On a wet wild windy weekend the Welsh Colleges went west to ring on the Wirral. The tour started Friday evening, gathering at the Mockbeggars hall in Moreton. This being the weekend before hallowe'en, copious quantities of Bat Soup were being enjoyed.
During these early evening festivities several members en-route joined with thousands of people queuing to view one of the midlands latest tourist attractions. This turned out to be an overturned lorry on the M6. It wasn't worth the wait.
Saturday dawned. Tony cooked lots of bacon butties, using the industrial size cooker at the local church hall. We set off eager for the ringing.
The first stop was at Wallasey, a most enjoyable Warner eight. Where we rang some Stedman, Grandsire & Cambridge.
Next on to Port Sunlight, which was looking attractive with the trees arrayed in their autumn finery. (They would have looked even better if it stopped raining) Here we rang some Call changes, Yorkshire & 4-spliced on another fine set of bells. I like it round here.
The final stop before lunch was at Bebington another good set of bells, where some more triples & some Lincolnshire was rung.
Lunch was at the Black Horse Heswall. This was followed by a pleasant afternoon ringing at Heswall and West Kirkby.
A meeting was held back at the hall. Ably presided over by the master, Penny. Future venues were discussed. The town planning section of the society pressing for garden cities to be visited, to follow her excellent guided tour of Port Sunlight.
There then followed the traditional search for evening meal venues. Some stayed in Moreton to eat, following the recommendations of the vicar. Others ventured by train to Liverpool, before coming back to the take away in Moreton. It deserved the recommendation.
Sunday dawned. Later than Saturday. GMT has its advantages. Adventure beckoned and we set off to catch the ferry across the Mersey. This started with a peaceful look around the aquarium at the terminal. Then time to catch the ferry. It tied up at the pier. The gangway was lowered. The disembarking passengers waited 'till the gangway approached horizontal, then ran off. Fast. It was a moving picture. The ferry was moving a lot , vertically ; the floating pier was moving ; the river aided by an incoming tide & strong wind was moving fast, upstream. The ferry untied, moved to a slightly calmer berth against the pier & redocked. We ran on. It was a short voyage. Only one person was seaick. To avoid embarrassing Rob we won't say who it was.
Liverpool was bright, clean & sunny. We enjoyed watching the fountain outside the corn exchange. Poppy enjoyed meeting the people giving out free toffee crisps. So did Poppy's mum, she met several of them. Following lunch in Liverpool we caught the ferry back and scattered to our various destinations. Another successful tour over, enhanced by Kits impeccable organization and the very friendly welcome we received.
Kevin Rogers