Bell Ringing

Quarter Peals

For each performance, following the tower's name and location are given the number of bells in the tower and the weight and strike note of the tenor (the heaviest bell in the ring). Where the exact weight of the tenor is known it is given in the traditional way using the British imperial units of Hundredweight, Quarters and Pounds (cwt-qtr-lb) in which there are 28 pounds in a quarter, four quarters in a hundredweight, and 20 hundredweight in a ton (one hundredweight is approximately equal to 50.8 kilograms); otherwise it is estimated to the nearest quarter of a hundredweight. If not all of the bells in the tower were used, such as when ringing six bells at an eight-bell tower, unless otherwise stated it should be assumed that the ringing took place on the heaviest or "back" bells. As always, I've highlighted my own name simply to make it easier for you to spot.

Quarter Peals – 141 to 150

141. Sunday, 30th March 2014
St James, Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire (8, 7-1-16 in B)

1260 changes of Mixed Doubles (5 methods) in 39 minutes.

  1. Sarah C L Turner
  2. Martin S Pearson
  3. William J Liebow
  4. Jonathan D Storey
  5. Matthew B Johnson
  6. Alan J Coombs

Conducted by Jonathan D Storey.

5 methods: Grandsire Doubles (300), Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles (240), St Simon's Bob Doubles (240), St Martin's Bob Doubles (240), Plain Bob Doubles (240)

Rung for Mothering Sunday after morning service.

142. Sunday, 30th March 2014
St John the Baptist, Keynsham, Somerset (8, 24-3-27 in D)

1260 changes of Grandsire Triples in 47½ minutes.

  1. Elhana N Edmondson
  2. Ian G Smith
  3. William J Liebow
  4. Peter J Devrell
  5. Nikola Gawler
  6. Michael Amphlett
  7. Martin S Pearson
  8. Alan J Coombs

Conducted by Martin S Pearson.

Composed by R William Willans.

For the Lent Churches Together Service on Mothering Sunday, and to wish a Happy 65th Birthday today to Alison Colbourne (wife of tower member George) and her twin sister Hilary Foxwell.

First of Triples: 1

143. Friday, 4th April 2014
St Anne Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Siston, Gloucestershire (6, 9-2-12 in G)

1260 changes of Mixed Doubles (2 methods) in 41½ minutes.

  1. Sheila Lewis
  2. Martin S Pearson
  3. Myra J Gibbs
  4. Henry Taysom
  5. William J Liebow
  6. Brian K 'Mick' Lewis

Conducted by William J Liebow.

2 methods: Grandsire Doubles (660), Plain Bob Doubles (600)

A 50th Birthday Compliment to Janet Lewis, daughter-in-law of Sheila and Mick.

144. Sunday, 4th May 2014
St John the Baptist, Keynsham, Somerset (8, 24-3-27 in D)

1260 changes of Eynesbury Bob Triples in 48 minutes.

  1. Rachel M Walters
  2. Nicola J Lang
  3. William J Liebow
  4. Stephen J Crane
  5. Christopher P Greef
  6. Alan J Coombs
  7. Martin S Pearson
  8. David Smith

Conducted by Martin S Pearson.

For Choral Evensong, and to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of the birth of pre-eminent English poet and playwright William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire in April 1564.

First blows in method for all.

145. Sunday, 11th May 2014
Abbey Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Bath, Somerset (10, 33-0-25 in C; anti-clockwise)

1260 changes of Grandsire Triples in 50 minutes.

  1. R James Cook
  2. Linda N Baker
  3. William Willans
  4. Richard W Sweet
  5. Maggie F Willans
  6. Roger W Haynes
  7. Martin S Pearson
  8. Alex C P Haynes

Conducted by William Willans.

Composed by Michael Hurst.

Rung before evening service – a "final fling" for Linda, before she leaves us, after many years of service as a member of the Abbey band, to move to North Wales.

146. Tuesday, 13th May 2014
St Michael, Bath, Somerset (8, 14-1-09 in Eb)

1280 changes of Little Bob Major in 49½ minutes.

  1. Maggie F Willans
  2. Karen Tyler
  3. Fiona A Hartley
  4. William Willans
  5. Alex C P Haynes
  6. Michael Amphlett
  7. Martin S Pearson
  8. Phillip A Butler

Conducted by William Willans.

First in method: 3, 5, 6 & 7

147. Sunday, 18th May 2014
St John the Baptist, Keynsham, Somerset (8, 24-3-27 in D)

1260 changes of Grandsire Doubles in 44 minutes.

  1. George T Colbourne
  2. Martin S Pearson
  3. William J Liebow
  4. Teresa J Humphrey
  5. Alan J Coombs
  6. Nicholas C Field

Conducted by Martin S Pearson.

For the Living Water service, and with best wishes to Linda and Rod Baker on their move from Bath to Llandudno.
Also to celebrate the Feast Day of St Dunstan, Patron Saint of bell ringers, on 19th May.

First away from cover: 1

20th Quarter Peal on the bells as Conductor, and circled the tower to Quarter Peals as Conductor.

The composition began with Leslie W G Morris's 240 and included eight different 120s.

148. Wednesday, 28th May 2014
St Saviour, Coalpit Heath, Gloucestershire (8, 10-0-06 in G)

1250 changes of Lincolnshire Surprise Major in 45 minutes.

  1. Russell N Scudamore
  2. Elaine M Scudamore
  3. Martin S Pearson
  4. Susan P E Bateman
  5. Jonathan D Storey
  6. David Powell
  7. Simon P A Wilmot
  8. Keith W Scudamore

Conducted by Keith W Scudamore.

Birthday compliment to David Powell, (3 × 21) today.

First in method: 3 (also 6, although having rung a peal of it previously)

149. Sunday, 1st June 2014
St John the Baptist, Keynsham, Somerset (8, 24-3-27 in D)

1288 changes of Middlesex Bob Triples in 49½ minutes.

  1. Ann Dowding
  2. Gillian H Greef
  3. Ian G Smith
  4. Christopher P Greef
  5. Thomas K Cook
  6. Peter J Devrell
  7. Martin S Pearson
  8. George T Colbourne

Conducted by Martin S Pearson.

Composed by R William Willans.

For Choral Evensong on the Feast Day of St Justin the Martyr (c.100–165), Doctor, early Christian apologist, and regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos.

With best wishes to Reverend Simon Howell and his family on their forthcoming move to Stroud.

First blows in method: 2

150. Tuesday, 24th June 2014
St Stephen, Lansdown, Bath, Somerset (6, 2-3-09 in F)

1320 changes of Kent Treble Bob Minor in 43 minutes.

  1. Phillip A Butler
  2. Martin S Pearson
  3. David W Hacker
  4. Ian G Smith
  5. Robert D Bell
  6. Thomas N Longridge

Conducted by Thomas N Longridge.

First in method: 2 & 4
150th Quarter Peal, and lightest bell (1-1-15) rung to a Quarter Peal: 2

Personal note: Until this one, my previous "lightest bell rung to a Quarter Peal" was the Treble at St John the Baptist, Frenchay, Gloucestershire (1-2-10), in my second ever Quarter Peal way back on 27th December 2001.