ASCY TOUR OF
NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA

Most of us congregated at Heathrow Terminal 4. Keith Game, who had elected to fly Business Class, unwittingly spent an hour in the queue with the Economy Class passengers before being informed of his mistake. I am sure that he felt peeved to have missed out on an extra hour’s hospitality in the Executive Club Lounge.

David Rothera booked in at the check in desk loudly asking if he could "have a threesome". This caused a little consternation among the staff.

The whole day was spent in the air. The first port of call was Bangkok where the Junior Steward was pleased to note that the runway had been built in the middle of a golf course complete with zebra crossing! That must have provoked some angry protests from the club members!

Simon, David and the Master managed to find a café which sold beer. The waitress, whose English was rather fragmented, asked if Simon would like a pint of beer and then returned carrying a whole barrel. This amused them as much as it amused us and I must report that the barrel was then directed to the bar. Either way they must have realised that the College Youths were in town.

Soon we had to take off again as we pressed on to Sydney. There was some serious turbulence on the way. Fortunately most of us were quite merry on the plane and looked more like those kids eating their packed lunch on the roller coaster on Jim’ll Fix It. Derek ended up with red wine all down his shirt ("Beaujolais down the front"), and the Master was likewise bathed in Gordons.

In the airport lounge at Sydney

Finally the party arrived in Wellington to be greeted by clear skies and stunning views across the city, the hills and the harbour. Jet lag had definitely set in, but one party nonetheless managed to find a real ale (well, New Zealand style) house called "The Malthouse" to keep the alcohol levels up. Another party elected to dine at the Duxton Hotel where everyone was staying.

Keith Game had the misfortune of finding that his luggage had not arrived in Wellington with him. It turned out that it had carried on from Sydney all the way to Melbourne, but was soon returned by the following morning, coincidentally with his room mate, Michael Moreton.

The first ringing of the tour took place at the small quaint timber Old St Paul’s Cathedral. Here three bells from the small ring of five can be seen through a glass window set into the ceiling. In the afternoon a peal was successfully rung at the newer St Paul’s Cathedral. It was a good peal thus defeating the jet lag. During the peal some of the rest of the party helped the local ringers man Old St Paul’s for a wedding. Drinking took place at "The Backbencher" where Michael Moreton, who had only joined us the previous day from a week in Tasmania, decided he wanted to organise a handbell peal (no change there!). Within a few minutes Michael had five names and the Master had procured a set of handbells from Christchurch (the wonders of text messaging!). Everyone (except the Master who preferred to check out Wellington’s night life) then went on for food at a recommended fish restaurant. It was at this restaurant that Michael Moreton announced to the hushed assembly that "I am the mushroom": he was known as "The Mushroom" for the remainder of the tour.

WELLINGTON, NI
St Paul’s Cathedral
Tenor: 27-1-24 in D
Sat 13^th Sept 2003 in 3h 32m
5040 Yorkshire S Maximus
Composed by J R Ketteringham
1 Keith G Game
2 Simon J L Linford
3 Dickon R Love
4 Gwen Rogers
5 Michael P Moreton
6 David E Rothera
7 Bernard H Taylor (C)
8 Brian P Diserens
9 Fr David A Gibbons
10 David J Baverstock
11 Derek J Thomas
12 Philip Rogers
Rung at the conclusion of the Cathedral Festival of Music and Arts.

New St Paul's Cathedral.

It was raining hard and the wind was very strong – a great day to fly out of Wellington! The take-off was as turbulent as the pilot had warned it would be, although soon the journey smoothed out and the passengers received stunning views of the snow capped hills on the western side of the South Island. The group was met at Christchurch by the Master of the Christchurch ringers, Mike Clayton – with him were a set of handbells! During the 7 mile coach journey between the airport and the hotel, the driver delivered a history of this beautiful city and pointed out some of the sites en route. The Millennium Hotel stands right next to the cathedral, and from many people’s rooms there were stunning views looking down on the cathedral and across the Garden City to the snow tipped hills in the distance.

A few hours later a band began a peal of Cambridge. The ringing was very good but not without its distractions. First a loud thunder storm kept everyone on their toes, and then in the last course, a local lady ringer entered the ringing room and sat down, followed shortly by the Dean and the new Associate Dean (to whom the peal was dedicated). Nonetheless the spectators were very still and the peal was completed – and very good it was too. The Dean then welcomed the ringers and the Associate Dean thanked everyone for ringing. There then followed some service ringing for Evensong with the local band. It is often noted that in some churches the choir outnumbers the congregation. This service was no exception, except that there were over a hundred in the congregation! It would seem that Christchurch were also hosts to the Royal School of Church Music as well as the College Youths.

Following the service, there was more general ringing with the local band before everyone was invited to the Visitor Centre for food and drink. This was an excellent opportunity to meet the local ringers socially and put faces to names.

CHRISTCHURCH, SI
Cathedral Church of Christ
Tenor: 24-3-16 in D
Sun 14^th Sept 2003 in 3h 24
5042 Cambridge S Maximus
Comp J H Fielden
1 Michael P Moreton
2 David J Baverstock
3 Dickon R Love
4 Peter C Randall
5 Bernard H Taylor
6 David E Rothera
7 Gwen Rogers
8 Peter H Gardner
9 Fr David A Gibbons
10 Brian P Diserens
11 Philip Rogers (C)
12 Simon J L Linford
Rung to welcome the new Associate Dean of Christchurch, the Rev’d Diana Rattray.

Fr David Gibbons tries out the Christchurch Cathedra for size.

Brian Diserens showing off his new toy to Carol Brown.

No ringing was arranged for the morning, so people took the opportunity to do their own thing. Some went skiing, some took a coach tour round the local area, while others just stayed in Christchurch to see the various attractions such as the aquarium, art gallery, tram tour and the kiwi enclosure. In the afternoon a peal of Lincolnshire was successfully rung at Papanui, which is about 20 minutes from the centre of Christchurch by bus. The band met in the tower to realise that the conductor was missing ... he had been inadvertantly locked in the Gents by the local ringer who didn't realise he was there! Fortunately he managed to find a way out and was reunited with the band.

After the peal, the band plus others were joined by some of the local ringers for an hour's practice, and then for a little more than that in the pub! By the time the party had returned to the hotel bar, some members were a little more merry than others, as the photos will tell.

PAPANUI, SI
St Paul
Tenor: 6-0-26 in A sharp
Mon 15^th Sept 2003 in 2h 37
5152 Lincolnshire S Major
Comp S Humphrey
1 Keith G Game
2 Karen Lebon
3 Peter C Randall
4 Carol Brown
5 J Roderick N Lebon
6 Peter H Gardner
7 David E Rothera (C)
8 Brian P Diserens
Rung Non-Association.

Discovered on Colombo St in Christchurch.

St Paul's, Papanui.

In the pub after ringing at Papanui. (l-r) Peter Randall, David Baverstock, Keith Game, Dickon Love, Mike Clayton, Jo Faircloth.

Ringing at Papanui.

The Masters of the Christchurch Bellringers and the College Youths: Mike Clayton and Dickon Love.

Phil Rogers and David Baverstock.

Oh dear ... handbell ringing on thumbs.

Back in the hotel that evening.

Michael Moreton having a profitable evening!

This was another day with largely no ringing, and the last day in Christchurch. The handbell peal of Plain Bob Royal was due in the morning, but one of the band had disappeared, so Plain Bob Major was attempted in the ringing room of the Cathedral. The bells that Mike Clayton had provided were the first set of handbells to arrive in New Zealand and the bells on which the first ever handbell peal had been rung on in New Zealand. Unfortunately the first attempt failed after about a quarter but was scored at the second attempt later in the afternoon. During the day, others went off variously whale watching (although conditions prevented them going out on the water) or on a winery tour.

CHRISTCHURCH, SI
Cathedral ringing room
On the Wilde Bells
Tenor Size: 11 in G.
Tues 16^th Sept 2003 in 2h 22
5056 Plain Bob Major
Comp J R Pritchard
1-2 Dickon R Love
3-4 Fr David A Gibbons
5-6 Peter C Randall (C)
7-8 Michael P Moreton
250th handbell peal: 7-8.

The quarter peal was followed by the Christchurch practice night, but those who went were not able to stay to the end as it was time to head back to the airport and leave New Zealand for Melbourne.

Michael Moreton empties the bar from the piano.