Our apple scrumping exercise is now complete, but I think that we have an obligation to keep Peter Hinton (our variation verifier) gainfully employed.

Sam has come up with a magnificent scheme for new variations based on Gloucestershire Place. He has limited his scope to 54,028 different ones.

If we can manage 2 attempts per week and allowing a 90% success rate – which includes allowing for other attempts, and a 95% chance of a team being available then around the year 2600 we should be able to claim an entry in the Guiness Book of Records. If we could do it with a single team of six, it would be a double claim for doubles.

Some of you faint hearts may think that this is an unrealistic challenge. So, to address these thoughts perhaps we should embark on a more modest aim of perhaps 12 or so. A common theme will be Pink’s Bobs plus one other. And we will start with Wallflower Bob and Antelope Bob. I look forward to a Supercallifragilisticexpialedocious Bob.

Names will be local place related.

Gloucestershire Place is a little different to methods we are familiar with. Particularly with regard to the 4th place bell which remains in 4ths place until the treble gets in the way, then it goes down to make 2nds and then back to 4ths. The bell that does the equivalent of a down dodge at a call becomes 4th’s place bell.