The Lilliputters Guild AGM Day – Bristol, 19th March 2022 скачать в хорошем качестве

The Lilliputters Guild AGM Day – Bristol, 19th March 2022

Saturday, 19th March 2022 saw 14 members of The Lilliputters Guild – plus Kinsey, our honorary four-legged guest – descend on Bristol for our traditional AGM Day outing. This had been much anticipated, being postponed from 2020, but the sun indeed shone on the righteous (or was it the unrighteous?...). Our first tower was Pip & Jay, a colourful, chunky, old-fashioned eight. The bells are basically a 1739 Thomas I Bilbie octave, with the 6th recast in 1895 and the tenor in 1914, both by Llewellins and James, who also tuned and re-hung the bells in a new A-frame at this time. Guided by not-an-Anklebiter-these-days Euan, we covered a wide repertoire here, from call-changes to Cambridge (featured here), Grandsire and Stedman Triples, and Plain Bob Major. A short walk later, and it was the undoubted highlight of the day for many – the magnificent 50cwt 12 of St Mary, Redcliffe, a basically Taylor ring of 1903, when nine of the old twelve bells were recast. (The previous tenor weighed 39cwt – quite the upgrade! At 25cwt, the 11th – one of the survivors from the previous ring – is half the weight of the tenor!). With a band of mixed ability, the repertoire was kept simple here (predominately call changes, although we did ring some Plain Hunt on 11 and Grandsire Caters on the back 10), the primary focus being on striking and giving these bells the respect they demand. A particular highlight was the final touch, rounds and call changes with the front six taken by the boys, and the back six taken by the girls; Josephine stepping to the fore, ably ringing the tenor in fine fashion. After a lunch break – which took longer for some than others! – we convened at the other 12 in the City – the considerably lighter ring at St Stephen’s. A 1759 Rudhall eight, they were augmented to ten by Llewellins & James in 1891, and these front 3 recast by the same founder just 15 years later. In 1970, these bells were again recast, and two further bells added, by Taylors. They form a very useful light ring, which sound pleasant and are acoustically very clear; however, a longish draught and very light trebles make them a little tricky, and the front bells are quite flighty. This, and a “foodie hangover”, meant the ringing here never quite woke up, the fare consisting of more call-changes, Plain Hunt on 9 and 11, and a bob-course of Grandsire Cinques. Our next tower was Christ Church where, after a short and efficiently-run AGM in the ringing chamber, it was back to the main business of the day: ringing! It’s fair to say these bells divide opinion, but I have a very soft spot for them: characterful, tick; unique, probably; historical, definitely – they were the first ten in the City, cast by Abraham I Rudhall in 1716, and the front two added (or, more likely, recast) by William Bilbie in 1789. The general acknowledgement here is that the bells benefit from being pushed along a bit, and - after the initial hilarity at the pull-off - we soon settled; call-changes and Grandsire Caters again featuring here. Four down, two to go - although my credentials were in serious jeopardy after making Connor walk up a girt big hill for the next tower, St Michael on the Mount - the clue is in the title! The church closed in 1999, and sadly fell into disrepair, and a fire damaged the building and destroyed the roof in 2016, although happily the tower and bells (a complete 1739 Evans of Chepstow six) remained generally unscathed. The building has been restored, and re-opened as a venue for hosting events and entertainment. Although tiring, we were able to expand the repertoire out a little here, including Cambridge Minor and Stedman Doubles, although it is Grandsire and call-changes which make the cut here. Finally, it was back down the hill into the City, or at least the border of it - the church of St John on the Wall, one of five churches built into the city walls (and the only one remaining). The church was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust in 1985, and is a handsome building. Owing to the effective sound control, the bells are barely audible outside, and are therefore frequently used for peals, quarter peals and outings. Comprising three Rudhall and three Purdue bells, they are not the most tuneful! They hang in a frame by Blackbourn of Salisbury (1895), and retain their plain bearings. After a few touches, ringing here concluded with a very reasonable burst of call-changes and a good lower, captured here. The day was rounded off in traditional style – a few drinks in the Hole in the Wall, although Alex, Harry, Euan and I first detoured to get a glimpse of Redcliffe and the river bathed in a glorious sunset; a fitting end to a fabulous day. After a barren couple of years, we are now looking forward to events re-starting on a more regular basis in 2022 – watch this space! For further information, history and photos on all Bristol's towers, may I also direct you to Nick Bowden's excellent website: https://bristolbells.weebly.com/