On the brightest and breeziest weekend in September 2016, a band of intrepid Wimborne Minster ringers travelled to an exotic, faraway land for their annual ringing outing. Leaving our beloved ring of 12 in the very capable hands of an ASCY band for a peal of Bristol Surprise Maximus, we travelled through forests and overseas to our destination…the Isle of Wight!
Expertly organised by our trusted Tower Captain, the ringing tour kicked off on the Friday evening at Brading, a sleepy town on the east of the island. From the street, we climbed a wooden step ladder outside the church, through a trap door and into the sunbathed ringing room. Raising this brassy ring of 8, we realised we’d need to use our extra-loud voices for shouting the calls during the ringing – but after a few touches, we admitted defeat and, to great effect, rang a few ‘silent’ and non-conducted touches of Plain and Little Bob Major, as well as a few leads of London and Cambridge Spliced.
From Brading, we headed to our hotel in Sandown, a stone’s throw away from the pier – and, according to TripAdvisor, a favoured destination of both bellringers and coach parties. The accommodation and food at the hotel was very pleasant (if a little Fawlty Towers-esque!), although we almost came a cropper with the hotel’s lounge singer when a breakaway handbell band had an impromptu practice in the room next to the bar. She was not impressed with the Plain Bob Major backing track to her rendition of Mustang Sally!
We woke early on the Saturday to tackle no fewer than 6 towers; starting with three musical 6s in Whitwell, Chale and Brighstone. We rang everything from rounds and call changes, to touches of Grandsire and Stedman Doubles, to Carlisle, Norwich and London Surprise Minor for those who had done their homework. (A side note: Jane, who doesn’t often leap at the chance to ring at other towers, recommended Brighstone as her favourite bells of the outing: “I liked them, they were easy to ring”!)
Fortified by a superb lunch at The Chequers in Rookley, we headed to Carisbrooke to ring the ten bells at St Mary the Virgin. A more ‘traditional’ ring of bells, our first challenge was to pull off in rounds from a backstroke start; not easy when the ropes seemed to have been adjusted for the tallest of ringers! We managed some respectable Stedman and Grandsire Caters and attempted a few leads of London Surprise Royal, which unfortunately got the better of us (shouldn’t have had that second pint at lunch…). Carisbrooke was followed by ringing at the Minster church at Newport, a 16cwt 12, which proved surprisingly difficult to hear and handle. Nevertheless, we managed some Cambridge Surprise Maximus, as well as touches of Erin, Stedman and Grandsire Cinques.
Following a quick coffee break in Newport, we made our way to the final tower of the day, Shanklin. The sun had gone in by now and a chilly wind was whipping over the clifftop as we waited patiently outside. 6.30pm came and went, and still we stood in the alcove, teeth a-chattering. 6.45…7…where was the tower captain to let us in? Suddenly a blue car came hurtling into view, tyres screeching and headlamps blazing – a very flustered tower captain arrived to unlock for us, profusely apologetic that she had forgotten all about us! A brief ring on this stately 8, then we headed back to the hotel for the evening. After dinner, undeterred by the wannabe Alma Cogan’s comments the night before, four of our merry crew confined themselves to the hotel’s restaurant to ring a splendid handbell quarter peal of Plain Bob Major – a ‘first’ for the hotel.
Wight Bay Hotel, Sandown, Isle of Wight
Saturday, 17 September 2016 in 43 mins (15 in C)
1344 Plain Bob Major
1–2 Trish Hitchins
3–4 Kathy Bentley
5–6 David Warwick (C)
7–8 Alan Bentley
Before heading for the ferry on Sunday, all 14 of us descended on the Sunday service ringing of not one but two local churches, Newchurch and Godshill. The local ringers decided to enjoy a rare Sunday morning lie-in while we enjoyed the two fine rings of 6 and we ended our weekend tour with some excellent striking (if we do say so ourselves). Another quick hot chocolate stop in the village chocolate shop (try saying that after a few drinks) and we were all set to return home.
As the Red Funnel ferry docked at Southampton, plans were already afoot for a one-day tour of the towers of Guildford next year. For now, thanks must go to David and Flick Warwick for organising an excellent ringing outing.
Wimborne Minster Bell Ringers 