Superlative is a good word to describe Hoar Cross, whether the church, the stone carvings, the stained glass, the angels or indeed the bells. At 28cwt-1qtr-17lbs the bells are the heaviest ring of six bells in Staffordshire and the 4th heaviest anywhere.  Since they were restored to ringing in 2011 by Oggy & Stuart the bells “go” extremely well and ringing them is very rewarding.  But peals are rare because with 3 ½ hour peal speeds it’s a feat of skill, courage and stamina and are thus usually the domain of selected bands of experts.  Hoar Cross is however only 3 miles from Abbots Bromley and we often make up a significant part of the Sunday service ringers.  So we set ourselves up for the challenge of being the first local band to ring a peal at Hoar Cross.

That’s not easy as we are only a small village. For sure, we ring our 8 on Sundays but mainly to call changes and over the years have had only 4 to 5 method ringers, which isn’t enough.  That all changed though in 2018 when we trained Andy up to peal ringing on the tenor behind.  Maybe we could now do it? 

One of the features of Hoar Cross is that its perishingly cold in winter, but in summer because of the effort involved its simply too hot.  So there’s a narrow weather window in March & October when it’s feasible. Selecting 8 Doubles methods, we tested ourselves with a quarter peal in early March 2019.  We could master the methods and the ringing was OK, so set off for the peal attempt at the end of March. By 2 hours in, we were all obviously flagging, but thought we might manage it, until 2 courses from the end disaster struck and tenor ringer Andy was dislodged from his perch. Any concerns about the peal were instantly overwritten by concerns for Andy, but other than pride, nothing seemed to be badly hurt.  Now however, the summer was on us, so we were delayed in our attempt by 6 months.  On a very wet Saturday morning on 26th October, we gathered in the porch, let ourselves in and raised the bells one by one (they are 1 ½ tons remember).  Plenty of adrenaline flowing by now.  Pulling off into rounds, was everyone happy? Yes? And it was “Go Stedman Doubles….”.  6 courses later came St Simons and then the first tricky method change in to Eynsham…..successfully navigated.  This time the energy lasted better.  Stamina was improved since the spring.  3 ½ hours later, after 42 courses of Doubles methods, the last course of Grandsire came in to rounds and…..”stand!” 

We’d done it!  The first local band to ring a peal at Hoar Cross!

It was still raining outside though.  And on the far side of the world, England had beaten the All Blacks!.  What a day!  Now that deserved a celebratory – and refreshing – pint at the Meynell Arms.

After our previous Easter weekends in Guildford & Dordrecht, we decided to go little less ambitious this year and settled on an April Day out to the City of London. 

London! Foolishly, Dave volunteered to organise and we settled on four 6- and 8-bell towers where we could ring well.  After a few trials & tribulations in tower availability, which included an event at the Guildhall, broken headstock and Atilla the gatekeeper, 22 of us set out and we ended up ringing at St Olave Hart St (8), St Magnus the Martyr (12) (we know, that’s not an 8), St Vedast Foster Lane (6) & Christchurch Spitalfields (8). All were marvellous churches, with wonderful architecture, even though the door to St Magnus seemed more like a hobbit-hole. All the bells were a delight to ring and we acquitted ourselves well, especially on the 12, concluding with half a course of Yorkshire at Spitalfields for our friend Michael who passed away last April.

Some of us also ascended the Monument to the Great Fire of London of 1666, but failed to find the way to the right pub for dinner! We’re quite proud of ourselves as a Village band to ring so well in such an environment.

Buoyed up by this Success, at the end of June came the next installment of our 10-mile radius challenge. 17 of us visited our own local Wren church at Ingestre (6) and then Stowe by Chartley (6).  Ingestre – seat of the earls of Talbot & Shrewsbury - has an anticlockwise ring of 6 and as well as good bells, the church has some excellent Grinling Gibbons carvings & Burne-Jones stained Glass. At both towers, we rang call changes, Grandsire, Plain Bob, Stedman and Norwich.  The bells at both go well, having been recently restored and were a pleasure to ring them well. The hot Summer day was rounded off in style by lunch at the Blythe. Thanks are due to Stuart for organising a day that can only be described in one word, which is……….”Brilliant”!

Meanwhile, back at home, we’ve rung a peal of 4-spliced surprise major and are moving on through the standard 8 repertoire, one beginning with B, while our novices are moving on to Grandsire & Plain Bob Doubles. Things really are looking up!

Special award to anyone who manages to find all 32 named methods in the above (that’s one for every row in a lead of Surprise Major), and an extra special award if you can find any unintentional ones (and challenge, surprise, delight & pleasure don’t count, nor does repeated names). 

Our old (1876) church clock has been keeping poor time lately and a year ago we decided something needed to be done. 

Martin Godfrey researched possible professionals and decided on a local Shropshire firm. The project began with cleaning and restoration of much of the mechanism and was extended to include electrification. One of the unsung jobs of the bellringers is that we have wound the clock twice a week for the last 142 years! Martin began raising awareness and funds and we began preparing the clock for the work. The deadline was to have it ready to chime 11am on Remembrance Sunday and we made it with a few days to spare. The work was celebrated with a special morning service on Sunday 9th December when over 40 villagers climbed up to inspect the finished work. The bellringers have followed this with replacing the old carpet in the Ringing Room and installing a new Training Bell - a silent bell which can be linked to a computer for practice, independent of the rest of the ringing bells. We hope that this will revolutionise our ringing practices and provide many more opportunities for teaching on a Tuesday night. 

Earlier this year, in a rash moment of pub-talk, we set ourselves the challenge of attempting to ring at all the towers within a 10 mile radius of Abbots Bromley.  A quick check on Dove’s guide and a pair of compasses revealed that there are 30!  Some of our more experienced ringers inevitably had a head start, but at the end of July we made inroads on this target with a trip to three near neighbours at Yoxall, Kings Bromley & Alrewas.  We were in a little trepidation of the effect of 6 weeks of unbroken sunshine on timber frames and of the reputation of the 6 at Yoxall as “difficult”.  We needn’t have worried though, as the day dawned cloudy for once with a stiff breeze.  We acquitted ourselves well, with Cambridge Minor, Stedman Doubles and Grandsire Triples as well as excellent call changes.  16 of us set out, which made for a busy ringing room (and a very slow dinner in the William IV in Alrewas) but all agreed it was an excellent day out.  We rounded the day off with a well-struck quarter peal of Grandsire Triples at Alrewas, commemorating the sacrifice made in WWI by Pte Crutchley on 28th July 1918. 

”Fancy a trip to the Netherlands?” Stuart asked one day.  “Yes okay, sounds like an adventure” I replied.  Thus I was invited to join the Abbots Bromley band for a weekend of ringing on the light ring of eight bells in Dortrecht, Netherlands. Most of the band flew over on Friday afternoon, some a little earlier to extend the break.  Two of us drove, taking advantage of the flexibility this offered to ring at Ypres as well.  We met up around 7pm - all were immediately made to feel very welcome by our hosts, the de Kok family. Food, wine, and beer (and some ringing) continued late into the night. Saturday morning saw a peal band gather at ‘t Klockhuys, but first a few demonstrations of bell ringing to a group of trainee City tour guides.  All seemed fascinated and grateful for the short pieces of ringing we performed. After this, eight of us rang a successful peal of Yorkshire Major in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Not long after we had finished ringing, we learned of the sad news of Mike Platt’s death and the peal was rightly dedicated to him. 

 A fascinating tour of the Cathedral bell tower in company with the City carillon player (Boudwijn Zwart) followed.  The extensive carillon bells, the plans to install a ring of ten, the opportunity to chime the ten tonne bell, and the views from the top of the tower (even with the 2.2 metre lean!) were wonderful.  Paul de Kok and his son Harm Jan took us on a sightseeing tour of the City.  Dortrecht is indeed a beautiful and historic place. Wine, beer and sunshine preceded a superb meal, we even managed some more ringing. Sometime after midnight we called it a day, and looked forward to Sunday.  

 Sunday: another sunny day and another successful piece of ringing.  Congratulations to Jan White on ringing her first quarter peal.  More food and some ringing, including a course of Dortrecht Surprise Major. At 1pm the group left Dordrecht after a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.  So, if Stuart ever asks if you fancy a trip to the Netherlands, be ready to have a terrific time in the company of some great people in a beautiful place.  

Michael and Cath retired to Uttoxeter in 2012 and joined the band at Abbots Bromley. He immediately became an invaluable member of our band travelling over from Uttoxeter at least twice a week, organising progressive quarters and helping with the teaching of new ringers. His modest demeanour hid many talents which were gradually revealed to us. Firstly, he was a first class method ringer on all numbers of bells. Admittedly he perhaps was not particularly taxed by a standard Abbots Bromley practice, but he put great store in ringing simple things well and he always exemplified good striking, good handling and accurate ringing. He became a stalwart of the emerging Newcastle/Walsall Twelve Bell Team and rang in four eliminators for them. He could also be relied upon to quietly help anyone without drawing attention to the fact. He encouraged our local band to striking competition success and we missed him at this year’s competition in March because he was just too ill to make it. 

He was a very reliable conductor who could calmly say exactly the right thing to help a learner back on track. He particular enjoyed composing touches, quarter peals and peals and was very interested in producing logical and musical compositions with a practical purpose. Since his arrival, most of our quarter peals were composed by him. He particularly enjoyed composing and calling a number of first performances of twin hunt Triples methods with his friends from North Staffordshire/Derbyshire. It rapidly became apparent that Michael was a polymath with many interests beyond ringing, including music and local history. He was a member of Abbotsholme Arts Society and particularly encouraged Cath in her musical interests. Cath and Mike both spent an enjoyable retirement exploring the lesser known but interesting highlights of Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Michael also very interested in bell history and collected a large number of books on the subject. Despite his natural modesty, he was an erudite conversationalist and, when amongst friends, he was exceptionally good company frequently regaling us with numerous entertaining ringing stories. 

Michael’s cancer diagnosis was a huge shock following as it did some relatively minor and unrelated surgery. He bore his treatment with fortitude and we saw his usual cheerful personality and never the frustration or fear that he must have been feeling. He rang when he could and joined us for coffee on Sunday mornings as usual. His condition deteriorated rapidly however and he passed away on Wednesday 4th April with his family at his side. The funeral service was on Monday 16th April at the Abbey Lane cemetery in Sheffield. We have lost a good friend who was respected by all who knew him. 

Firstly, the Guildford Weekend, way back at Easter.  16 of us set off for Surrey.  We were also delighted to meet up with Clive & Lucy’s granddaughter Emily who’s studying at Surrey University.  First off, courtesy of Gilly Giddins we were able to ring the newly installed carillon at Charterhouse – so see Clive come to life on the bench and treat us to a masterful demonstration of the carilloneur’s playing was a real joy.  On the more traditional tower bell front, we rang at Holy Trinity, St Mary (anti-clockwise 6, where the Bromley band rang Stedman in memory of our “old 5”) & St Nicholas, plus Sunday service on the marvellous 30cwt 12 at the Cathedral (where the local band made us very welcome).  After a morning’s messing about in boats on the river (which was surprisingly competitive) the weekend was topped off with a peal of Cambridge (Dave’s first of Surprise) at Derek’s former tower at Shalford. 

14th June was BBC music day, when the BBC encourage as much local music making as possible and this year they wanted as many church towers to ring as possible.  89 towers recorded their efforts, including our own quarter peal of spliced Grandsire & Stedman Triples, which was an enjoyable first for all of us.

Contest success beckoned again in September, when Derek, Michael & David represented Lichfield & Walsall in the Lichfield Diocesan striking contest held at Albrighton.  Although coming a close 2nd in the 8-bell contest with Michael’s composition of Stedman, the combined score with the 6-bell team meant the trophy came back to Lichfield.  This despite the absence of Liz & Stuart who were unavailable on family duties and had to content themselves with 3 bells at Hartington on the Sunday morning.  In August though, they both had the rare honour of ringing (and Stuart conducting) a peal of Bristol Maximus at Canterbury Cathedral.  We also congratulate the 3 Spires youth team who came 2nd in the National Youth Contest, held in Birmingham in July.

Our Autumn day out was to the red sandstone towers of Codsall & Brewood in South Staffordshire.  Both are excellent 8-bell rings and touches were enjoyed of call changes, Stedman and 8-spliced.  It was widely agreed though that the Brewood coffee shop was even better!

During the summer & Autumn, we’ve rung first quarter peals for Richard & Andy (Horn Dance day in Andy’s case) plus quarters of Superlative, Rutland and 3-Spliced Surprise to stretch Dave.  We were also delighted to welcome Andy’s daughter Xanthe to the band.

Finally, and sadly, Helen Davis, wife of our vicar passed away in October.  Helen & Simon have been very supportive of us over the years – they live at the vicarage next door and get the full audio experience of our efforts- so we were glad to be able to ring a memorial quarter peal of Bob Doubles (with 3 covers) with the local band on the Sunday evening before her funeral.

As autumn draws in and the nights get longer, thoughts turn towards our plans for Christmas and Dordrecht at Easter.  Hopefully it won’t be so long before our next news update.

It was a glorious day for it, sun shining, bright blue sky, temperature in the 70s, Union Flag flying, even the church yard was freshly mown. It could have been the summer of 1976, but actually its 40 years on and the day before Palm Sunday 2017.  In Abbots Bromley we were celebrating 40 years since the rescue and installation of our 8 bells by a group of local ringers and villagers.

Some 25 past and present ringers came along at various times during the day, with ages between 11 and 89.  The celebration began with a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples, rung by past and present tower captains and those who had lead the installation in 1977.   This was followed by 40 minutes of open ringing by the current band - a true mix of novices and 12-bell experts.  Touches were rung from call changes to Stedman Triples, which latter was especially enjoyable.  At the peak, there were 20 of us in the ringing room, including our vicar Simon Davies, who gave us a short touch of Betjeman, a prayer and a blessing.  Then it was down to the Bagot Arms for a well-earned pint of Pedigree (or Wainwright - whichever takes your fancy - but this is Staffordshire, not the Lakes) and a bite of dinner.

After dinner, we repaired to Church House (another village led restoration of the timber building in the 1960s), for tea, biscuits, reminiscing and for Brian Harris to recount the story of the 1976/77 installation.  The day was rounded off by a marvellous cake baked (not cast) by Jenny Simmonds  in the shape of a bell.

40 years on, the bells are still ringing out across the village.  They still go well, sound glorious and are considered one of the finest rings in the area.  The band remains a robust centre of ringing and all 8 are regularly rung on Sundays.   Practice nights will include call changes and Bristol Surprise Major, with all shades in between. Thank you everyone who took part, in 1977, 2017 and every year in between.