Dinner Weekend 2005 - Bournemouth, 4th - 6th February

Well now, finally, and only 1,561 days late here is the report!

The tour started, memorably for me, by bursting in on a ballet dancing class. I decided that my physique was not that of one for dancing to Swan Lake so I went out of the hall to find my toursheet and read the bit that said that the hall was in use before 21:00 so we should not go in; oops!

I started to wonder just how long it would be until somebody else turned up when a familiar mini appeared with a lot of people in it and even more in the way of luggage and dragons; the Welsh contingent (plus a Jenny who had been picked up from the station) had arrived and a game of throwing the ball ensued until access to the hall was provided. Commentary was also provided from someone who thought that Bournemouth was a long way to come and very far south!!

It was soon inevitably time to go to the pub which was quite some way to walk as I remember (I got a lift instead).

The pub had a good selection of beer but a fearsome number of bouncers looking for underage drinkers. In the end they decided that we were all old enough, apart, that is, from Sue who had to drink orange juice for the rest of the night as she had no ID. This lack of foresight did, however, mean that the supply of Baileys went relatively unharmed!

The evening wore on and more of the usual faces turned up and much beer was consumed whilst the discussion of just how far south Bournemouth really is continued unabated; once again our more northerly members taking the lead.

The walk back to the hall seemed even further that it had coming, mainly because I was not quick enough to get a lift this time and had to actually walk it!

The hall also featured that most favourite of sounds; no, not Malcolm snoring (well actually yes Malcolm snoring) but also a church clock going off every 15 minutes with relentless vigour. Time for the usual toast, Marmite and whisky combination!

We awoke to the usual smells of frying bacon from the kitchen; I was just glad I did not have to cook it having been catering officer for the two previous years.

The first tower of the day saw us at Bournemouth St Peter and a vintage 20 cwt Taylor 8; best cure for a hangover if you have one; I did not as I was still young back then!

Having shown that 8 spliced was still within our grasp, just, we went on to ring at Sacred Heart and the heavy bells of the day; well the bourdon was all of 9 cwt making it about the same weight as the sanctus at St Peter!

Once we had got used to ringing with bouncy sprung stays we headed off for a pub lunch to study Beer. In case you are worrying that Welsh Colleges persons should have no need to study beer given our vast experience in this area I am referring to the method that somebody (mentioning no names; it was Ross) had suggested we ring for a quarter the following day.

We then made our way back to the hall and the final tower of the day at St John Evangelist where another fine Taylor ring awaited us. I did attempt to forget to put the clock hammers back on after we finished but was thwarted in this attempt by the local!

Back in the hall and the usual treats were handed round as the place was set up for the AGM.

During the AGM we learnt that the dinner was to be in Bournemouth (which was lucky as we were there anyway) mainly because the organiser did not have a favourable opinion of Southampton.

I also remember working with Rona to stitch up Becky and Jenny with the job of catering officers; which backfired spectacularly when all four of us were elected (I’ll remember not to do that again!).

The meeting over and after a game of tennis over the rafters in the ceiling, we got ready by painting nails (well a chap has to look good you know) and working out who would need to borrow my spare cufflinks this year (I think it was Ross who had failed in his attempt to use paper clips instead). We went to … guess … yes, the pub! There was time to enjoy a game of giant Connect 4 and Giant Jenga; it was a novel twist as the looser was likely to be buried alive.

Shortly, after only mild concussion being incurred by a few of our members, we headed to the dinner and a fine meal was enjoyed followed by all.

There was brief concern (well all weekend) on which jokes Ross intended to include in his master’s speech but these worries were all confirmed shortly after the dinner! The society also enjoyed the excellent satire of Brian Baverstock as our guest speaker and Alison ‘Forever’ Young’s romance officer’s speech.

The highlight of the evening came with the handbell ringing of Murphy, Munday and Penney. A fine course of Bob Minor was rung of which the final extent was excellently performed; this was followed by an example of call changes by Percy which turned into a demonstration of jump changes at the end! The performance was rounded off with a demonstration of lowering on handbells although Malcolm nearly did not get the tenor to strike at the end. The good news is that this video is now on You Tube, which probably did not exist at the time of the recording or when this report was actually due!!

The usual disco followed and was helped along by some Ringwood ale, of which two box barrels had been procured for the event. As often, Bohemian Rhapsody was the last dance of the night.

Unfortunately the music stopped when we were most enjoying ourselves; this being a time before 24 hour opening! A group of us decided we wanted more so headed into town to find somewhere to get a drink.

We found a night club in the better part of town (dread to think what the worse part is like) and, finding it was free to enter, headed down to the dungeon, I mean basement, to enjoy the music and some more beer and dancing was had. It must be admitted that in dinner jackets and ball gowns we were the best dressed people in the place although when we requested ‘Reach’ so that Percy could re-enact his Pewsey exertions we were met with a few funny looks!

We satisfied ourselves with a new trick we had learnt of hitting Percy’s beer bottle on the top so it frothed up and spilt everywhere!!

In the small hours of the morning our carriages arrived to take us home (although some did walk) and we arrived back at the hall to hear the usual snoring sounds and chiming of clock bells.

No sooner to bed than I had to get up again to cook breakfast with the following morning’s lie in a distant memory alas!

We then considered our quarter for later in the day and wondered why so difficult a method as Beer with its strange fourths thirds snap had been chosen.

It was not just us that doubted our ability to get the quarter; I think everyone was convinced it would fail, especially as our dry runs on the Saturday had been less than convincing and even more so based on the combined beer consumption of the band!

We repaired to Ringwood and went in search of morning coffee but had to settle with Lucozade from Waitrose whilst Rona went to view the wine section.

The quarter, much to our surprise, went very well and was scored!!

So what have we learnt? Firstly Bournemouth is a long way away and very South! Secondly, always have your driving licence to hand! Thirdly, if you are trying to silence a church clock a spanner in the mechanism is probably best. Fourthly, stitch ups have a habit of backfiring. Fifthly, pick an obscure method as it is the best way of remembering it. Finally, I will get the tour report done, eventually, and wasn’t it worth waiting for? No, oh well!!!

Following our great success we went to the Ringwood Brewery for lunch after which we all departed including a mini that had looked full at the start of the weekend and which now had a 50 pint box of beer to bounce all the way back to Aberystwyth!

We dedicated the quarter to Karen for her 30th Birthday and I will leave you with the team photo showing our elation!!

- James Mort

Photos by Stephen Penney and Rhyan Probert

A video of the handbell touch may be viewed here

Ringwood, Hampshire. 6 February. 1280 Beer Surprise Major: David Powell 1, Ross Hartley 2, Karen Williams 3, Iain Scott 4, James Mort 5, Rona Shaw 6, Timothy Payne 7, Stephen Penney (C) 8. First Quarter of Spliced Surprise - 2. Rung on the Annual Dinner weekend as a 30th birthday compliment to Karen Williams. First blows in the method for all.

Tony and Alison Young Poppy, Daniel and Martin Hatfield

Percy chats up a huge pint glass The children play in the corner

The top table Malcolm Murphy, Roger Grieve and Tim Payne

Dogger The Romance Officer, Alison Young

The Guest Speaker, Brian Baverstock The Master, Ross Hartley

Zoe checking out Martin's camera Penny entertaining

Stephen Penney and Matthew Tosh Rhyan Probert

Tim Bull, Rhyan Probert, Zoe Barker and Kit Probert Rhys the Fflys

Zoe Barker Some Profiteroles

People dancing and stuff Poppy Hatfield, Martin Hatfield and Stephen Pennney