December Meeting 2008

After the darkest evening came the most miserable day. District Meeting day was grey and rainy, and it never really got light. It was a long, wet walk up the church path at Great Gaddesden, but at least when we got there the heater was blazing cheerily. The turnout was good, despite the weather, and we were pleased to welcome a visitor from Weston-Super-Mare, escaping from even worse weather in the west. What with the fire and the number of people, the temperature in the ringing room was soon very pleasant – even rather warm for the ringer on the fourth! Methods from Bob Minor to Surprise rang out through the rain and occupied us all until 4.30, and service time.

After a suitably seasonal service, full of Advent carols and readings, it was back to the cars for the short drive (still in the rain) to the village hall, where knives and forks laid out on the tables told us that a welcome hot tea was in the offing. We were not disappointed, and soon not a scrap of cottage pie remained either on plates or in tins. The cakes, mince pies, scones and cups of tea were also attacked with vigour, setting us up for the business meeting. County President Charles Pocock, visiting with his wife, Liz, took the chair, wielding his gavel in a professional manner. The recent District Quarter Peal Day had gone well, with eight scored out of eleven, and the first order for Association Centenary wear had been sent off. An Improvers’ practice had been held on the morning of the meeting, and this had been judged a great success, despite the difficulties of some of the participants in finding the tower, and also a broken stay (which was mended without delay). The youngest person present did the draw for the Domino Card, and managed not to pick the same person on both sides!

The President having expressed regret that he was unable to join us, we returned to the tower (still in the rain) for a good session of evening ringing. At 8 o’clock we called it a night, and made our way through the rain to the Alford Arms – with our fingers crossed, as last time we had tried to drink here it had been extremely dark and very shut. However, all was well, and we spent a pleasant hour or so drinking good beer and discussing many subjects from ringing to Strictly Come Dancing!