My first task this month was to Chair the Standing Committee meeting at Kenwyn. Business as usual although many items were discussed and lots sorted out.
That evening there was another successful Guild 12 bell practice at the Cathedral with 37 present. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to Sarah and I going to a 60th birthday celebration party but well done to all involved.
Although not from Cornwall, but ringing on Cornish bells, on 16th February Sue Sawyer from Devon completed the feat of ringing Quarter Peals at all Cornish towers with 4 or more bells. Good job Sue.
I attended the Northern District’s improvers practice at Altarnun when about 30 members were present. I saw many who I hadn’t seen for a long time and some I had not met before!
President at Altarnun
The following day Jo T and I travelled up North to the Poundstock Gildhouse to deliver another Recruitment and Retention Course. What a fantastic venue! There were around 5 towers present with many ideas put forward and several suggestions came out of the session. My thanks to the Poundstock ringers for their hospitality.
Poundstock Gildhouse
A Central District practice was held at St. Merryn. Apart from the ringers some holidaymakers came along and all styles of ringing were catered for. Although I was unavailable that day I was told that there were “wonderful refreshments”.
At the Standing Committee I mentioned that it would be nice to mark the work of John Purdey and Doug Elliott for their contribution to long length Call Change ringing. Therefore, I looked back through the records to see when the 1260 Call Changes were rung. My research found it was rung on Tuesday 26th February 1974 and the conductor of that “peal” was Paul Elliott, now the current Tower Captain at Tywardreath. During the memorial weekend at the end of the month I was able to ring with Paul and am delighted to report that there were 30 performances recorded (and probably more) to mark these two composers.
Paul E with President
Keep ringing!
Owen Borlase
Guild President
