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| Ringing Today |
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Summer 2010
About the same time as David was writing the 2007 article below about the bells being regularly used again for service ringing, a problem was beginning to show, as he hinted at in his last sentence. The Bell Frame, Wheels, Bearings, Headstocks, Pulley Blocks and Clappers were all in very poor condition and needed, at the very least, a substantial overhaul. History revealed that it had been recommended in the 1930's that the frame should be renewed but this had not been done. Everything pointed to the need to overhaul the whole assembly and completely renew the mechanisms, retune the bells and re-hang them on a new frame. This was going to be an expensive and lengthy project so an Appeal was launched to raise the funds required. The story of the appeal can be found on the Appeal page of this website.
Due to overwhelming generosity from a number of individuals and funding bodies, sufficient funds were raised by the Summer of 2008 to start the works. Two new bells had been sponsored to enhance the existing eight and all the necessary permissions had been given for the scheme so preparatory work commenced on 21st July 2008. Please refer to the News page to learn how the project progressed. Sufficient to say here that it took a little longer than David had envisaged and, as the work progressed, unforeseen problems arose making it an even more complicated scheme. Indeed, the finishing touches are still "work in progress".
When the bells left the tower ringing had to stop in Olney. However, the band continued to practice in other local towers so as to keep up their new-found skills. Thanks go to all of our friends who generously helped by loaning their bells for our practices. However, practice sessions were not held so regularly and progress was much slower than it had been in our own tower, where we practiced every week.
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| The Olney band of ringers at Stoke Goldington on the 20th. April 2009 before the Monday night practice. From left to right: Mat Sheaf, Coral Bex, Liz Sheaf, Ruth Plackett, David Phillipson (Ringing Master), Ella Sheaf, Graham Dilley, Helen Dilley, Charles Knight (Tower Captain). |
It was nearly a year before the bells returned to Olney and the inaugural ringing on the new 10 bells was for the Cherry Fair on Saturday 27th June 2009 so for over a year now we have been privileged to be able to ring on a beautiful set of bells, swinging smoothly and wonderfully tunefully (when we get it right). They ring out every week to call the people of Olney to the 10 o'clock service and are much in demand to celebrate weddings. Bands of ringers from other towers frequently ask to come and visit and peals are attempted on the 3rd Saturday morning of most months, which is a slot reserved for them.
The home band has achieved more milestones (see the News page for details) since they have been practicing regularly and are now progressing every week to become more able and competent ringers. Even more encouraging, a number of people have joined us to try their hand at ringing and some new learners regularly join in on practice nights so we hope to swell the numbers of ringers further in due course.
The other major change recently has been David Phillipsons's move to work in Australia (see the news item of 20th May 2010) but we are pleased to say that Alan Marchbank has bravely stepped in to take his place as Ringing Master. Alan continues to drive us forward to better bellringing and all the learners and improvers are very grateful to him for his efforts.
This is the band in September 2010. Pictured, from left to right are Jill Wiseman, Ella Sheaf, Alison Wiseman (kneeling), Matt Sheaf, Helen Dilley, Sophie Wood, Ruth Plackett, Graham Dilley, Sheila Ware, Rosie Haskell, Gareth Wiseman, Liz Sheaf, Bethany Heron, Charles Knight (Tower Captain) and Alan Marchbank (Ringing Master).
Rev. Philip Davies, who rang the bells in addition to being the vicar, also moved on to another parish in Aylesbury while the Bells project was in progress but comes back to visit and ring with us from time to time. Rev. Claire Wood was inducted as Rector of Olney on the 27th January 2009 and the first peal on the new ten bells, which had been rung the previous September, was retrospectively dedicated to her (see the News page for details).
A number of people have joined us to try their hand at ringing and we have a handful of new learners who regularly attend practice. We also greatly benefit from having a number of experienced ringers to join us for practice and whose support hugely assists our learning of new methods. We are very grateful to all of them, among whom are (in alphabetical order) Brian Baldwin, Tony Gray, Jonathan Griggs, Stuart Grout, Richard & Sheila Haseldine, Phil, Wendy & Sam Haslam, Doug & Nicola Hird, Tine, John & Alexandra Marchbank, Mick & Simon Read. A very big 'Thank You' to all of them and apologies to any I have accidentally omitted.
Visitors are always welcome at our practice sessions which take place on Monday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00 pm. Whether you are a complete novice wanting to try bellringing for the first time or a competent ringer or anything in between there is a place for you in our tower so please do come and join us.
Helen Dilley, Tower Secretary
October 2010
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A New Band of Ringers
After a period of lengthy silence the bells are now ringing out again for every Sunday morning service (ringing from 9.20 a.m. until the 10.00 a.m. service) every Monday night for practice (ringing from 7.30 p.m. until 9.00 p.m.) and regular weddings during the summer of 2007. Regular practices started up again in October 2006 and under the guidance and training of Charles Knight and David Phillipson there are now an additional ten new ringers at varying stages of their development. One of the new ringers is the current vicar, the Rev. Philip Davies and his enthusiasm and drive has certainly been of benefit in this resurgence of bell ringing in Olney. |
| Although most of the new ringers have been ringing for just a little over six months there have been some significant milestones already: |
- 30th April 2007 the local band rang rounds on the eight bells with only one experienced ringer included.
- 15th June 2007 a brand of ringers from Olney took part in the North Bucks Branch six bell striking competition for the first time in living memory.
- Five of the new band have now been elected to membership of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Churchbellringers, bringing to seven the number of members in the tower.
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New learners and visiting ringers are welcome in the tower at any time.
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| Monday 29th October was the 1st anniversary of many of our band touching a rope for the first time and we celebrated with some chocolate cake. The evening saw the following achievements: |
- An entirely local band, including Charles and myself, rang plain hunt on six.
- An entirely local band, excluding Charles and myself, rang rounds on 6.
- 4 of the 'novices' (I am not allowed to call them learners any longer !) rang in Plain Hunt on eight.
- Ella Sheaf is ringing and setting the 4th unaided and next week wants to ring in rounds. Ella needs every ounce of her weight to ring the bell but actually finds the 4th easier to ring than the three lighter ones; it must say something about the state of the installation. A special well done to Ella from all the band.
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| Congratulations to the whole band: Philip Davies, Mat Sheaf, Liz Sheaf, Ella Sheaf, Helen Dilley, Graham Dilley, Ruth Plackett, Coral Bex and Charles Knight for starting the whole process off. I must also thank Alan and Tine Marchbank plus family and also Doug Hird for their continuing support to the Olney band. |
| I do not know what we will be ringing in twelve months time but I am hoping it will be something on 10 Bells. |
David Phillipson
November 2007 |
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