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Beercrocombe Bell Ringers |
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September 15th saw the Bellringers annual
outing. A trip to Minehead Beer Festival on a steam
Jackdaws in the Tower
In early May, Steeple Keeper Tony Reed found Jackdaws had started to build a nest in the ringing chamber. They had opened up a hole in the netting put in place to prevent this and had already deposited a large amount of material in one corner. The picture left shows Tony Reed (left) and Chris Dale, Assistant Steeple Keeper, replacing the damaged netting in the bell tower. Jackdaws can move huge amounts of material in a very short time and can block a chimney almost overnight. Annual Six Bell Striking Competition April 20th 2002 Last year (2001) we entered the Crewkerne Branch ringing competition for the first time. As complete novices we came 12th. This year we hoped to do better. Although of course its the taking part, not the winning, that counts (does anybody really believe that?). The competition took place at All Saints Church , Curry Mallet. They are our nearest neighbours and we also help them out when they are short of ringers. So we could hardly not enter. The big day!
Left: The Beercrocombe ringers- left to right. Brian Howell, Chris Dale, Tony Reed, Maureen Longstaff, Mavis Wall, Elaine Tudor, Dave Edwards, Margaret Taylor Team 1 was Margaret Taylor, Elaine Tudor, Maureen Longstaff, Brian Howell,Chris Dale and Dave Edwards. Team 2. was Mavis Wall, Elaine Tudor, Tony Reed, Brian Howell, Chris Dale and Dave Edwards. Dave Edwards was captain of both teams for the day. Eleven teams were entered and we were drawn second and fourth to ring. As a five bell tower we were not used to ringing call changes on six bells, but had practised on the Curry Mallet bells for a couple of evenings (not very successfully). Also we ring on the ground floor whereas the Curry Mallet bells are rung from halfway up the tower and feel quite different. Anyway enough of the excuses!!
Team 1. (plus Brian Howell behind the camera)
Team 2. right (Plus Brian Howell behind camera) Both teams rang well on the day and we were pleased with our efforts. Each team was allowed two minutes to practice and then had to ring exactly five minutes. Team 2 had a disasterous practice which sounded terrible but took deep breaths, got themselves together and then rang very confidently for the five minute slot. Our neighbours, the Curry Mallet team, rang well. Two of our team, Dave Edwards and Elaine Tudor rang with them to make up the numbers. When the results were announced Beercrocombe 1. was 7th and Beercrocombe 2. was 8th much better than last year. Curry Mallet were 6th. Never mind, there is always next year! Bellringers Annual General Meeting 1st February 2002 Click Here for the Minutes of the meeting World Record Attempt December 31st 2001 On December 31st a team of Bell Ringers from Shirenewton in Wales visited St James to ring the bells in an attempt to gain the world record for ringing in the most towers in a single day. Their target was 45 different towers. Starting at 9.00am they rang the last tower at midnight ! The time for Beercrocombe was 1.35pm to 1.45pm. When they finished they will probably never wanted to see another bell rope again! The Beercrocombe Ringers are not planning a similar exercise in the near future. Christmas Eve December 24th 2001 In another first for the new Beercrocombe band the bells were rung for Midnight Mass at 11.30pm and then for a few minutes at the end of the service at 1.30am. This service is only held at St James every forth year and there was something really special about ringing to a packed church with standing room only then coming out to a crisp clear night. Christingle Service December 23rd. 2001
Left to right: Dave Edwards, Elaine Edwards, Tony Reed, Willi Vigus, Maureen Longstaff, Keith Thomas, Mavis Wall, Reg Wall, Brian Howell and Chris Dale. Annual Beercrocombe Bell Ringers 'Christmas Dinner' 2001
'Bell Ringers Breakfast' July 1st 2001 After ringing for the 9.30am Sunday service the ringers retired to Beer Mill Farm in the village for a 'bell ringers breakfast'
Trip to Lundy Island June 9th 2001
Tower Captain Rings First Quarter Peal April 8th 2001 Beercrocombe Tower Captain Keith Thomas recently became the first Beercrocombe ringer to ring a Quarter Peal. Keith was a guest ringer at St. Cyriac, Laycock in Wiltshire on the 8th of April. Standing in at the last minute for an injured ringer. The quarter peal of 1260 Doubles was rung in 42 minutes. Treble Richard Hancock, No.2 Jenny Hancock, No.3 Jon Stott, No.4 Chris Howard, No. 5 Dave Orlidge, Tenor Keith Thomas. Ringing your first Quarter Peal, which is continuous ringing for up to 45 minutes is a big moment in any ringers career and the rest of the Beercrocombe ringers congratulated Keith on his achievement. Beercrocombe enters Ringing Competition On Saturday 28th April 2001, the Beercrocombe Bell Ringers entered their first ringing competition. Oganised by the Crewkerne Branch of the Bath and Wells Change Ringers Association, it took place at Ilton. Ringing six bells instead of their usual five the team finished a very creditable 12th place. An excellent result against very good opposition. Visit to Fivehead Instead of practicing at Beercrocombe on Friday 20th April 2001. The B.C. ringers went back to their roots at Fivehead where they had practiced for 18 months before the bells atSt James were ready. Hopefully we sounded a little better (?) than the last time we were there. A very enjoyable evening with every member of the band making the trip.
Left to right: Willie Vigus, Margaret Taylor, Dave Edwards, Elaine Edwards, Brian Howell, John Dibble, Keith Thomas, Graham Button, Tony Reed. (members not in photograph Charles Albrow, Mavis Wall, Reg Wall, Maureen Longstaff) ' Current Tower Officers (2002) Tower Captain - Keith Thomas Vice Tower Captain - Dave Edwards Tower Secretary - Brian Howell (click to contact) Treasurer - Reg Wall Steeple Keeper - Tony Reed Assistant Steeple Keepers - John Dibble and Chris Dale The First Peal
The First Peal recorded at St James was rung on Saturday April 9th 2000. Ringers were left to right TimCollins, Chris Cox, Sandra Haines, Margaret Taylor and Graham Button. Doubles methods used were Plain Bob, Grandsire and Reverse Canterbury Ringing in the Millenium'
Ringers were: Graham Button, John Dibble, Leonard Egan. Patience Egan, Brian Howell, Maureen Longstaff, Tony Reed, Keith Thomas, Willie Vigus and Mavis Wall.
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train
from Bishops Lydeard. Absolutley nothing to do with bell
ringing we just thought we would have a jolly good day
out! After just over an hour's train journey, with the
engine puffing along through beautiful Somerset
countryside we arrived at the Beer Festival which was
being held on Minehead Station. Some of the party became
totally drunk and were thrown off the station and that
was just the ladies! Other than that a wonderful time
was had by all.
The rules allowed
for each team to enter as a new team if at least one of
the members was replaced. We decided to enter two teams Beercrocombe1.
and Beercrocombe2.
For the first time the ringers
rang for a Christingle service at St James. The bells
were rung to a packed church with their latest recruit,
Chris Dale ringing for the first time at a service after
only recently taking up bell ringing.
On December 14th, the Bell Ringers,
partners 
and friends gathered at the Drayton Arms
in Drayton for their annual Christmas Meal. A splendid
meal was provided and the evening was deemed a great
success by all present.
On June 9th some the Beercrocombe
ringers set off on a day trip to Lundy Island in the
Bristol Channel with other local ringers to ring the
bells on the Island Church. Organised by Graham Button
the day was a great success with beautiful weather. The
ringers rang the bells and then explored the island.
Unfortunately no one took any pictures of the actual bell
ringing!
Some
of the Beercrocombe Ringers, Easter Day 2001
At mid-day on January 1st 2000,
Beercrocombe Ringers 'Rang in the Millenium'