The Lilliputters' Ringing Tour 2016: Day Four

Описание: Day Four of the Lilliputters Tour 2016 - Thursday 4th August

We had a "theme" of higher numbered rings on Day Four. Consequent towers visited were Awbridge, Eling, SUGCR Campanile, North Stoneham and Hursley, followed by the practice at Bishopstoke.

Awbridge: A privately owned light ten, cast in 2001 by Taylors, although the tenor was replaced in 2012 with a slightly heavier bell. They handle very well for their weight and sound excellent. Ringing here includes Grandsire Caters, rounds on the back 8 and the tour's special method, Kaleeb, on the front six.

Eling: A very pleasant ground-floor octave just outside Southampton. A mix of dates and founders, they were overhauled and tuned by Taylor's in 1963, and augmented to 8 in 1978. Ringing here features Grandsire Triples, Stedman Triples and Surperlative Surprise Major.

SUGCR Campanile: The post-lunch tower was a mini ring, located in South Stoneham church! The bells date from 1999, cast by Higby and Bowditch, and the ring was originally located in a room in the Student's Union before being moved to South Stoneham.

North Stoneham: A cracking little ground-floor ten, Taylor's of 1931 (1-3) and 1956 (4-10). Ringing here includes call changes and the almost-obligatory Grandsire Royal. Please note: Swedwards makes no apology for his tuneless singing featured here! ;-)

Hursley: A light ring of twelve augmented from ten in 2006. Perhaps not the most tuneful but acoustically excellent, and one of the most user friendly rings of bells I have ever rung on - we had some of the best ringing of the tour here! Ringing featured includes Grandsire Cinques and a novel "Rounds and Backrounds" exercise, introduced by Jack. Great fun!

Bishopstoke: A complete 1995 Whitechapel ten replacing an inferior earlier ring. We were made very welcome at the practice here and were kindly given the first half hour for our own use. Ringing here is the touch of Grandsire Royal, following on from the success at North Stoneham earlier in the day.

Finally, we finished with a spectacular fireworks display over Poole Harbour, a fitting end to the day, making for a nice relaxed evening (although a midnight quarter peal did follow soon after :-)

Day Five to come soon. Enjoy! :-)