Although holiday season is well under way the Guild has been very active!
Chris Venn has been back in the West area carrying out maintenance work at St. Buryan bells and this finished with a Quarter Peal of Ipswich Surprise Minor to test them out!
A Quarter Peal at Perranzabuloe was rung in memory of Mary Turfitt a ringer at St. Columb Major. A Call Change Peal was rung on the front 6 at Gorran remembering local ringer and good friend Graham O’Neil who passed away in 2021.
Saturday, 9th August saw a busy afternoon for Dad and myself. Bob W organised a visit to Trevenson Church, a lovely spot just outside Illogan. When we ascended the tower we found a tubular chime of 8 complete with baton clavier. They are suspended on a wooden beam E-W within the clock room, being refurbished in 2009. Unfortunately, they were only chimed a couple of times and are not currently useable
The 1809 Thomas Mears & Son bell at Trevenson (Owen Borlase)
The tubular chimes at Trevenson (Owen Borlase)
The following day members of the Callington band and other friends gathered for service ringing to remember the life of John Body by ringing one of his favourite Call Change compositions I had arranged many years ago.
Later that week Dad and I travelled closer to home to look inside Landrake tower. At 60ft. 8ins in the air we found a 43” bell (around 14 and a quarter cwt) cast by W. Pannell & Son in 1845 hung dead in its original wooden frame for “clocking”. The story of Landrake bells has a chequered past and I hope to write something for An Clogh in the future.
The tall tower at Landrake (Ian P Self)
The 43″ 1845 William Pannell & Son bell in Landrake tower (Owen Borlase)
I would like to congratulate Rachel Cousins (St. Dominic) and Jacob Williams (Helston) on ringing their first Call Change Peals at first attempt at St. Dominic and Stithians respectively. Well done both.
As I said last month, one of the best tasks of being President is welcoming new members, and it is always special when it is a person you have helped to teach. One Wednesday evening at St. Dominic practice I was delighted to present Tim Cusack with his membership certificate.
Many towers in Cornwall took the opportunity to join in with the National ringing for the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day on Friday 15th August.
On Tuesday, 19th August Julian and I went across the border for an open practice at Black Torrington with the Tamar Valley Guild of Ringers. It was a good evening until around 8.30pm when a gent decided he didn’t want the bells ringing any more so a little chat was had by many in attendance and the situation defused.
The following Saturday saw the Northern improvers practice at Week St. Mary and the Central practice at St. Newlyn East. During this time a Peal of Bristol Surprise Maximus was rung at Truro Cathedral in memory of Norman Mattingley with his son David ringing the Tenor.
And finally…. the Standing Committee descended on the Lychgate Room at Kenwyn for another meeting. This was the first one for our new Secretary which he handled with ease although the Guild bell ……… (Bob knows!)
Keep ringing!
Owen Borlase
Guild President
