ASCY TOUR OF
NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA

Approximately 50 members and friends arrived at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn for the ASCY Australia Informal Dinner. Five tables were laid out in a private area, each hosted by the Master, Junior Steward, Secretary and Past Masters Messrs Rothera and Williams. It was an excellent opportunity to meet many ringers and friends from in and around Sydney. David Bleby, who had flown in from Adelaide especially for the event, was made especially welcome. There was no formality to the event apart from a short welcome by the Master and grace delivered by Fr David, however the UK ringers were able to express their thanks for the welcome extended by ringers in both Australia and New Zealand. As drinking continued well into the night, everyone concluded that it had been a very successful and enjoyable event. As with most dinners, some of the real fun may be picked up from the photographs.

Members and friends seated for the Informal Dinner.

Carol Brown leans closer to Peter Randall.

In the hotel lobby bar afterwards.

Paul Williams looking content.

As announced at the Informal Dinner the night before, there was Sunday morning ringing throughout Sydney and the touring party split itself around the city. This included a quarter peal at St Mark's, Darling Point of Stedman Triples which proved to be the first quarter of Stedman for two members of the local band. There was also a quarter peal of Bristol S Maximus at St Andrew's Cathedral, again with some of the local Sydney ringers.

In the afternoon, a peal was attempted on the light ring of ten at Christ Church St Laurence. Unfortunately the peal was unsuccessful. After the obligatory post attempt pint, some of the band headed to the rather lively Oxford Street for food and drink. In the first bar David Baverstock took a particular interest in the very attractive girl working at the bar. Unfortunately for him (and to everyone else's amusement) she turned out to be a lesbian.

SYDNEY, New South Wales
St Mark, Darling Point
Tenor: 8-1-26 in A
Sun 21^st Sept 2003 in 45 mins
1260 Stedman Triples
1 Basil Potts
2 Jim Carter
3 Karen Lebon
4 Carol Brown
5 Peter McEvoy
6 Martin Cubitt
7 J Roderick N Lebon (C)
8 Helen Whitsed
1st Stedman Triples: 2,5.
Rung for morning service.

David Baverstock, David Gibbons, Michael Moreton, Paul Williams and Keith Game.

This turned out to be a hot day. The main ringing event of the day was a peal at St Mark's, Darling Point. The band was met by Rusty Walters and a good peal of Ealing was scored. The 6th bell didn't have a stay and since Peter Gardner was in the earlier attempt of Yorkshire, he volunteered to ring the bell on the basis that the rope would be the right length. In the mean time, Michael Moreton fixed up another handbell peal in the ringing room of St Mary's Basilica. John Fryer, the Captain at St Mary's, kindly allowed the use of their handbells, and he rang himself. The peal (Plain Bob Major) was successful and John was particularly pleased as it was his first ASCY peal outside the United Kingdom.

Those not ringing went to see a bit of Sydney and one group went up into the Blue Mountains. In the evening there was a practice at Turramurra which some of the ringers visited. One group went for a meal by the harbour on The Rocks overlooking the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. They ended up with drinks on the balmy rooftop patio of the hotel, gazing at the views, swimming in the pool and basking in the hot tub while gazing up at the Southern Cross. Since this was quite a spontaneous evening, one member of the group elected to go skinny dipping!

Some of the tour members had an early start today as they were to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The troop of 7 people had to get trussed up in overalls, wear a safety harness and communication devices, and ensure that all caps, glasses and handkerchiefs were attached to the walking suits. The most remarkable thing though was that they ALL passed a breath test. This must surely be quite unusual for a gathering of College Youths of that size! (It was also quite surprising too considering the antics of the previous evening!). The tour took 3 hours and commanded wonderful views across Sydney Harbour. It was perhaps not the best time for the Master to realise that he gets a little dizzy with heights, but this did not detract from his enjoyment.

In the afternoon, the last peal in Sydney was rung at St Mary's Basilica. Still queezy from his experiences on the Bridge, he elected to ring the treble and after the peal came round announced that it was his 1,000 tower bell peal. After the peal some of the local St Mary's ringers met the band together with Richard Offen, Callum Crofton and Justin Read who each happened to be over from the UK on holiday. A few beers were consumed in the East Sydney Hotel afterwards to celebrate this and also Simon Linford's birthday, which was the day before.

SYDNEY, New South Wales
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Tenor: 34-1-3 in C sharp
Tues 23^rd Sept 2003 in 3h 33
5042 Cambridge S Maximus
Composed by Rod W Pipe
1 Dickon R Love
2 Keith G Game
3 David J Baverstock
4 Michael P Moreton
5 David E Rothera
6 J Roderick N Lebon
7 Bernard H Taylor
8 Peter H Gardner
9 Fr David A Gibbons
10 Derek J Thomas
11 Simon J L Linford
12 Philip Rogers
1,000th tower bell peal: 1.
50th peal of Cambridge Maximus with the ASCY: 4.