Summer Tour 2010 - Rural Kent, 21st-25th July
The Summer Tour began on Wednesday the 21st July with people turning up from all over the country and with varying success on the M25. We met in The Black Lion pub in Appledore. After several hours in the pub people made their way to the hall to set up airbeds and discover the lack of a toaster.
As Thursday morning came around the catering officers cooked breakfast and everyone got ready to being the days cycling. As the cyclists left the hall the people who where driving left soon after to arrive at the first church, Newchurch (6) in time or a quick nap and look around the village. Some cyclists took an interesting route to get to the first church along a cannel path. A hill up to Lympne (6) followed the first church, with varying degrees of success of getting up the hill, with James Mundy being one of the few who made it all the way, once there the views were amazing and well worth the effort of getting up the hill. Lunch followed at The Shepherd and Cook in Burmarsh with the pub situated very close to the next church in Burmarsh (6). With there only being 3 churches on the first day many opted for an extra pub on the way back to the hall at Ivychurch. In the evening a ΒΌ peal of 1260 Grandsire Triples at Wittersham was rung to celebrate the life of Joyce Medhurst, a loyal supporter of the Welsh Colleges Families Tour.
Friday morning came around and for the people who had cycled the first day the effects had started to take they toll. With a few people still cycling, everyone else used cars for the rest of the day. The first church of the day was Warehorne (6), followed by Ruckinge (5) where weasels was rung with moderate success. Lunch followed at The Star Inn at St Mary in the Marsh. Lunch was followed by ringing at New Romney (8). The last church of the day was Stone in Oxney (6), again a church on a hill although smaller than the first day. During the last ring before we where due to leave someone (no names) managed to break the rope on the 5th. After the ringing was over everyone made there way back to the hall and the pub in Appledore.
Saturday morning everyone was back on their bikes for the last day of cycling. We started off at Brookland which many people thought was a 8, as it was on the tour sheet, on arriving we found a 6, a quick rearrange for the Welsh Colleges striking competition and the ringing began. Each team took a different approach to there ring, with some interesting results. Lydd (8) was the next church of the day. Lunch followed at The Green Owl in Camber followed by and walk on the beach. Rye (8) was the first tower after lunch, and finishing the day in Appledore (8). A BBQ finished of Saturday which was enjoyed by all.
Sunday morning had come around far to quickly and Sunday morning ringing was at either Wittersham or Appledore. After ringing some people left to start the journey home, others descended on the tea shop in Appledore followed by Sunday Lunch at the Black Lion.
Thanks to everyone who organized the tour and helped with smooth running of everyone, until the next tour.
- Alex Haynes
Wittersham, St John the Baptist. Thursday 22nd July 2010. 1260 Grandsire Triples. Sarah A Tadman 1, Helen Foster 2, Kevin Rogers 3, Paul J Lewis 4, Daniel P Knight 5, Paul R Parker 6, Stephen W Penney (C) 7, Simon Goldrick (8).
Rung in celebration of the life of Joyce Medhurst, a loyal supporter of the Welsh Colleges Families Tour. Patrick Wheeler and Karen Eveson would like to be associated with this performance.
