Thursday 21st of March saw a large group of people converging on a pub in Cirencester. Nothing sinister; just the Welsh Colleges' Easter tour. Despite having stayed at the hall previously, our esteemed secretary had great trouble finding it, although as it turned out, it was literally just down the road! I am reliably informed a good night was had by all, but due to drinking a couple of pints of 'off' beer before realising something was wrong with it, I'm not really sure...
The next day we started out much too early, to ring at some nice sixes, and a great eight at Fairford. Our ringing lived up to its usual standard, with Paul managing to ring Cambridge while the rest of us were ringing Yorkshire. Needless to say, we soon adjourned to the pub, and a small breakaway group went for an Indian, with the rest of the society determined to drink the various barrels dry, and succeeding pretty well!
On Saturday, most people escaped quickly from Withington which was the last tower before lunch, so they would have time to catch the whole England v Wales game (Wales lost!). The attendance at the tower after lunch was also a little delayed for those who wanted to watch all the way through. At our second tower of the afternoon; Charlton Kings, we managed half a course of 'Percy's Tea-Strainer' TP Major, which we think is a first, and after enjoying Leckhampton, we returned to the hall so our new catering officers could cook us something. Despite threats of 'We can't cook' this turned out to be very nice, and yet again we moved out to the pub!
On Sunday morning we rang for service at Watermoor before driving to a last pub at Sheepscombe. The road to this turned out to be challenging to say the least, as well as the parking, but eventually we made it!
It was a great tour; thanks to Percy for organising it, all the towers who let us ring their bells and to our fanastic catering officers too, without whom, waking up would be so much more unpleasant!
- Rona