10 more for the Anniversary

Western District has continued in the challenge to involve as many of its members as possible in “ringing something special” in celebration of the 125^th Anniversary of the Association. With over 40 special ringing events during the year so far, our Quarter Peal Day at the end of November was not as pressured as usual.

The “Day” began on Friday evening, marking the Tring Christmas Festival, visited the Christmas Tree Festival at Northchurch and ended at Hemel Hempstead at Evensong on Sunday. 11 attempts were scheduled on the Saturday across ten towers, with 34 ringers taking part. Out of the total of 13 attempts, 10 were successful. There was much rejoicing over the 8 ‘firsts’, which included a 1^st quarter (almost a Crawley family affair!), and several firsts in method including one in method as conductor.

After appreciating a lovely late autumn day as we travelled from tower to tower, we were snug in a local hostelry as the evening’s deluge caused us to spare a thought for those so seriously affected by recent floods elsewhere in the country.

Valerie Clark

PS A Northchurch ringer, Helen Beaumont, also rang a quarter peal in York on the Saturday, but we can’t really claim that as one of our achievements.