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ANNUAL REPORT AND NEWSLETTER OF THE

ANCIENT SOCIETY OF COLLEGE YOUTHS

SPRING 2002

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul Carless invests Chris Pickford as Master at the November 2001 Meeting. Since the last Newsletter the Society has experienced a mixed year. In many ways it has been one of the best ever, both for ringing and our social events, but enjoyment has been tinged with sadness as a number of tragedies have intruded. First, an event with no sad overtones. In May our Senior Trustee, Stan Mason, and his wife Wyn celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Stan is, of course, well known to Members having been a Member for 65 years,

Master for 2 successive years and Trustee since the mid 1980’s. Wyn is also known to many of us and has in recent years been a welcome guest at Society Dinners. The original intention was that they would spend their Golden Wedding in New Zealand where they were married and the Society therefore deferred its celebrations to June. On Friday 15th we held a Dinner for Past Masters and Officers and partners at which Stan and Wyn were presented with an engraved print of Westminster Abbey. The following day 3 peals were successfully scored by the Society in Central London and a social held in the evening. Later in June we went to the Final of the National 12 Bell Competition with high hopes after our achievement in being placed “best of the rest” at Birmingham in 2000. Unfortunately, it was not to be this time. Ringing first, which is never easy, we under-performed and were placed sixth. Congratulations once again to the well drilled Birmingham Band which succeeded in retaining the trophy. We are hoping to give them a better run for their money this year. July was a busy month for the Society. On 3rd we were welcomed to St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich for the Out of Town Practice. We had a reasonable turnout of Members both from London and East Anglia as well as one or two from further afield including Rod Pipe. It was a very hot night and inevitably a fair amount of liquid was consumed afterwards. We were also treated to a tremendous spread by the local ringers. Later in the month we held one of the most enjoyable country meetings for years in Oxford. Everything went well from the ringing at Christchurch through the Meeting in Oxford City Council Chamber (with the Master resplendent in the Mayor’s Chair) to the dinner at Green College. Lunch took the traditional format, bearing which in mind the afternoon’s ringing was very creditable. Magdalen, New College and Merton are not the easiest of bells and we performed well at all three. The proceedings were organised by our Oxford Members led by Clive Holloway. Sadly, Clive was unable to join us because of serious family illness. Charlotte Everett stepped in very generously to sell wine at the evening function. After dinner we had an opportunity to tour the magnificent Observatory which is part of the Green College building.

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August is traditionally a quiet month for the Society, between the excitement of Country Meeting and the autumn attractions of Peal Weekend and the Anniversary Dinner. This year we had something to cheer about as the Senior Steward Chris Pickford and Heather Radford married on 4th. Chris decided to spend his honeymoon in useful fashion by going to Cornwall and winning the St Buryan Trophy for the Society, with help of course. Also during the month, Jeff Brannan’s peal tour of Australia and New Zealand recorded over 20 peals for the Society, helping to create a record year. Slightly less grand in ringing terms but a great occasion nevertheless was a peal rung at Brereton by a band of Officers to mark the Brereton Family Worldwide Reunion. William, 2nd Lord Brereton, was the Society’s first Master in 1637. Peal Weekend is now fixed for the weekend centred around the third Saturday in September and we were looking forward to it with eager anticipation. Notice of a good number of peals was given at the previous Meeting including several in Washington DC. Tragically, outside events intervened when the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington on September 11th brought the world to the brink of war. After some agonising, we decided with the support of our US Members to go ahead with the Peal Weekend but leaving it to individual organisers to decide whether to ring open, half muffled or cancel. 22 peals were scored which in the circumstances was a good result. The planned Washington peals had to be cancelled because of transport difficulties and security concerns but a handbell peal was scored The Anniversary Dinner in November was also highly successful. Accountants’ Hall has been re-furbished involving a reduction of capacity to 250. We did not quite reach that number although it looked close at one stage. After a few late drop outs for unavoidable reasons the final number was 234. The speeches were excellent, especially our principal guest the Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler and Michael Uphill who proposed the Society in a way that only he can. Dinner attendance has been steadily growing in recent years and we are gaining a reputation not only as being the best ringers’ dinner but one which some of our guests say is the best City dinner that they attend. Demand for good formal dinner locations of the necessary size will always outstrip supply and prices will remain unavoidably high if (as most Members seem to want) we continue to hold the Dinner in Central London. Although prices are high compared to many other similar functions, we have only been able to keep the ticket price at the present level with the assistance of a generous donation from Dr Martin C (Dill) Faulkes. Dill has covered the fixed costs of the Dinner for the last 5 years and without his assistance the price would have had to be significantly higher (£50+). We are very grateful to Dill for his generosity. Following the Dinner Paul Carless’ term of 2 years came to an end. Paul was an excellent Master who took the Society forward, sometimes in difficult personal circumstances. He described the opportunity to do 2 years as “magic”. Some might consider it masochism. Paul was succeeded as Master by Chris Pickford. Colin Newman

joined the Top Table as Junior Steward and all other Officers were re-elected. Two further events in November were the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Liverpool Cathedral bells, to which the Society was invited to provide a band and a Swindon Members’ weekend. In Liverpool we rang what was generally considered to be the best touch of the day and were delighted that John and Michael Chilcott who both rang in 1951 were able to be present. The Swindon event was thinly supported but those who did go seemed to enjoy it. Shortly after Christmas tragedy struck again, once more in Oxford. After a night in the pub with his ringing friends, David C Woodward of Oxford and Appleton was found dead the following morning. David was in good health right up to his death, which came as a great shock. A happier event on 31st December when Michael Moreton celebrated his 70th birthday with a peal of Stedman Cinques at Cornhill. Not, for once, on handbells in the Vestry, but on the big bells in the tower. The first social event of the New Year was a dinner on March 14th hosted by the Officers for Paul Carless to mark his years of office. All current Officers were present as well as those who had served with Paul and have now retired. A wonderful time was had by all. A really happy occasion. It came as a severe shock, therefore, when we heard that Rodney Meadows, who had been our Trustee for 4 years, had gone home after the event and, it appears, died peacefully in his chair. Rodney was a great character and will be sadly missed. An appreciation appears on page 3. The year to November was a record one for peals. Included within the total was the first 10 bell Society peal to be rung by a band of ladies, appropriately at Appleton which is a traditional centre of Society activity. So, a mixed year with many happinesses and a few deep sadnesses. Despite our setbacks, the Society remains in good heart and continues to go from strength to strength. Best wishes to you all and good ringing.

Phil Rogers

The last photo of Rodney Meadows, taken a few hours before he died

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MASTER’S REPORT 2002

Taking over from Paul Carless after his two highly successful years as Master has not been easy. It is largely thanks to him that the Society is not only in good health, but also in good heart. We owe a special debt of gratitude to Paul for the way in which he fostered and developed the Society during his period in office.

There is no doubt that the Society is in good health. This is evident from the calibre of candidates being proposed for membership, the number and quality of our peals and the general standard of ringing at practices. No less important, the Society is in good heart too. Our monthly business meetings are well attended and lively, our social events are popular and members from all around the world take an interest in the Society and participate in our activities whenever they can.

Happily, “being a College Youth” and enjoying one’s membership can take many forms. We don’t all have to be super-stars, although it is gratifying that the Society continues to take centre-stage in exciting new developments at the forefront of ringing, with impressive performances on handbells and ground-breaking peals of spliced Maximus. In a very different way, yet nonetheless just as pleasing, there are now groups of College Youths in various parts of the country (e.g. in Hampshire and Worcestershire) who regularly meet to ring Society peals. For others, contact with the Society may mean coming to the Anniversary Dinner, attending a London practice occasionally, or taking part in Peal Weekend.

I recently came across the entry in my diary for 11 June 1974. It reads simply “elected a College Youth”, yet even now I can recall the sense of great pride I felt in becoming a member of the Society. I stopped keeping a diary long ago, but I know that I shall always look back on the day in last November when you elected me as Master. It has been an exciting any busy time, and I feel highly privileged in having the opportunity to serve the Society and its members in this way.

Finally, may I thank you all for your support, encouragement and friendship and wish you all good ringing and good fellowship now and in the years ahead.

Chris Pickford

RODNEY MEADOWS 1924 – 2002 “Good striking is a matter of cohesion and mutual confidence. Personalities do not dominate good striking, but only the mess-ups.” This comment, in his article on Belfrymanship, published in the Ringing World in 1951 epitomised the perceptiveness of Rodney Meadows, and his understanding of what made ringing and ringers tick.

Rodney learnt to ring in Oxford in 1946 under the tutorship of Wilf Moreton and Betty Spice. His parents were then living near Kilburn in NW London, and he became a regular attender at practices at St Augustine. Apart from the inevitable breaks when working away, he continued to support Kilburn ringing until his death – a period of over 50 years.

Having completed his degree, and a postgraduate Diploma in Classical Archaeology, he joined British Rail. Early in his career he found himself in Birmingham, and became a much respected member of the bands at St Philip’s Cathedral and at St Martin’s. He was elected a member of the Ancient Society in 1953.

Back in London in the late 1950’s he was elected a supernumerary at Westminster Abbey in 1959, became a Principal two years later and remained such until his death. He was elected Master of the Ancient Society in 1964 and was a supernumerary member of the St Paul’s Cathedral Guild from 1971-1984. He was elected President of the Oxford University Society in 1976 and held that post for six years. He served as secretary of the Westminster Abbey Company from 1984-1994. For the

last four years he had been a Trustee of the ASCY.

Rodney was a man of many parts. Although an intensely private person, he was always good company. He had a splendid subtle wit, which he used to good effect, but never maliciously. He was a perfectionist to himself, and would only take on activities or responsibilities if he believed he could do them well. He was a lifelong enthusiast of British music. He was a founder member of the Delius Society and, having served as its Chairman for 23 years, was appointed a Life Honorary Vice President in 1995. He was introduced to golf by Ralph Edwards in 1971, playing on many of the major courses in the British Isles. It was during his regular visits to Southern Ireland that he also indulged his hobby of horse riding. He was a classical scholar of some distinction, specialising in Roman Britain.

In ringing circles, however, he will be remembered most as a brilliantly witty writer and speaker and always excellent company. His articles on Belfrymanship are classics, as was his speech at the Henry Johnson Dinner in 1961 when he pronounced in verse “The Great Debunker”. All are still worth reading.

His “Supplementary Notes on Belfrymanship” (1951) include the comment “… That’s what I like about being a ringer. It’s not only the ringing itself, it’s the comradeship”. He was right – and he gave so much to both. He will be sorely missed.

Jeremy Pratt

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THE 175 PEALS RUNG IN 2000/2001 Information compiled by Philip Saddleton, Peal Recorder Date Tower Method Cond 18/11/2000 Southwark Cathedral Spliced Maximus (5m) DEH 18/11/2000 Selby, N Yorks Cambridge S Maximus TPE 25/11/2000 Tewkesbury, Glos Stedman Cinques JRR 25/11/2000 Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glam Stedman Triples MJU 12/12/2000 Bishopstoke, Hants Stedman Caters TFC 14/12/2000 (H) Cornhill, Ringing Chamber Stedman Cinques PABS 20/12/2000 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 30/12/2000 S Lawrence, Jewry Spliced S Major (23m) SAC 1/1/2001 St Paul’s Cathedral Stedman Cinques PNM 6/1/2001 Oxford, Magdalen College Spliced Caters and Royal (2m) ROH 6/1/2001 Solihull, W Mids Bristol S Maximus JSW 10/1/2001 South Croydon, S Peter Stedman Caters RJWT 13/1/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced S Maximus (4m) DEH 15/1/2001 S Mary-le-Bow Stedman Cinques NT 20/1/2001 Christchurch, Dorset Bristol S Maximus RCK 24/1/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Orion S Maximus SAC 24/1/2001 Towcester, 12 Watling Street Surprise Minor (7m) MPAW 24/1/2001 South Croydon, S Peter Stedman Caters RJWT 28/1/2001 South Croydon, S Peter Superlative No.2 S Royal JA 31/1/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Triples DJP 3/2/2001 Hereford Cathedral Stedman Caters JRR 10/2/2001 Bisley, Glos Spliced S Major (8m) JRR 11/2/2001 Bermondsey, Surrey Spliced S Major (23m) PNM 14/2/2001 South Croydon, S Peter Stedman Caters TJB 21/2/2001 Llandaff Cathedral Stedman Cinques TPE 24/2/2001 Harefield, Middx Minor (7m) SSR 25/2/2001 Blackburn Cathedral Bristol S Royal DGH 3/3/2001 Birmingham, S Martin Spliced Maximus (6m) DEH 10/3/2001 Barking, Ess Bristol S Major JA 11/3/2001 Bermondsey, Surrey Spliced S Major (21m) CGN 22/3/2001 (H) Cornhill, Ringing Chamber Stedman Cinques DCB 22/3/2001 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Bristol S Major SAC 22/3/2001 Greasley, Notts Bristol S Major RIA 22/3/2001 Saltby, Leics Bristol S Major MAC 22/3/2001 Sproxton, Leics Bristol S Major RHC 28/3/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Rigel S Maximus PNM 31/3/2001 Bolton, Lancs, S Peter Yorkshire S Maximus JB 31/3/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (4m) JNH-D 1/4/2001 Manchester Town Hall Stedman Cinques JSW 2/4/2001 Aberavon, W Glam Superlative S Major ACJ 8/4/2001 Bermondsey, Surrey Spliced S Major (21m) CGN 11/4/2001 Perth, W Aus, the Swan Tower Yorkshire S Sixteen AWRW 11/4/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 15/4/2001 Perth, W Aus, Cathedral Lincolnshire S Major ADH 16/4/2001 Adelaide, S Aus, Cathedral London S Major MPAW 16/4/2001 St Paul’s Cathedral Cambridge S Maximus JNH-D 16/4/2001 Wimborne Minster, Dorset Spliced S Royal (4m) PNM 18/4/2001 Adelaide, S Aus, S Francis Xavier Yorkshire S Maximus JC 20/4/2001 Sydney, NSW, St Mary Bristol S Maximus MPAW 21/4/2001 (H) Royston, Herts, 49 King Street Bristol S Fourteen JNH-D 21/4/2001 Kensington, S Mary Abbots Bristol S Royal DEH 23/4/2001 Garston, Mers Cassiobury S Major PDH 25/4/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Ariel S Maximus SAC 28/4/2001 Leeds, W Yorks, Parish Spliced Maximus (4m) JNH-D 28/4/2001 Kingston, Dorset, S James Stedman Caters TFC 29/4/2001 Escrick, N Yorks, S Helen Bristol S Maximus DCB 5/5/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 7/5/2001 Abergavenny, Mon, S Mary Grandsire Caters BVM 12/5/2001 Burnley, Lancs, S Peter Bristol S Major JEA 15/5/2001 Packwood, Warks, S Giles Yorkshire S Major GCH 15/5/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Superlative No.1 S Royal RL 22/5/2001 Saintbury, Glos, S Nicholas Cambridge S Major GCH 23/5/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques DJP 23/5/2001 Birmingham, W Mids, St Chad Cambridge S Major MDF 26/5/2001 Oswestry, Salop, S Oswald Cambridge S Major NJG 26/5/2001 Hexham, Northumb, Abbey Cambridge S Royal JAA 26/5/2001 Macclesfield, Ches Spliced Cinques & Max (2m) ROH 27/5/2001 Liverpool, Pierhead Stedman Cinques ROH 28/5/2001 Chester Cathedral Bristol S Maximus DGH 29/5/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Bristol S Royal RL 13/6/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques JNH-D 16/6/2001 East Meon, Hants, All Saints Bristol S Royal MPAW 16/6/2001 Westminster, S Clement Danes Stedman Caters DPH 16/6/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Stedman Cinques JNH-D 16/6/2001 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Stedman Cinques PNM 26/6/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Double Coslany CB Royal RL 27/6/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Caters PNM 30/6/2001 Swindon, Wilts, S Mark Stedman Triples JRR 1/7/2001 King's Somborne, Hants S Minor (8m) RL 1/7/2001 Bisley, Glos, All Saints Stedman Triples PGH 7/7/2001 Coventry Cathedral Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 7/7/2001 Combe Martin, Devon, S Peter Stedman Triples JP 8/7/2001 Bermondsey, Surrey, S James Spliced S Major (23m) PNM 9/7/2001 Wellesbourne, Warks, S Peter Warwickshire S Major GCH 10/7/2001 Stoke Damerel, Devon, S Andrew Stedman Triples JP 11/7/2001 Probus, Corn, SS Probus & Grace Stedman Triples JP 12/7/2001 Werrington, Corn, S Martin of Tours Stedman Triples JP 12/7/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques JNH-D 14/7/2001 Appleton, Oxon, S Laurence Bristol S Royal JP 18/7/2001 (H) Rugby, Warks, 76 Ashlawn Rd Bristol S Maximus DJP 19/7/2001 Oxford, S Ebbe Cambridge S Major AWRW 19/7/2001 Oxford, S Thomas the Martyr London No.3 S Royal PNM 20/7/2001 Great Tew, Oxon Glasgow S Major PNM 20/7/2001 Faringdon, Oxon, All Saints Spliced S Major (4m) PNM 25/7/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Counting House S Maximus SAC

Date Tower Method Cond 25/7/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PABS 26/7/2001 Hinton on the Green, Worcs Ullesthorpe S Major GCH 28/7/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Triton Delight Royal RL 30/7/2001 Perth, W Aus, the Swan Tower Little Bob Maximus FRS 31/7/2001 York, W Aus, the Holy Trinity Uxbridge S Major FRS 1/8/2001 Brereton, Ches, S Oswald Doubles (8m) CJP 2/8/2001 Prospect, S Aus, S Cuthbert Burghill S Major FRS 3/8/2001 Adelaide, S Aus, S Francis Xavier Lincolnshire S Maximus JHF 4/8/2001 Adelaide, S Aus, Cathedral Zyyian S Major JB 4/8/2001 Walkerville, S Aus, S Andrew Minor (7m) PCR 4/8/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 5/8/2001 Adelaide, S Aus, Town Hall Cambridge S Major GWR 6/8/2001 Melbourne, Vic, Cathedral Yorkshire S Maximus TPE 7/8/2001 Bendigo, Vic, S Paul Antipodes S Major FRS 7/8/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Baskerville Delight Royal RL 8/8/2001 Geelong, Vic, S Paul Geelong S Major PCR 9/8/2001 Gardenvale, Vic, S James Minor (7m) PCR 10/8/2001 Sydney, NSW, St Mary Cambridge S Maximus JAA 11/8/2001 Sydney, NSW, Cathedral Yorkshire S Maximus JB 12/8/2001 (H) Sydney, Madison's Hotel Yorkshire S Major PCR 13/8/2001 Goulburn, NSW, S Saviour Anglia S Royal PCR 14/8/2001 Sydney, NSW, St Laurence Goldsborough S Royal JHF 14/8/2001 Sydney, NSW, Church Hill Spliced S Major (4m) WTP 15/8/2001 (H) Christchurch, Camelot Hotel Cambridge S Major PCR 16/8/2001 Papanui, NZ, S Paul Kiwi S Major PCR 16/8/2001 Christchurch, NZ, Christ Church Cambridge S Maximus FRS 18/8/2001 Wellington, NZ, Cathedral Yorkshire S Maximus JAA 20/8/2001 Garston, Mers, S Michael Spliced S Major (8m) PDH 20/8/2001 (H) Charleston, SC, Radisson Hotel Oxford Treble Bob Major BFLG 25/8/2001 Ipswich, Suff, S Mary-le-Tower Stedman Cinques DCB 27/8/2001 Newcastle Upon Tyne, Cathedral Spliced Maximus (6m) PJT 1/9/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 1/9/2001 Thatcham, Berks, S Mary Cambridge S Royal WB 4/9/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Stedman Caters CHR 8/9/2001 Evesham, Worcs Stedman Cinques JRR 10/9/2001 Wellesbourne, Warks, S Peter Pudsey S Major GCH 12/9/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Caters DCB 14/9/2001 East Huntspill, Little Orchard Tower Cambridge S Major RAMN 14/9/2001 York, S Laurence Bristol S Major MJCH 15/9/2001 Gnosall, Staffs, S Lawrence Bristol S Major SCWH 15/9/2001 Hexham, Northumb, Abbey Stedman Caters JNP 15/9/2001 S Lawrence, Jewry Spliced S Major (8m) RHB 15/9/2001 S Michael, Cornhill Stedman Cinques DEH 15/9/2001 Mossley, Manchester, S George Cambridge S Major PCR 15/9/2001 Rochester, Kent, Cathedral Cambridge S Royal RHE 15/9/2001 Southampton, the Hartley Twelve Yorkshire S Maximus RL 15/9/2001 Thorverton, Devon, S Thomas Yorkshire S Royal MJH 15/9/2001 Bromham, Beds, S Owen Bristol S Major AMB 15/9/2001 Tunstall, Kent, S John the Baptist Spliced S Major (4m) JBK 15/9/2001 Bishopstoke, Hants, S Mary Triton Delight Royal RL 15/9/2001 (H) Washington DC, Faraday Place Plain Bob Major EM 16/9/2001 Saddleworth, Manchester, S Chad Crewkerne S Major JB 16/9/2001 Stow, Lincs, S Mary Lincolnshire S Major CPT 16/9/2001 Weston Super Mare, Som, S John Yorkshire S Major RP 16/9/2001 Ipswich, Suff, S Mary-le-Tower Stedman Cinques AMB 16/9/2001 S Michael, Cornhill Spliced S Major (23m) JNH-D 18/9/2001 Warnham, W Suss, S Margaret Cambridge S Royal RL 22/9/2001 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter Stedman Caters DJS 25/9/2001 Great Hampton, Worcs, S Andrew Yorkshire S Major GCH 27/9/2001 Wheatley, Oxon, Leigh End Surprise Minor (7m) DJP 29/9/2001 Dagenham, Ess, SS Peter and Paul Spliced S Major (23m) JA 6/10/2001 Walkden, Lancs, S Paul Bristol S Major GRB 6/10/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 7/10/2001 (H) St Albans, 9 Falstaff Gardens Bristol S Sixteen DJP 13/10/2001 Hexham, Northumb, Abbey Bristol S Royal MPAW 21/10/2001 Sheffield Cathedral Avon Delight Maximus SJLL 22/10/2001 Ashton Under Lyne, S Peter Spliced S Major (13m) JB 24/10/2001 (H) Cornhill Vestry Stedman Cinques PNM 27/10/2001 Selby, N Yorks, Abbey Stedman Cinques JNH-D 2/11/2001 S Giles,Cripplegate Stedman Cinques PNM 3/11/2001 S Giles,Cripplegate Bristol S Maximus AFB 3/11/2001 S Sepulchre without Newgate Spliced Maximus (6m) JNH-D 3/11/2001 Braintree, Ess, S Michael Stedman Caters AMB 3/11/2001 Fulham, Middx, All Saints Stedman Caters DPH 3/11/2001 S Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside Cambridge S Maximus FRS 3/11/2001 Oxford, S Thomas the Martyr Stedman Caters NJB 3/11/2001 South Croydon, Surrey, S Peter London No.3 S Royal MJC 10/11/2001 Hythe, Kent, S Leonard London No.3 S Royal CJP 10/11/2001 Coventry Cathedral Bristol S Maximus SSM 10/11/2001 Washington DC, the Old Post Office Stedman Triples EWM

Peals rung at 110 Towers, led by London, St Sepulchre without Newgate 12

Bishopstoke, Hants, St Mary 8

South Croydon, Surrey, St Peter 6

London, St Mary le Bow 4

Bermondsey, Surrey, St James 4

Ten handbell peals were rung in Cornhill Vestry (plus two in the tower).

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421 Members took part, led by

Total Tower Hand

Rung Cond Rung Cond Rung Cond

35 14 25 10 10 4 Paul N Mounsey

30 30 David J Dearnley

27 25 2 John Cornock

27 27 Peter L Furniss

25 6 23 6 2 Frederick R Shallcross

24 24 Andrew N Stubbs

23 3 23 3 Tudor P Edwards

23 21 2 Paul L Carless

22 1 22 1 Geoffrey W Randall

22 22 Philip Rogers

22 15 18 12 4 3 John N Hughes-D’Aeth

20 2 18 2 2 John S Warboys

20 20 Derek Thomas

19 19 David J Baverstock

19 19 Stephanie J Warboys

18 8 16 6 2 2 Peter C Randall

18 5 18 5 Jeffrey Brannan

18 5 18 5 David E House

18 18 Alan D Flood

17 9 17 9 Roy LeMarechal

17 5 12 Michael P Moreton

17 17 Eleanor J Kippin

16 16 Susan L Apter

16 16 Mark A Humphreys

16 16 Victoria J M Halliwell

15 2 15 2 John H Fielden

15 15 Andrew J Graham

15 15 Gwen Rogers

Year to November:

2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

Sixteen 1 1 1

Septuples 1

Fourteen 1

Sextuples 1

Maximus 37 28 16 16 20 27 30 16 18 23

Cinques & Max 1 1 1

Cinques 14 15 12 10 10 9 18 9 3 8

Royal 23 25 12 10 12 16 15 9 10 8

Caters & Royal 1

Caters 14 20 11 5 10 7 7 3 5 3

Major 50 27 21 13 19 31 19 23 19 18

Triples 8 9 6 4 2 9 5 9 9 9

Minor 6 5 3 3 4 7 2 1 2

Doubles 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 3 1

Total Tower 156 130 84 61 74 104 106 75 70 72

Sixteen 1

Fourteen 1

Maximus 1 5 6 1 1 5 9 1

Cinques 9 9 11 15 14 8 2 4 5 3

Royal 1

Caters 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 2 4 3

Major 4 1 1 2 1

Triples 1 1

Minor 1

Doubles 1

Total Hand 19 15 20 20 18 13 6 11 18 9

Total 175 145 104 81 92 117 112 86 88 81

THE SOCIETY WEB SITE, WAP SITE AND EMAIL GROUP Since the Web Site was first published in June 1999, it has received almost 14,000 visits (“hits”). The site is steadily growing in popularity each year. The busiest month is November, when photographs from the Anniversary Dinner are published. The email group has also grown in popularity, and now stands at over 220 members. As far as I can tell, it is the third largest ringing email group, and the largest group dedicated to a single society. (John Camp’s “Ringing Chat” list has about 450 members and Patrick Wheeler’s “Change Ringers” list has about 700). WAP use is nowhere near as great as Web use, but since the Society WAP Site was set up in July 2000, 184 visits have been recorded. Thanks as always to those with helpful comments and suggestions about the site, with particular thanks to Philip Saddleton who provides all the peal information. A full account of the web site was published in last year’s Newsletter. Web site: http://www.ascy.org.uk WAP site: http://tagtag.com/ascy Email Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ascy

Dickon Love

The Web Master, Dickon Love in his other guise as Senior Steward

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS COUNTRY MEETING 2002: WORCESTER After last year’s excellent Country Meeting at Oxford, we are visiting Worcester this year on Saturday 27th July. The Master has a full programme of ringing planned with towers including Worcester Cathedral, Worcester All Saints and Evesham. In addition, the Senior Steward is again intending to organize some peals in the days leading up to the Meeting. On the day, lunch is planned to take place in a pub in Evesham. Following ringing at the Cathedral for Evensong we will be moving to Worcestershire County Cricket Ground, which is famed for its views of the

Cathedral and River Severn. A Business Meeting will be held in the Members’ Pavilion (real ale available) followed by a dinner in the adjoining Cricket Suite. There is an intention by some Members to emulate Chris Kippin’s heroic performance last year by walking from Oxford to Worcester. Simon Linford is also planning to prove finally that the Society has become middle class by organising a golf day on 26th July. The full programme will be published in the Ringing World of 28th June and circulated by Email to Members subscribing to the Egroup.

PEAL WEEKEND A reminder that in 2000 it was decided that the annual Peal Weekend would be fixed for the weekend centred on the third Saturday in September. Accordingly, Peal Weekend this year will be held from 20 to 22 September. Last year’s Peal Weekend was over-shadowed by the events of September 11 in the US. Nevertheless,

despite some cancellations we rang 20 peals, well ahead of previous recent years. This year we are hoping to improve again and Members are invited to arrange Society peals for the occasion.

OUT OF TOWN PRACTICE In recent years we have started holding one of our Tuesday practices outside our usual area of the City of London and Southwark. The first of these practices was at Amersham in 2000 and last year we went to Ipswich. This year we have decided that, with a new ring of 12 on our doorstep, it would be nice to travel less far. Accordingly, the Out of Town Practice will be held on 23rd July at the new 12 of South Croydon. The

bells have been augmented as a result of the tireless enthusiasm of Michael Moreton in between ringing handbell peals at Cornhill Vestry and all the other ringing activities which he enjoys. No doubt there will be a good social atmosphere as well as some good ringing and Members, especially those in and around Croydon, are invited to join us.

365th ANNIVERSARY DINNER

The Anniversary Dinner will once again be held in Accountants’ Hall, Moorgate Place, on Saturday 2nd November The general view last year was that the Hall excelled themselves, producing first class food with, as always, good wine and beer at (for this type of event) reasonable prices. This year we are hoping that they can match last year’s quality and that the speeches are also of the same high standard. We are giving ourselves every

chance by asking Katharine Rumens, Rector of St Giles, Cripplegate, to speak at our Dinner for the first time. Proposing the Society will be one of our best and wittiest speakers, Giles Galley. Please come and join us if you can. Accountants’ Hall has been recently re-furbished with the result that its capacity has been reduced to 250. With 234 last year and numbers increasing a sell out this time is a distinct possibility.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2003 The Society is planning a 3 week tour of Australia and New Zealand next year. It is still early days but the outline intention is to fly to New Zealand on Wednesday 10th September, with ringing to include Wellington and Christchurch, on to Sydney for a Society weekend centred on 20th September (including a dinner we hope), further ringing at Melbourne and Adelaide the following week and finishing

at Perth where we hope to hold a Society Practice and Business Meeting on Tuesday 30th September. Members who would be interested in taking part are asked to contact the Secretary (by Email if at all possible otherwise please enclose sae). The full programme will be published in the RW and by Email in the autumn. Places on the “official” tour may have to be limited.

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NEW MEMBERS The following were elected and welcomed as new members in the year to November 2001: Cecilia E C Pipe of Birmingham Richard J Munnings of Birmingham Mark Chittenden-Pile of Ashford, Kent Quilla Roth of Washington DC Katherine L Town of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London Brian J Rothera of Oswestry Christopher J Poole of Oxford Mark A Bell of Stretford, Greater Manchester Robert A Appleby of Calverley, West Yorks Kelly N Barnes of Walkden, Manchester Jonathan Hughes of Stoke St Michael, Coventry Lisa Trinder of Bisley, Glos Gordon R Birks of Lymm, Ches Robert W A Boyd of Victoria, BC, Canada Ann Wilby of Towcester Ceri J Dodd of Hursley, Hants Jenny M A Astridge of Taunton

Karen A Edwards of Tenterden, Kent David M Salter of Hursley, Hants Barry D Pointer of Bishopstoke Christopher Lees of Stourbridge Roger G Green of Ilkley, W Yorks Nina E Brannan of Oldham, Greater Manchester Dinah E Reed of St Martin’s Birmingham C Michael Orme of Congleton, Ches Jennifer M Herriott of Reading William H Dowse of Macclesfield Jane L Kostelnyk of Southwark Cathedral Philip Earis of Market Deeping, Lincs Joanne C Lovell of Towcester Stephen W Penney of St Albans Samantha J Hovey of Southwark Cathedral Elizabeth A Barnes of St Mary’s Platt, Kent

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ OBITUARY The following are the members to whom tribute was paid at Society Business Meetings in the year to November: Thomas J Warner of Solihull, elected 1966. Roger M Heyworth, elected 1968. Norman V Harding BEM of King’s Lynn, elected 1957. Ernest Treagus of Emsworth, Hants, elected 1956 George F C Amor of Bedford, elected 1971

E F George Prescott of Weston-Super-Mare, elected 1952 J Martin Thorley of Ilkley, Yorks, elected 1952 William A Yates of Buckingham, elected 1956 Patrick J Bird of Alveston, Glos, elected 1959 Arthur A Jopp of Stoulton, Worcs, elected 1982

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ MILESTONES We congratulate the following 20 members who celebrated 50 years’ membership in 2001:- William F Butler John E Cannell Ronald A E Dunn Rev’d Roger O Fry Terry R Hampton John Hill E Alan Jacques David Kingston N David Lane Cyril E Lewington

C Kenneth Lewis MBE Norman Mallett Harold Milford William J Southam Peter J Staniforth Roy Tomlin Brian G Warwick Basil W White Francis A White Frank White

And the following Members who achieved the even greater distinction of 60 years’ membership in 2001:- Kenneth Arthur James A Bullock

Leonard W Bullock

We were very pleased that Jim Bullock, Bill Butler, John Cannell, Ronald Dunn, John Hill, David Kingston, David Lane and Brian Warwick were able to attend the 364th Anniversary Dinner last November. Other Members present with over 50 years’ membership were Jeff Birt (56), John Gipson (54), and Philip Hudson (51).

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ST LAWRENCE APPLETON

The church of St Laurence Appleton was begun in the 12th century and the tower was built in the 15th century. The 1552 Inventories show the tower as "containing three belles and a sance belle” In 1817 these three bells were replaced by a ring of six bells given by the Lord of the Manor, Robert Southby.

The new bells were cast by T. Mears: the tenor weight was 6-3-0 and the bells were in the key of A. The ring was dedicated on 4th March 1818; the villagers were given a public holiday and the Appleton Society formed. The anniversary of this day has been celebrated each year since then with ringing and a dinner that is attended by ringers from considerable distances away. The March 4th song was composed by the village schoolmaster John Harding and was first sung in 1818; more verses were added in 1854 and 1977.

“To be a Farmer’s Boy”. Frank White leads the singing at March 4th Day 2002

The Appleton Society rang their first 720 (New Treble Bob Minor) on the bells in 1821 and their ringing capabilities advanced during the next 20 years. In 1854, Alfred White, the founder of the bell-hanging business, opened a fund to augment the bells. A new treble cast by C. & G. Mears and a second-hand tenor, formerly the 5th of a ring of eight at Wednesbury, Staffordshire were installed in the tower. The tenor weight of this augmented ring was 7-3-13 and the bells were now in the key of G. To facilitate this key change the fourth of the old ring was lowered from C# to C to become the 5th of the new ring. There was not room in the tower to hang the eight bells on one level and a second tier was added to the original bell-frame. To accommodate this second tier the tower roof was removed and the bells on the top tier swing above the masonry of the tower, a louvred cage was constructed above this and finished with a pyramidal tiled roof. The first peal of Grandsire Triples was accomplished on March 4th 1855. The lightest three bells were considered to be too heavy and were recast in 1859 at the expense of F.E. Robinson with Alfred White carrying out the bell hanging work.

Francis Edward Robinson was introduced to change ringing by Alfred White and his sons, Henry and Frederick, and rang his first peal of Grandsire Triples in 1859. He took part in the peal of Kent TB Major later that year and in the first peal of Stedman Triples rung on the bells in 1861. He was so delighted with the accomplishment of the peal of Stedman that he gave two tenors at a cost of £254 to make Appleton the second ring of 10 bells in the county (Berkshire). The new tenor weight was 14-2-19 and the key was now E: the bells were hung in May 1861. The disadvantage of this method of augmentation was that the strike notes of the treble, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth had to be raised a semitone, a practise often resulting in poor-toned bells. The second-hand tenor purchased in 1854 (now the eighth) was recast in 1874 by Mears & Stainbank, the treble, fourth, and fifth were recast in 1875, and the sixth was recast in 1910. In 1977, the bells were rehung by Francis (Frank) and Brian White, half of the cost being contributed by the Blackwell family and the rest being raised by the ringers. The sixth was again recast and the canons were removed from the other bells which were also retuned; after this the tenor weight was 13-0-10.

In total, 473 peals are listed as having been rung at Appleton. One peal listed for 1856 is probably a correction to one rung 2 days earlier, three peals have been later found to be false (one of Grandsire Caters and two of Stedman Caters), and one was withdrawn because there was no cover bell for 1 hour and 20 minutes, meaning the actual peal total is probably 468. The first peal (Grandsire Triples) was rung on 5th March 1855, the second peal (Plain Bob Major) a year later (4th February 1856), the first peal of Major (Kent Treble Bob) was rung on 16 December 1859 and the first peal of Stedman Triples in 1861. Following this peal the bells were augmented to 10 and the first peal of Grandsire Caters

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rung on 11th October 1861. The first peal of Stedman Caters was rung on 21st March 1862 but this proved to be false and the first peal of Stedman Caters was finally rung on 10th September 1876. An analysis of peals rung is given in the table. Odd bell methods (Grandsire and Stedman) have accounted for a large majority of the peals rung, but in the last 50 years more peals of Royal have been rung. The 100th peal was rung in 1889, the 200th in 1924, the 300th in 1959 and the 400th in 1982.

A number of record peals have been rung in Appleton tower. The first of these, 10,080 Grandsire Caters, was rung on 4th March 1871. 1888 was a bumper year for long length records, with 4 record peals rung during the year: 10,080 Double Norwich Court Bob Major rung on 28th January, 12,041 Stedman Caters rung on 5th March (eclipsing the current record of 11,111 changes rung by the ASCY at Fulham on December 8th 1883), and 13,265 Grandsire Caters rung on 11th April. The Stedman Caters record was surpassed by a Cheltenham band 11 weeks later (13,054 changes) but at the end of the year (31st December) the record was regained when a peal of 15,041 changes was rung. J.W. Washbrook conducted all the 1888 peals. In 1909, the Stedman record was beaten by William Pye’s band at Loughborough (18,027 changes). The record was regained on 22nd April 1922 when a peal of 21,363 Stedman Caters was rung. This peal was not only the longest peal in the method but also the longest peal rung, and remained the record length in the method for 50 years and the longest peal in any method until November 1950. The Grandsire record lengths were regained on 27th December 1932 (16,271 changes) and 10th February 1968 (16,559 changes). The Stedman Caters record was regained on October 28th 1978 when a peal of 22,899 changes was rung; this was also the longest peal rung on more than 8 bells. This record was surpassed on 17th March 1990 by a peal of 25,000 changes rung at Edenham.

The College Youths have long been associated with Appleton. Five London members rang a peal with 5 local members in 1880 and two peals were ring in 1887. College Youths were also in the record peals of Double Norwich Court Bob Major and Stedman Caters in 1888. The band that rang the record peal of Stedman Caters in 1922 consisted of 4 local, 2 Reading and 4 London members. Peals commemorating the 50th and 75th anniversary of this peal were rung by members in 1972 and 1997. Other peals were rung for the Society in 1960, 1962, 1970, 1971, 1979 and 1981. Members of the Society rang the most recent record peal of Stedman Caters, conducted by David C Brown in 1978. The first peal rung by a band of lady members of the Society, Bristol Surprise Royal, was rung here on 14th July 2001. A picture of the band appears below.

Currently, there are 10 members of the local band who are members of the Society. Francis A. White and Frank White both celebrated 50 years membership during 2001. Others with more than 25 years membership are John Drewitt, Dennis Leslie, Norman Leslie, and Brian White with 41 years each, Andrew Dyer and Bernard Stone with 33 years each, and Michael Harrison with 26 years.

Method No Method

No Method No Method No

Grandsire Triples 62 Plain Bob Major 1 Duffield Major 1 London No 3 S Royal

3

Grandsire Major 2 Plain Bob Royal 5 Double Norwich Court Bob Major

8 London No 4 S Royal

1

Grandsire Caters 227 Kent Treble Bob Major

3 Double Norwich Court Bob Caters

1 Superlative S Major 5

Stedman Triples 14 Kent Treble Bob Royal

2 Yorkshire S Royal 11 Superlative No 2 S Royal

1

Stedman Caters 88 Oxford Treble Bob Royal

1 Kegworth S Royal 1 Bristol S Major 1

Erin Caters

1 Cambridge S Minor 1 Oakham S Royal 1 Bristol S Royal 6

College Single Triples

4 Cambridge S Royal 10 Lincolnshire S Royal

1 4 Spliced S Royal 2

Union Triples

1 Oxbridge Royal 1 Alderton S Royal 1 126 Spliced S Royal

1

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THE MASTER STUDIES OUR EARLY MEMBERSHIP (TO 1800) One of my hopes for my year of office was that I would be able to build on what recent Masters have done to cultivate the active involvement of our wider membership in Society activities. So when the Secretary asked me to contribute a short historical piece for the Newsletter, the choice of a subject was easy – the Society's early membership and, particularly, the contribution of ringers from the provinces. The Society possesses name books – or lists of members – right back to 1637. Until about 1735 when the

old book was re-written in its present form the records seldom give any indication of where members lived or rang. However, from that date (apart from a gap in the 1750s) this information was regularly included. By the end of 1800 the number of elected members stood at 1762 – and for 1102 of them (62%) a place-name is also given. For the period 1735 to 1800 this rises to 84%. The pattern of elections by decade from 1637 to 1840 in the chart below provides the context for this study, the data from the name books for this time having been recently entered on to a computer.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1630s 1650s 1670s 1690s 1710s 1730s 1750s 1770s 1790s 1810s 1830s

Strikingly, the Society attracted large numbers of new members during the closing decades of the eighteenth century. In 1762 alone, for instance, 55 members were elected. Yet in contrast, only nine new members joined in 1767-9 and none in 1779. Other years of high activity included 1774 (48), 1784 (43 – including 11 from Maidstone), 1786 (44 – mainly from Birmingham), 1787 (61), 1790 (45) and 1800 (55 – including several from Liverpool and Reading). The number of new members tails off significantly from 1803 – not surprisingly, given what Bill Cook described as the “steady decline of in the fortunes of the College Youths” in the early nineteenth century. Looking at the name book, I was struck by how many “country members” there were – indeed there were times when new members from London were firmly in a minority. Of the 1268 members elected between 1735 and 1800 some 480 (or 38%) came from the provinces. Since our first Master, Lord Brereton, came from Cheshire, it seems quite likely that the Society had country members from the outset – gentry who divided their time between London and their country seats. The first member to be identified by place was Fabian Stedman “of Cambridge” in 1664, but this is almost certainly a later – and erroneous – addition to the original entry. Next came Henry Brett (1687) of Cowley, a Gloucestershire squire who later served as steward (1695) and master (1701). Other early members from outside London include Thomas Flexney of Oxford (1689), John Smalman of Ludlow (1693), Thomas Aldridge of Stroud (1711) and Thomas Windle of Hadleigh (1715). Among the first 350 early members for whom no details are given, there are some notable figures. These include several bellfounders – Brian Eldridge of Chertsey (1649), Henry Bagley of Chacombe (1686) and Abraham

Rudhall of Gloucester (1699). Rudhall provided bells for several London towers – including work for the Society at St.Sepulchres - in the years 1699-1719. There are a number of others who were involved with bells and ringing in the provinces. John Hacket, later Bishop of Lichfield, joined the Society in 1649 and we know that he took a personal interest in the bells when restoring Lichfield Cathedral after the Civil War. Samuel Scattergood (1672) was an active ringer in the Midlands and George Sorocold (1685) was responsible for rehanging the early ring of ten at Derby (1677) in a new frame on one level in 1687. Capt. Thomas Keyte (1686) was involved with the new rings at Chipping Campden and Great Wolford, and Leonard Lichfield (1697) was the Oxford University printer who produced the early catalogues of bells cast by the Rudhalls and the Bagleys. Oxford, as already noted, provided members from 1689. In all, 29 Oxford ringers had joined the College Youths by 1798, including one who became a member in 1733 – the year of the Society’s visit to the City. A visit to Cambridge for a peal of Grandsire Caters at Great St Mary in May 1727 led to a regular flow of candidates for membership – with 37 Cambridge ringers joining the Society between 1727 and 1791. The names of the local ringers are well documented at both the University Cities and it would be interesting to correlate these against the Society’s membership list. The election of members from Canterbury followed a peal rung there by the Society in 1732. The table on the next page shows how many members had been elected from each county by 1800, the date of the first identified member, and the names (and first dates) of the places that are represented.

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County First No Towers (in order of first appearance) – mainly pre-1800 Berks 1731 36 Windsor (1731), Wallingford (1739), Reading (1744), Abingdon (1764), Windsor Castle (1787) Bristol 1720 11 Bristol (1720) Bucks 1785 1 High Wycombe (1785) Cambs 1727 37 Cambridge (1727) Channel Isles 1792 1 Guernsey (1792) Cheshire 1851 0 Mottram (1851) Derbys 1760 2 Bakewell (1760) and Chesterfield (1765) Devon 1783 2 Plymouth (1783) Durham 1773 1 Gateshead (1773) Essex 1760 22 Maldon (1760), Waltham Abbey (1760), Brentwood (1762), West Ham (1762), Woodford (1762), Great Chesterford

(1763), Saffron Walden (1763), Chelmsford (1787) and Prittlewell (1800) Gloucs 1687 7 Cowley (1687), Gloucester (1699), Stroud (1711) and Painswick (1737) Hants 1741 10 Winchester (1741), Southampton (1758), Isle of Wight (1775), Alton (1790) and Romsey (1791) Herefs 1867 0 Mathon (1867) Herts 1736 82 Ware (1736), St.Albans (1752), Watford (1762), Barnet (1762), Bishops Stortford (1762), Hitchin (1763), Hertford

(1764) and Hatfield (1773) Hunts 1763 1 St.Neots (1763) Kent 1718 97 Deptford (1718), Dover (1731), Canterbury (1732), Bromley (1734), Maidstone (1759), Greenwich (1761), Woolwich

(1761), Folkestone (1761), Leeds (1762), Hollingbourne (1763), Sevenoaks (1771), Lewisham (1772), Ashford (1774), Rochester (1778), Hadlow (1784), Gravesend (1790), Cranbrook (1801), Staplehurst (1801) and Wrotham (1802)

Lancs 1788 16 Liverpool (1788) and Ashton under Lyne (1802) Leics 1732 9 Leicester (1732), Loughborough (1759) and Wymeswold (1801) Lincs 1771 1 Lincoln (1771) Middx 1731 276 Stanwell (1731), Twickenham (1732), Tottenham (1740), Fulham (1748), Staines (1760), Isleworth (1761), Islington

(1761), Hammersmith (1762), Kensington (1762), Brentford (1763), Chelsea (1763, Hackney (1763), Clerkenwell (1770), Westminster (1774), Bethnal Green (1774), Holborn (1774), Shoreditch (1774), Ealing (1781), Stratford or Bow (1784), Spitalfields (1788), Chiswick (1790) and Ruislip (1802)

Norfolk 1758 9 Downham (1758), Norwich (1758), Diss (1759), Kings Lynn (1766) and Swaffham (1766) Northants 1760 6 Oundle (1760), Northampton (1782) and Polebrook (1783) Northumb 1851 0 Newcastle (1851) Notts 1765 6 Nottingham (1765) Oxon 1689 49 Oxford (1689), Henley (1745), Bampton (1760), Banbury (1760) and Witney (1764) Salop 1693 25 Ludlow (1693), Shrewsbury (1739) and Shifnal ((1773) Somerset 1763 4 Frome (1763) and Bath (1788) Suffolk 1714 10 Stow (1714), Hadleigh (1715), Crowfield (1744), Ipswich (1746), Stowmarket (1774), Washbrook (1787) and Swilland

(1788) Surrey 1734 208 Farnham (1734), Chertsey (1740), Mortlake (1744), Croydon (1748), Southwark (1757), Reigate (1758), Camberwell

(1761), Dorking (1762), Epsom (1762), Kingston (1762). Leatherhead (1762), Mitcham (1762), Putney (1762), Richmond (1762), Ashtead (1782), Battersea (1783), Wandsworth (1784), Streatham (1785) and Newington (1787)

Sussex 1773 8 Horsham (1773), Lewes (1773), Salehurst (1773), Seaford (1773) and Brighton (1796) Wales 1717 2 Wynnstay (1717) and Haverfordwest (1765) Warwicks 1771 31 Birmingham (1771) Wilts 1760 5 Highworth (1760) and Aldbourne (1789) Worcs 1773 7 Stourbridge (1773), Kidderminster (1786) and Worcester (1800) Yorks 1758 22 Leeds (1758), Rotherham (1758), Huddersfield (1763), Sheffield (1769), York (1770), Halifax (1773), Wakefield (1775),

Hull (1786), Dewsbury (1789) and Leeds (1789)

This list, of course, only tells part of the story in which peal ringing, openings of new bells, visits and outings, trade links and even campanological espionage (i.e. the visit to Norwich in 1785) all feature. I have taken the term “country member” to refer to people from outside the City and London's immediate hinterland, although the distinction is necessarily an arbitrary one. Parts of the Home Counties - places like Isleworth, Deptford, Richmond and West Ham which are now part of Greater London – clearly belong to the London area. Towers in the more distant areas of Surrey, Hertfordshire and Kent may be regarded as being in the country. Excluding the area roughly 15 to 20 miles round London, the 480 members elected in the period up to 1800 came from almost 102 different places. The leading College Youths towers in the provinces were as follows: Cambridge (37), Birmingham (31), Hertford (22), Farnham (21), St.Albans (19), Oxford (29), Shrewsbury (17), Ware (17), Liverpool (16), Witney (16), Maidstone (15), Reading (15), Abingdon (14), Reigate

(11), Bristol (11), and Watford (10). The number of provincial members elected to 1800 was 480. The number of elections declined dramatically after 1803, and for the next four decades only a handful of country members were recruited. It was not until after 1851 when the Great Exhibition attracted large numbers of visitors to the Capital – ringers among them – that the Society again started to develop and encourage wider membership, with 154 country members joining between 1851 and 1870. Bill Cook's history of the College Youths necessarily concentrates on activities in London, and so the link with ringers and ringing in the provinces has perhaps not been given the attention it deserves. This short article should have gone some way towards filling the gap and setting the record straight regarding the extent to which country members have always played a vital part in the life and activities of the Society.

Chris Pickford A fuller version of this article appears on the Society Web Site

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PRACTICE SCHEDULE 2002 Practices are normally advertised in the last Ringing World of each month and on the Society’s Web Site. May 7:B 14:C* 21:P 28:N Jun 4: - 11:G* 18:C 25:S Jul 2:P 9:B* 16:P 23:O 30:N Aug 6:P 13:C* 20:P 27:S Sep 3:P 10:B* 17:P 24:C Oct 1:P 8:B* 15:P 22:S 29:C Nov 5:P 12:G* 19:B 26:S Dec 3:P 10:N* 17:B 24:- 31:P B = St Mary-le-Bow N = St Sepulchre, Newgate C = St Michael’s Cornhill P = St Paul’s Cathedral G = St Giles, Cripplegate S = Southwark Cathedral O = South Croydon (7.00 to8.30) * Denotes Meeting Night Meetings and normal pub venue (except Southwark) The Counting House, 50 Cornhill, London EC3. SOCIETY OFFICERS 2001/2 Master Christopher J Pickford Secretary Philip Rogers Treasurer Andrew N Stubbs Senior Steward Dickon R Love Junior Steward Colin G Newman Librarian A James Phillips Trustees John S Mason Rodney B Meadows who served as Trustee from 1998 died on 15 March 2002 TOWER SECRETARIES St Mary-le-Bow: Mark Regan, 64 London Road, Worcester, WR5 2DY. Tel 01905 764364 Email markregan@arcubus.com St Michael’s Cornhill: Tony Kench, 40D Cornwall Gardens, London SW7 4AA. Tel 020 7937 9559. Email ark@globalnet.co.uk St Giles Cripplegate: Gwen Rogers, 193 Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1QN. Tel 020 8778 6308 Email gwen.rogers@virgin.net St Lawrence Jewry: David Baverstock, St Benet’s Chaplaincy, 327a Mile End Road, London E1 4NT. Tel 020 8980 0562. Email david.baverstock@kcl.ac.uk St Sepulchre: Nigel Thomson, 50 Alders View Drive, East Grinstead, W Sussex, RH19 2DN. Tel 01342 314480. Email NigelTho@cs.com PEAL FEES The peal fee remains £1.50 per rope to be forwarded to the Secretary or Treasurer within 2 months, together with details including composition. Advance notice of peals is given at Society Meetings if advised in time. The Society’s Peal Book, which was about 7 years behind, is currently being written up to date.

CORRESPONDENCE Please send to the Secretary, Phil Rogers, 193 Lennard Road, Beckenham Kent, BR3 1QN. Tel 020 8778 6308. Email philrogers.ascy@virgin.net ASCY ON THE WEB The Society’s Web Site is at www.ascy.org.uk. An Email News Service is also available to Members via the Web Site. NEWSLETTER FINANCE This Newsletter is made possible by the many generous contributions made by Members. Total production and postage costs of last year’s Newsletter were £689.90. Donations received during the year amounted to £627.50. The loss sustained was significantly less than in the previous year both because of cost savings and increased donations. A big thank you to those who gave last year and a plea to Members to support the Newsletter by their contributions, however large or small. MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS We are always on the lookout for good new members. Proposal are welcome at any Business Meeting or by letter to the Secretary. The Rules state that candidates should be over the age of 14, not members of the Cumberlands, have rung at least a quarter peal in a standard method and be “suitable persons who will uphold the traditions and standards of the Society”. Candidates and their sponsors are encouraged to be present at their election meeting if possible, although we recognise that distance may rule this out. The Membership fee was increased from £20 to £25 in 2001. MAILING LIST If you know of any Members who are no longer in touch with the Society please let us know. We hope to carry out a check of the Society’s Mailing List over the next year or two and will be looking for Members to assist with the process in their areas. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A big thank you to all those who helped to put this Newsletter together including the named people who supplied articles and photos plus ongoing technical support from Mrs Rogers. Many thanks also to the small group of envelope stuffers, without whom sending out this Newsletter would be an arduous task indeed.

Michael Moreton who celebrated his 70th birthday on 31 December.