Henry Allingham

With the death of Henry Allingham, who served in the Royal Naval Air Service in the First World War and then became a founder member of the RAF, it was decided that the RNGB should mark his passing in some way.  The funeral was held on Thursday July 30th at St Nicholas, Brighton, attended by the Duchess of Gloucester and high ranking RN and RAF officers, took the form of a major event with national media coverage.  Two members of the RNGB and two from the RAFGB were invited to ring in the half muffled quarter peal of Grandsire Caters, to be rung immediately prior to the funeral.  James Ingham and myself took part and the quarter, which was heard on national news, was a good one and at a standard befitting the occasion.  On Saturday August 1st, the Guild had also decided to mark Mr Allingham’s passing with a quarter peal outing.  Eight names were immediately forthcoming, so two towers and a pub were booked.

 

Given the reason for ringing and it being the RNGB, the tower contact at Petersfield had notified the press, so we were met after the quarter by the photographers and there should be a feature in the next edition of the Petersfield Post.  With it being a town centre church on a busy market day Saturday, Grandsire Triples was the chosen method for best striking and chance of success.  A composition by a ringer from Burton on Trent, who was serving in the trenches at the time, was chosen as most appropriate for the occasion.  Nice ringing and very few mistakes led to a quarter that did us justice and was given the thumbs up from those listening outside.  Over lunch at the Rising Sun, Clanfield, we decided to play it safe(ish) again and ring Plain Bob at Catherington.  We had been slotted in between two weddings and arrived in the pouring rain, just as the first lot of guests were leaving.  A light 8, the bells lent themselves to ringing major and an equally good quarter was duly rung.  Shortly after Henry Allingham died, so too did Harry Patch, the last of the Army WW1 veterans, so the quarter peals were attributed to them both.  I’d report that the RNGB gave a good account of itself at both the funeral and the Quarter Peal day and thanks to all who took part.

Fleet Air Arm Centenary

A Quarter Peal of 1260 Doubles was rung at All Saints' Church, Eastchurch, Kent by members of the Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers on Friday 1st May 2009, for the service of thanksgiving for 100 years of naval aviation held at the aviation memorial in Eastchurch, the cradle of naval flying.

Treble: Susan Symons

2nd:    Diana R Wraight

3rd:     Timothy S Wraight

4th:     Mark Robins

5th:     James Ingham (C)

6th:    John Verity

1909 saw the first aircraft factory being established near Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppy and included within the first pupils were four naval officers, who went on to become founder members of the Royal Naval Air Service.

The centenary of this event was celebrated on 1st May 2009 by the Royal Navy with a service of thanksgiving at the Pioneer Flying Memorial at Eastchurch and the RNGB were invited to ring for the occasion at All Saints' Church, which is directly opposite the memorial.

James Ingham, ex Fleet Air Arm, conducted the Quarter, which was well struck and mistake free, being assessed as 'very satisfactory' by the RN inspecting staff!

View the BBC Local News Report

View the Ringing World Article

Wooton Bassett

A Quarter Peal of 1344 Grandsire Triples was rung at St Bartholomew and All Saints Church, Wootton Bassett, by members of the Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers, Army Guild of Bellringers and Royal Air Force Guild of Bellringers on Saturday 15th November 2008, as a compliment to the Wootton Bassett towns people for their support for our repatriated personnel.

Treble: Maggy Vince (Army)

2nd:    Colin Sweeny (Army)

3rd:     Tony Cox (RAF)

4th:     Jim Heading (RAF)

5th:     John Pidgeon (Navy)

6th:     Barry Sexton (Army)

7th:     Mark Robins (C) (Navy)

Tenor: Joe Kidd (Navy)

This Quarter Peal was rung by the members of the three Service’s Guilds to honour the towns people of Wootton Bassett who have unstintingly turned out in all weathers to pay their respects to deceased Service personnel as they are repatriated to Britain.  The original idea came from Paul Southward of the Army Guild who couldn’t actually take part in the ringing as he was undergoing pre-mobilisation training before being deployed with the Royal Signals.  Pulling together the ringers from three different Guilds was no mean task but made all the easier with the help of respective Guild secretary’s pulling in ringers from as far afield as Warwickshire to just down the road at South Petherton. The tower captain of Wootton Bassett, David Whip very kindly arranged the publicity that included an article in the Swindon Advertiser followed up the ITV West film crew who did a superb job in filming and recording the ringing, interviewing the ringers and towns people alike.  The hospitality of the Wootton Bassett ringers was fantastic with a complimentary round of drinks in the local hostillery, although the deal was that if we finished early we would buy the drinks, no more incentive was required to make sure we achieved the quarter if there was free drink in it.

View the ITV News Report

View the Swindon Advertiser Article