www.aylshamtower.org.uk

ST. MICHAEL'S GUILD OF RINGERS
AYLSHAM PARISH CHURCH, NORFOLK.


[This site was last updated on 16th August, 2010.]

Bell Ringing Times at Aylsham for July & August, 2010:
Sundays 09.20 to 10.00 h. General ringing before Morning Service
Tuesdays 19.30 to 21.00 h. General ringing practice
Quarter-peals will occasionally be attempted on Sunday mornings when ringing will start at 09.00 h. For latest information, please contact the Tower Secretary on 01263 732462.
Guild ringing at Erpingham:
Sun. 11th July 08.30 to 09.30 h. Quarter peal
Sun. 8th August 08.30 to 09.30 h. Quarter peal

All ringers are most welcome to join our local band for any of our general ringing sessions. Lapsed ringers considering a return to the Exercise are particularly encouraged to come along at these times, which are always friendly and unpressurised occasions. Quarter-peal and Wedding ringing is by invitation, but competent ringers are always being sought for these events and should inform the Secretary if they would like to be involved. Non ringers wishing to learn should contact the Tower Captain, Daniel Phillips, on 01603 279406. Join a tradition dating back 400 years – become a bell ringer.

It is with many regrets that we have had to take the decision to call off our Annual Guild Outing this year – and for the saddest of reasons. We just could not muster a sufficient number of ringers to warrant opening up the towers at the five Ipswich churches that David Hoare has worked so hard to secure for us for the projected tour on 17th July. The venues were to have included the prestigious St. Mary-le-Tower with its splendid ring of twelve bells supporting a tenor weighing in at over 34 cwt. David has been supported in his preparations by our good ringing friend George Pipe of Ipswich, who knows well our Aylsham bells and several of our ringers. We are grateful to both David and George for their efforts which, for this year at least, have come to nought.

On a more pleasing note I can report the successful ringing of a quarter-peal on 13th May. Eight members of the St. Michael’s Guild of Ringers pulled off at eight o-clock precisely on this bright Thursday morning to begin a quarter of 1260 changes of Plain Bob Triples, reminding the good folk of Aylsham that this was Ascension Day, a major event in the Church's calendar that warranted an appropriate acclamation from the tower of their parish church. Though not faultless, the striking was good enough to draw approving comments from several early-morning shoppers and shopkeepers, as the band made its way through the Market Place at the quarter's end to The Black Boys Hotel, here to sit down with spouses to a well deserved English breakfast, faultlessly prepared and served by the hotel’s staff. This Ascension Morning ringing with the following refreshment has become a regular part of Aylsham's annual quarter-peal programme in recent years, a tradition it is very much hoped to continue. The band this year comprised Beverley Mayne – 1, John Mudd – 2, Keith Shaw – 3, David Hoare – 4, Daniel Phillips – 5, Maureen Gardiner – 6, Lawrence Smith – 7, Roy Smith – tenor. The quarter was conducted by Lawrence Smith.

Keith Shaw
Tower Secretary