and recently restored church.

Our lunch stop at Warnham was a pub conveniently opposite the church in a picturesque setting.

Here the non-ringers had an extended lunch whilst listening to the recently augmented ring of 10.

In the afternoon we visited an anti-clockwise ring in Rudgwick before our final stop at Cranleigh; arguably the nicest sounding bells of the day.

For our dinner in Cranleigh we had a pub restaurant to ourselves with excellent food and service before our pleasant journey home.

A very successful and enjoyable day for all.

Bell Ringers outside Cranleigh Church

Bell Ringers’ Outing to Suffolk 2023

Ringing Outings,

On Saturday 16th September 2023, our coach of 47 bell ringers and friends left St Andrew’s for our autumn outing to Suffolk.

The day was organised by John Church helped by Jonathan Slack who learnt to ring in Suffolk as a child.

Our first stop was the pretty village of Boxford where we were welcomed with coffee and cake in the church. The bells here were heavy and quite difficult but we managed to ring Stedman, Cambridge and Rutland.

Our lunch stop was Hadleigh, another heavy ring of 8 bells with the tenor just over a ton. One of our ringers, James Riley, has family in Hadleigh and they were able to watch and listen to him ring the tenor to Grandsire Triples.

Following our excellent lunch, we travelled to Buxhall, a newly augmented ring of 8 bells; followed by Great Finborough, an easy going ring of 6 bells in a beautiful country setting.

Our final stop of the day was Stowmarket where we were provided with tea and cakes in the church café. We were privileged to be the first visiting band to ring on the improved and re-tuned bells which have just been augmented from 8 to 10. Jamie Slack was able to ring with his Granddad who rings in Suffolk and Carys Hayward rang Plain Hunt on 9 for the first time. The more experienced ringers rang Stedman Caters and Little Bob Royal.

Everyone enjoyed the day and our thanks go to John and Jonathan for all their hard work.

Carys Hayward at Hadleigh with Mum and sister

Experienced ringers at Stowmarket

Jamie Slack at Stowmarket with Father Jonathan (far right) and John Church (far left)

Bell Ringers’ Spring Coach Outing

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On Saturday 13th May 2023, 46 bell ringers and friends set off from St Andrew’s to visit 5 different churches in Hertfordshire.

Most of the churches had eight bells, not too heavy and fairly easy to ring. This gave our young ringers, Carys, Ellen & Jamie a good opportunity to ring well whilst the more experienced ringers could ring some difficult methods without having to worry about the bells.

We visited Great Stanmore and Aldenham before our buffet lunch at Bushey Heath. After lunch, the bells improved and the ringing became more enjoyable, especially at Bushey and Langleybury.

Bushey was home to a ringer called Bertram Prewett who rang in a record peal of 9 hours at Hornchurch in 1912. He sadly lost his life in the First World War, but we were able to see many peal boards at Bushey with his name on.

Our final stop at Langleybury gave people an opportunity to walk along the canal before our evening meal at a pub with Harry Potter connections.

An enjoyable day with some good ringing, excellent food, and great company.

Ringers old and young at Bushey Heath

Angela and friends at Bushey Heath

Non-ringing friends at Stanmore