The following article is reproduced from the June 2009 edition of ClapperTrappings, the newsletter of the North Staffs Association of Change Ringers.
It was definitely ten years ago when the Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry was dedicated, but it was Easter and I think it was April 4th.
The celebration to mark the ten years took place on Saturday April 25th 2009. Instead of congregating at St Bertoline's, Stafford
with a presiding bishop, ringers met in more leafy, humble surroundings at Woodlands, Keele.
The previous day, the belfry had been collected and erected by a North Staffs band, Ray Daw, Harold Dowler, Phil Gay and Mike Wilshaw, supplemented by a Woodlands' neighbour and great source of help, Mick Wallis. The writer of this report was contributing to their efforts by organising large quantities of bread, cheese, beer etc for the following day.
Saturday started off with a certain dampness in the air. The plan for the day was for three peals to be rung, one each by the three
participating associations, in short, the North Staffs, the Lichfields and the Shropshires. The home band, having least far to travel,
kicked off, in the rain. And, alas, with a failure to ring a peal of four Surprise Minor. A cup of coffee later, we managed a good
quarter peal of Cambridge. Here follows a picture of the glorious quarter peal band:
| You may recognise Ray Daw, Harold Dowler, Ralph Mitchell hiding behind a fat woman with her eyes closed, Phil Gay and Ray Ballard (conductor). Notably absent is Mike Wilshaw, on loan (we maintain) to the Shropshires (of whom he is a paid-up and practising member ). |
Members of the Lichfields and other ringers had arrived by this time, eager not only for peal - but fun-ringing, beer, rustic but
filling food and a high level of erudite ringing conversation (what else?). Some of the Lichfields fortified themselves with comestibles
before the peal, others preferred to ring on an empty stomach. Whichever, the result was success, with Cambridge S Minor coming sweetly
round in 2hrs 7 mins, achieved by:
| A wary-looking Clive Smith, jolly Andrew Ogden, Stuart Hutchieson (conductor) still hanging on to the flighty second, David Crump, Geoff Pick and John Mulvey. |
Meantime, others were gathering in the garage and, by now, in the mobile belfry, ready for a grab or two. Pints and food were downed, conversation soared to new heights, the flightiness of the second was fully discussed, the sweet-sounding quality of the bells remarked on. A certain fat woman was seen disappearing with a bottle of Frank Beech's damson wine tucked under her arm.
Finally, the ultimate member of the Shropshire band arrived and raced through a 1 hr 58 minute dash comprising Cambridge, Beverley
and Surfleet. Hurray, hurray. Andrew Gordon confirmed that the second was indeed flighty and only his great strength and determination
had swung the balance in favour of a two peal day. More food and more beer were consumed.
| The cool, calm, collected and very fast band, clockwise from the front left: Peter Woollam, Nick Green (conductor), Adrian Roberts, Andrew Gordon, Paul Lewis and Michael Wilshaw. |
There are many other snapshots of ringers (and non-ringers) who joined in the celebration but I think this is probably enough. It remains only to thank all who came and joined in, with special acknowledgements to Denzil Spencer, whose farm now houses the mobile belfry; Geoff Pick for suggesting the event and Phil Gay for arranging it and providing the beer; Alan Hughes for giving the go-ahead for the peal attempts; and to Steve Mellor and Melanie Brown who rang at St John's, Keele, on the following Sunday and joined the dismantling band, enabling a miraculously swift lower.
It was a good occasion, a great opportunity for all those who have been involved with the mobile belfry to meet and for others who hadn't seen it or rung on the bells to do so. Thank you, one and all. Lichfield diocesan ringers from all three associations can be proud to be part of this venture to publicise bellringing more widely.
Rowena Gay
Keele
