Past Events
Index
If you have a report of a guild event, please send it to the webmaster.
Also please see the photographs page.
Event Details
The SUA (Southern Universities Association) Weekend 2006
Archive
Cambridge University Guild's USA Tour 2000
Guild New Year 2011
The Guild's New Year festivities were again held in Shropshire. For a full report, click here.
Guild Week 2010
Guild Week 2010 was organised by Richard Youdale in Oxfordshire. For a full report, click here.
Guild Week 2008
Guild Week 2008 was organised by Christine Northeast in Cornwall. For a full report, click here.
Guild Week 2007
The arrival of the ketch "Surprise Royal" in Hull Marina (propelled forcibly north past the Wash by the same gale that forced the retirement of a large number of yachts from the Fastnet Race), presaged the advent, by equally diverse means and points of origin, of a number of Guild members of all ages for the annual invasion of towers, and other places of entertainment and refreshment, of the selected part of the ringing world for the tour. This year our choice, made, as is our usual custom, several years in advance, fell upon east Yorkshire and Humberside; and we were equally fortunate in having as the organiser thereof, one of that select and selfless band of those members who, having gone through the vale of organising one Week, are still willing, after a suitable interval, to do it all again, in the shape of Chris Rogers. He found us some excellent accommodation at "Lawns" a campus of the University of Hull, the catering staff of which clearly recognised the gannet-like nature of (most of) the Guild upon their annual pleasure, and met this challenge with unfailingly excellent food, not only in quality, but in quantity which filled even Leigh, our unchallenged gannet-in-chief, together with unfailingly obliging and helpful service to those unable to reach the groaning supper table on time; while the breakfasts were such as to deprive many an excellent lunch hostelry of sales to us, of much more than the essential ale.
Our first experience of such lunch hostelry was, perhaps, a little out of the ordinary. Our orders (and who would dare to disobey the organiser?) instructed us to meet at a certain pub just by St. Mary's, Beverley, where an upstairs room, complete with working gas mantle lighting, had been reserved for us. Not yet being replete with a "Lawns" breakfast, most present ordered sundry eats, to be greeted by the lady of the establishment with the news that they had blown an (electrical) fuse in the kitchen. We were too polite to enquire whether, with gas mantle lighting, this was a new form of power to them; but we were regaled at regular intervals by the lady with blow-by-blow updates on their heroic struggle to provide us with some sandwiches, to the extent that some wondered if the fuse blown was more than merely electrical, and others speculated on the possibility of her being a resting actress studying for a revival of "Fawlty Towers." It was some relief to eat at last; and shortly to proceed up the tower to ring the grand ten, a fine introduction to the general excellence of local towers during the week.
The week's transport and car pooling arrangements were, as ever, taken on with immaculate efficiency by Nicholas Small, who copes with their complexities and frequent changes without showing the slightest concern. His task the first day was somewhat eased, by the towers of the day being largely in walking distance of each other, within the city of York. The first peal of the week was smartly clocked off at St. Laurence, and other towers well sampled. We were made most welcome at the Minster and given a free rein for the afternoon service ringing, under the organiser's own careful direction; the bells are a magnificent heavy twelve in immaculate ringing order, and we hope our ringing of them was not too far off the very high local standards of the Minster band. Volunteers were invited to ring an evening service quarter at Howden Minster, for which this scribe was quick to put up his hand, remembering their quality from a visit of many years ago; and he was not disappointed - the eight comes squarely into the supreme championship class of bells.
Monday saw us on the Holderness peninsula, a fine piece of country too seldom visited by "foreign" ringers. A peal of Bristol was rung at the noble parish church of Patrington, an architectural gem with one of the more unusual accesses to the ringing room - a climb up the outside of the roof followed by a crawl along a board slung under the apex of the roof. Peals here must be a considerable rarity, to judge by the indignant complaint to the band by a local resident afterwards; we should add that this reaction was unique in the week, the response by passers-by everywhere else being wholly appreciative. The touring band rang on the fine eight at Hedon and continued to Withernsea and other towers. Rush hour traffic in Hull scotched the arrival of large numbers at "Surprise Royal" for tea, but several did make it, and joined the others to ring on the fine, if slow-turning, twelve at Holy Trinity afterwards.
Tuesday was a northerly foray, of some distances, the greatest being that of the peal band, to Whitby, where we enjoyed a peal of Yorkshire on the excellent ten, perfect for peal ringing. The tourers enjoyed the ponderous eight at Bridlington Priory and the old-style ten at Scarborough, which seemed to like Grandsire Caters best. We had an evening treat to come at Beverley Minster, where the magnificent heavy ten exacted much sweat, and much respect for any who have rung a peal on them.
The next day was a westerly journey, of various pleasant sixes for the first half, and a quarter (scaled down from an originally planned peal) at Escrick. Many of us had rung these bells in their former home; it was strange to hear the old "Bull Ring" sound in a modest-sized rural tower, albeit, it must be admitted, with rather less acoustic clarity than in their former abode. We enjoyed the sweet-toned twelve at Selby, and another visit to the superlative Howden; it is not everywhere that one can stand outside and see the bells turning inside glass windows, as well as listening to such music. The evening was taken up with the formal Guild Week meeting, at which, in addition to the usual discussions about where to go in future years, there was much to mull over on future plans for bells in Cambridge itself, of great interest to most of us who had learned so much of our ringing on the bells of that city.
A diversion south into Lincolnshire was the menu for Thursday, starting at Grimsby. We were courteously advised that we might find the treble at Ulceby rather difficult; this turned out to be the understatement of the week - our admiration for the enterprise and determination of our petite Secretary to conquer the brute was unbounded, and the score there generally agreed to be an honourable draw. We had the unexpected honour of ringing the first touches both of Stedman, and Surprise Royal, on the newly-augmented ten at Barrow upon Humber, a very recent, and most successful, addition of two trebles; and finished the day on the two eights of Barton.
The peal at Nunburnholme on Friday was enlivened by the ancient stone obelisk in the middle of the ringing room, which rendered intervisibility of ropes across the circle a bit problematic, but did not prevent a pleasant peal of 7 surprise minor on this fine six. The touring party enjoyed Driffield and Norton, followed by several other fine rings.
The Week ended with a couple of towers local to Hull, with a peal at Kirk Ella, which rounded off a clean sweep of peals - 100% score is not unknown on the Week, but is sufficiently uncommon to give a certain pleasure when achieved; and certainly a suitable tribute to the immense amount of work put in by Chris, not only before, but also during the week itself, with unfailing courtesy and good humour - a quality also universally in evidence among all who made us so welcome in their towers, for which our heartfelt thanks. And "Surprise Royal"? Well, the alternator went berserk and fried half her electrics going down the Humber, but she none the less managed the passage back to Faversham all right - see you next year!
VIRGA
Peals
Information to follow.
Quarter Peals
Howden, E Yorks. 19 Aug, 1260 Grandsire Triples: A Robin Guy 1, Matthew D Dawson 2, Karen Lebon 3, Claire Y Barlow 4, Andrew Johnson (C) 5, Leigh D G Simpson 6, Luke T W Smith 7, J Roderick N Lebon 8.
Burstwick, E Yorks. 20 Aug, 1260 St Clement's CB Minor: A W Terry Gooch 1, F Eric Roberts 2, Barbara I Le Gallez 3, Robert T Backhouse 4, Nicholas J H Small 5, Andrew Johnson (C) 6.
Elloughton, E Yorks. 22 Aug, 1260 Minor (720 Wells S, 540 PB): Robert T Backhouse 1, Dale A Winter 2, Luke T W Smith 3, Leigh D G Simpson 4, Tessa K Beadman 5, Matthew D Dawson (C) 6.
Escrick, N Yorks. 22 Aug, 1311 Stedman Cinques: Philip A B Saddleton 1, Tessa K Beadman 2, Nicholas J H Small 3, Kenneth J Darvill 4, Claire Y Barlow 5, Leigh D G Simpson 6, Christopher H Rogers (C) 7, Dale A Winter 8, Matthew D Dawson 9, Luke T W Smith 10, Brian G Meads 11, J Roderick N Lebon 12.
Elsham, Lincs. 23 Aug, 1250 Beverley S Minor: Giles C Galley 1, Karen Lebon 2, Alan J Griffin 3, Robert T Backhouse 4, Dale A Winter 5, Jonathan D Shanklin (C) 6.
Market Weighton, E Yorks. 24 Aug, 1250 Yorkshire S Major: M Susan Threlfall 1, Barbara I LeGallez (1st in m) 2, Louise M Bland 3, Claire Y Barlow 4, Robert T Backhouse 5, Giles C Galley 6, Tessa K Beadman (C) 7, Nicholas J H Small 8. Birthday compliments to 8. In memory of the Revd. E B Lynn, vicar of this church from 1966-1977 and grandfather of 3.
The SUA (Southern Universities Association) Weekend 2006
The 2006 Southern Universities' Association striking competition was held in Cambridge from Friday 27th - Sunday 29th October 2006. For information about the event please see below.
Results
8 Bell Competition at St Andrew the Great, judged by David & Cecilia Pipe
| Place | Band | Score | Speed | Rang | |
| 1st | OUSCR | 85% | 2h55 | 4th | |
| 2nd | CUGCR | 83% | 2454 | 3rd | |
| 3rd | ULSCR | 69% | 2h44 | 6th | |
| 4th | Bristol | 65% | 3h00 | 1st | |
| 5th | London Scratch | 55% | 2h49 | 2nd | |
| 6th | Bristol Scratch | 40% | 3h04 | 5th |
6 Bell Competition at St Bene't's, judged by George Unsworth & Paul Seaman
| Place | Band | Speed | Rang | |
| 1st | CUGCR | 4 mins & 2 secs | 5th | |
| 2nd | Bristol Scratch 2 | 4:21 | 12th | |
| Joint 3rd | OUSCR | 4:17 | 10th | |
| Joint 3rd | Girlies | 4:02 | 11th | |
| 5th | Bristol | 3:57 | 6th | |
| 6th | Cambridge Scratch | 4:07 | 3rd | |
| 7th | Chemists | 4:08 | 8th | |
| 8th | The Drivel List | 4:03 | 9th | |
| 9th | ULSCR | 4:07 | 7th | |
| 10th | Exeter/Reading | 3:53 | 1st | |
| 11th | London Scratch | 3:55 | 2nd | |
| 12th | Bristol Scratch 1 | 4:12 | 4th |
Handbell Competition in St Bene't's, judged by David & Cecilia Pipe
| Place | Band | Speed | Rang |
| 1st | CUGCR | 1h57 | Rang 1st |
| 2nd | OUSCR | 2h14 | Rang 3rd |
| 3rd | Bristol | 2h11 | Rang 2nd |
| 4th | London | 2h23 | Rang 4th |
Programme
Programmes are available for download.
Guild Week 2005
Guild Week this year was based at Hethersett Old Hall School, just west of Norwich. This is a girls school, 3 - 18, and was a fine base with plentiful food including wine plus table tennis, swimming and trampolining and a nearby pub, the King's Head.
We started on the afternoon of Saturday, August 16th 2005 with a peal of Stedman Caters at Wymondham Abbey, home tower of the organisers, Hayden and Rosemary Charles.
On Sunday we visited towers in Norwich, including St Michael, Coslany and St Peter, Mancroft, both early centres of change ringing with many elaborate peal boards. At St Giles we rang a course of an unpealed major extension of Norwich minor as an addition to the week's special methods of Norwich S. minor, Double Norwich CBM and Double Coslany. That evening we enjoyed the mini-ring (6, 6lb in D) of Tony and Betty Baines while drinking a barrel of beer. The master, Kate Langley, and president, Chris Johnson, judged a striking competition, giving points for style, visual impact and length of ringing as well as striking. The winners received handsome NDA bone china mugs.
Monday's ringing was north of Norwich, starting at Aylsham, and reaching Cromer on the coast just after lunch. From the top of the large flint tower here we saw miles of sandy beaches without a soul present, but before you cancel that Caribbean holiday in favour of Norfolk please note that it was windy and raining quite hard. That afternoon for the first time in a good many years a band of undergraduates rang a peal of 8-spliced. Felmingham were a good 8 to finish the day and an example of an augmentation from 6 to a decent weight 8 by the addition of a new treble, tenor, and 5th, leaving the old 5th to retain a lighter 6.
On Tuesday we headed southeast, where there had been many Second World War airfields and thus several church memorials to bomber crews killed in local crashes. At Tibenham, Brian Threlfall put two knots in the tenor rope before a course of Norwich minor. Then, while ringing, found he needed a box and finally had to pass the rope to Peter Hill, ready for him to ring all the up dodges.
Wednesday brought us to Hingham, a tricky eight with stretchy ropes and a long draught caused by the installation of a central heating boiler in the old ringing chamber above the gallery. While the peal of Cornwall was being rung at Ashill the touring band rang a course of that method at Beetley.
On Thursday our towers included Happisburgh, a flint tower next to the encroaching sea, and Ranworth. Here we saw the Sarum Antiphoner including illustrations of Jonah and the Whale, and medieval musicians playing bells with mallets.
We were fortunate to ring at East Raynham, to the northwest, on Friday before the builders arrived to replace the temporary scaffolding floor. The president entertained us to tea at his cottage in Blakeney that afternoon and explained an incident earlier in the week. A young school dinner lady had been seen climbing in through his window at Hethersett Old Hall School but it transpired that she was merely retrieving his key after he locked himself out.
The last morning's ringing was just west of Hethersett, while a peal band headed east to Great Yarmouth. Although they lost a peal of Yorkshire, a fine quarter of Grandsire Caters was a suitable end to a very well organised week. Our thanks go to Rosemary and Hayden and to the incumbents and tower captains of about 50 churches across the county.
Andrew Johnson
Peals
Information to follow.
Quarter Peals
Marsham, Norfolk. 22 Aug, 1344 Bristol S Major: Anthony Parry (C) 1, Jennie Taylor 2, Susan Threlfall 3, Andrew Johnson 4, Alan Griffin 5, Jim Taylor 6, Nicholas Small 7, Jonathan Shanklin 8.
Forncett St Peter, Norfolk. 23 Aug 1260 Doubles (3m, 1p): Karen Lebon 1, Tim Watt 2, Kate Langley (C) 3, Luke Smith 4, Andy Smith 5. Rung as a birthday compliment to Tim Watt and Nicholas Small.
Yaxham, Norfolk. 24 Aug, 1320 London S Minor: Jim Taylor 1, Jennie Taylor 2, Susan Threlfall 3, Nicholas Small 4, Dale Winter (C) 5, Matt Dawson 6. Dedicated to the memory of Doris Williamson, long time church warden and loyal servant to St Peter's
Blofield, Norfolk. 25 Aug, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Clarke Walters 1, Jennie Butler 2, Chris Johnson 3, Karen Lebon 4, Andy Smith (C) 5, Kate Langley 6, Brian Meads 7, Terry Gooch 8.
Little Walsingham, Norfolk. 26 Aug, 1260 Doubles (4m,1p): Claire Barlow 1, Ian Vincent 2, Kate Langley (C) 3, Andy Smith 4, Andrew Johnson 5, Karen Lebon 6.
Hethersett Old Hall School, Norfolk. 26 Aug, 1260 Plain Bob Minor: Barbara Le Gallez 1-2, Ian Vincent 3-4, Nicholas Small (C) 5-6. First handbell quarter: 1-2. With thanks to Tony Parry for encouraging the ringer of 1-2.
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. 27 Aug, 1259 Grandsire Caters: Kate Langley 1, Jennie Butler 2, Karen Lebon 3, Leigh Simpson 4, Andrew Johnson 5, Rod Lebon 6, Hayden Charles 7, Luke Smith 8, Simon Farrar (C) 9, Andy Smith 10. In affectionate memory of Gilbert Thurlow (Selwyn), former vicar of this church and in celebration of Freddie Flintoff's greatness.