Disclaimer - This may be a bit disjointed and I tend to ramble a bit. Bear with me there is a decent report in here somewhere ? - honest – no really there is.
It started on Monday when we got the tour sheet. Oh-no - Rough Close again. Luckily it was not the same hall as the NUA. So once email queries on the mailing list had died down and we had sorted out which one it was it was all to plan again.
So the hall lot got there in good time, which was a good job really as the pub was two miles from the hall. It appears that most of the pubs in the area are crappy chain pubs with real ale seldom seen. According to various web sites the GBG pubs we classed as more “Local” pubs and not really suitable for a large group of bell ringers. Not to matter as most were to find something to consume (What a surprise), mostly Guinness and Bulmers. Once Daniel's Taxi had shuttled people back from the pub via a very pot-holed track, some of us started on Pete's €2.95 a bottle Rose. He got it untried but no one seamed to notice given previous beer experiences. There was also a generous donation from Paul's port fund .... Speaking of Paul he had been to Rough Close with the scouts and he remembered a path across the fields, which should have been the quickest way. Well I think he did ok but had to scale a fence at some point.
The hall was a wooden affair, not very big, which can be associated the words wood, tiny, gaps, dusty. Once the sleeping bags have been laid out and people with doubles "persuaded" to share (a good term to use would be Tetris). Unfortunately it was deemed that I would sleep at the far end of the hall. Which is fine until I woke up at 5:30am desperate for the toilet. Lets just say it's a bit hard to navigate a 4-inch gap to place your feet at that time after Guinness, Rose, Port and whiskey. Sorry to all in the hall for the early morning wake-up.
Phrase of the morning
A: No pain no gain
B: That's what I keep telling Andy.
So it’s "up and at them" and the Catering officers cooked their last breakfast in superb style and I hope the new officers are just as good (Report later). First tower was Honily (6, 6-2-4) which is a chapel of a country house. We had been asked to "park neatly". So park neatly we did. This was the first of three six bell towers; the usual methods were rung including Bala bob, good to see the new methods in the diary being put to good use. Even though most ringers had helpers holding open the correct page.
Second was Kenilworth (6, 14-0-22). Here the method was Loch Lomand and …
C: Paul has sorted me out with somebody
I am still not sure who though.
For Lunch most of us went to “The Famous Virgins & Castle” in Kenilworth
After Lunch it was Stoneleigh (6, 10-2-14). Yes another six. It felt like we were on the summer tour....
Anyway it was back to the hall and as a “committee” organized transport to the hall without the use of taxies, we all got ready using the closer (and recently constructed) hall nearby. One of our members took to opportunity to enjoy his/her shower, therefore depriving several people hot water. As there were no pubs near-by and transport arraingments requiring people to be ready early, the pre-dinner pub session didn’t occur this year. I don’t think it made any difference.
We all assembled at the Hotel and found the bar. At first we thought there was no real-ale but it was hidden around the corner. Fine with me as I had decided to not drink any more beer but go to the wine straight away.
Random dinner quotes.
D: Are you taking pictures of cocks ?
The master would like to take wine with ....
Those who have had to take out a second mortgage to buy a pint.
Those who have had an incident with wildlife on a tour.
Those who have attended every tour while an officer.
Those who had a cold shower because "someone" used all the hot water.
Those who have had a significant birthday in there time of office.
Those who nearly poured the milk on their pudding thinking it was cream.
Barnaby bear and friends.
Those who topped and tailed in the chicken shed last night.
Those who have rung a quarter with the master this year.
Romance officer went to speak and Charlotte started crying. The Mundy timing has been passed on. The romance office was not responsible for the births this year.
The master’s speech was 4:37 and Paul Parker won the kitty, which he gave to the outgoing master as a gift.
After dining on some good food (with plenty of it) and enjoying speeches it was on to the barn dance.
An observation about this dinner. That is red must be the in colour. As most of the dresses were a variation on that colour.
The barn dance band had a squeezebox, caller, ukulele, Sax, Trombone, Tuba, electric piano and electric drums. They were good to ensure that they put four hours worth of dances into two hours. There was various dances performed including Welsh variations of known dances. The Cumberland square eights with baskets was a highlight with the only casualty being a chair knocked over. It included a welsh variation of the gay gordans (I think he made that one up on the spot), a good bit of ragtime for that. I also purchased their album, which had one of the ones we danced to and some others - it's really clever and complicated stuff that sounds so simple. You can buy it from their web site - look for SteamChicken.
So as soon as the dinner had started it was over again. I must say a very good one this year and even Bob Jervis managed a dance. Looking at the profile of the band they are well known to those in the scene and have had their tunes played on Radio 2.
After there was the usual mix of people waiting for taxis and those that had a room drinking (well mostly water) in the bar. I think I have failed to mention that due to insurance problems the hall was 17 miles from the hotel. Big thanks must go to Sue for organising pre-paid taxies at a bargain £7 each. Our minibus driver had sat-nav so had no trouble finding the hall. However the other one wasn't so lucky but they got there okay. The drivers even went down the track for us.
After a bit more "drink" consumption it was a fairly peaceful night. I actually managed to not wake up at 5:30ish and wake everyone up again. The only thing was I was next to Trish who, based on the NUA, had brought a variation on tin foil to keep warm. It worked for her but it was a bit noisy for those near by. Never mind I have had worse situations to (not) sleep in.
Breakfast was cooked by the new catering officers and there was not much difference. Which is actually a good thing. I am hoping to see some good stuff from them on the Saturday evening meals.
Sunday ringing was at St. Michael, Stoke, Coventry (8, 13-1-9) and unlike the NUA (where I got very lost trying to find the church) I was able to find the church fine. There was a bit of a mix up as others waited behind James as he had sat-nav. But I knew where I was going so I went ahead. Unfortunately I drive a front-end heavy diesel fiesta. So on the track I have to crawl. It was better for James to go quicker (or he just didn't care about his suspension) so he ended up in front of me. This meant that a car may have been pushed out at the back. Unfortunately this meant small few failed to make it to ring (we left a bit late anyway).
After that was Coventry Cathedral (12+#, 33-3-6) and after a quick coffee in Weatherspoons we rang. The bells are nice and the WC's did a really good show of themselves. Afterwards it was back to Weatherspoons for a spot of lunch (including confusing them about the upstairs bit as we ordered food in the wrong place). Then time to go. That was the dinner for 2007 done. Here's to a good year. I think the society is doing really well and with the 50th coming up looks stronger than ever (to my eyes anyway).
Big thanks to Jeanette Lord for organising this dinner and all of the other tours in her time of office. It may be stressful at times but you did a great job. Congrats to all the other officers and best wishes to the new officers. Special mention to Paul Lewis who stepped down as General Secretary after nine years to let some one else have a go.
Your reporter, done mostly on his pocket PC, and after 11000010101 words is signing off now.
- Martyn.
Photos by Iain Scott are available here.