It wasn’t an auspicious start, as a cloud burst followed us all the way up the M3, but the sun was shining by the time we reached our first stop at Aston Clinton. Unfortunately the attempt at a peal of Cambridge Royal came to end after 40 minutes, though given the temperature and lack of air in the ringing chamber it might have been a blessing in disguise. But we did achieve a quarter peal of Cambridge Major before our lunch stop at The Oak, where they just managed to squeeze 10 of us in before the locals filled the restaurant. Note for future visits: one main course is enough to feed at least 2 people; good beer, whatever it was. We were joined by two Wingrave ringers, a friend of Alan and his son, Alan’s god-son, who stayed as reinforcements for the rest of the tour, giving welcome support.
The Heath Inn greeted us in the afternoon: tea for those who now joined us from Wimborne, a brisk walk along the Grand Union Canal for some, a short stroll to the Globe Inn for others. Some pleasant ringing at Great Brickhill (8) preceded dinner, after which it was an early retirement for those who had neither the stamina nor the skill for handbell ringing, though there weren’t many other guests around to appreciate the musical entertainment they were offered.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and after a modest breakfast we enjoyed the bells of Leighton Buzzard (12), Wingrave (8) and, again, Aston Clinton (still 10), surrounded the while in the ringing chamber walls by echoes of the ghosts of Bentley past.
The Oak again for lunch, followed by exciting cross country journeys to Wendover (8), where a striking competition between a ladies’ 8 and a men’s 8 was won hands(troke) down by the ladies; and Bledlow (8), where a practice for the Salisbury Guild 8-bell striking competition was severely hampered by the 6th being raised back way. But in case we were still hungry (or just plain giving in to temptation) the locals were offering tea and cakes aplenty.
Our final tower was High Wycombe (12), where a delay in finding a key enabled us to enjoy watching the various uses to which the churchyard could be put by the locals. Sadly no red kites but back to the M3 and safely home after an excellently organised tour, thanks to Alan and Kathy.
Wimborne Minster Bell Ringers 