The Ancient
Society of
College
Youths
Est. 1637

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UK05 - TOUR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
20th August - 4th September, 2005

The tour of the United Kingdom for members of the Society based elsewhere in the work took place in the summer of 2005. Thanks for David Baverstock for the photographs of the London Day that appear here. Other photographs have been kindly supplied by Alan Ellis, John and Chris Clarke and David Hull. Click on image to enlarge. The following report is by Eve and Peter Munns.

When the announcement arrived over a year ago that Simon Linford, the current Master of the Ancient Society of College Youths, was planning a comprehensive two week ringing tour of many of the great towers in the United Kingdom for out of country members, there was naturally an enthusiastic response from all corners of the ringing globe.

It took a great leap of faith both for Simon who spent an immense amount of time and effort in preparation for the tour as well as for the ancient tourists who had to make travel arrangements and to turn up at Reading station not knowing until shortly before arriving whether to turn left of right to find their accommodation! However Simon and his band of helpers were there equipped with GPS to take us to our quarters. Ringers are a faithful bunch.

On the tour were Vicki Hodgkin, Josclyn Sloan, Rhys Greenhalgh, David Knewstub (Perth), Hervey Bagot (Adelaide), Chris Jarman, Daniel Richards (Wellington), Cecily Rock, Quilla Roth, Rick & Libby Dirksen (Washington), Jeff & Alice Lawrence (nr Durban), Kevin Hughes (Geneva), Michael & Margaret Thomas, (Malta), Laith & Jan Reynolds (Perth - now England), David Oliver, John & Christine Clarke (Victoria B.C.), Edward (Jeff) White, Alan & Mae Ellis, Peter & Eve Munns (Vancouver).  

We travelled the length and breadth of England (plus an important bit of Scotland) sometimes by train, but mostly by coach, staying first in Reading, then in Nottingham - where we joined the ASCY Country Meeting and attended the Dinner - and finally in York. The only decisions left to make were what to wear, which beer to drink, and which methods to ring. We then sat back and left the rest to Simon (and the bus driver). It was a very relaxing experience, allowing us do what ringers do best, which is to ring and to be sociable.

When asked during the first day’s ringing in Bristol “did you know what you were letting yourself in for?” (the group’s abilities were very varied from expert to extremely rusty), Simon replied to the effect that he “didn’t think that it would be quite like this!” However with so much daily ringing practice everyone improved quite rapidly and Bristol Surprise which was the theme method for the tour was rung in various extents at every opportunity balanced by rounds and call changes on ten and twelve for those who were not used to ringing more than eight bells. Many in the group progressed to ringing Stedman and Grandsire Cinques as well as Cambridge Maximus and Spliced Surprise.

Some memorable highlights were: ringing at St Mary Redcliffe, York Minster, Bath Abbey (anti-clockwise ring) tiny Ault Hucknall and nine Cathedrals - Bristol, Wells, St Paul’s, Coventry, Lincoln, Christ Church Oxford, Durham, Newcastle and St Mary’s Edinburgh; seeing bells being cast at Loughborough and attempting to ring the mini ring there. Josclyn took great delight in tolling the great bell at Newcastle cathedral and who can forget climbing the 330 steps to the tower at Durham Cathedral? In all the tour took in roughly 63 towers, and rang a number peals and 8 quarter peals, including an international quarter peal at St Laurence, York with the band including a ringer from each of the participating countries.

We were treated to a wonderful dinner of traditional English fare at Chris and Heather Kippin’s house in Ellisfield, and were hosted and toasted in Towcester to a barbecue, cook up and great ringing. The beer flowed liberally on both occasions. Wetherspoon’s menu was committed to memory by all - we ate at one practically every day! Methinks my stomach doth still protest too much!

Our most unusual eating experience was dining on fish and chips and curry washed down by liberal amounts of beer whilst travelling on the top deck of an ancient Routemaster bus, number 50 to Victoria Station, which was actually taking us over the moors from Northallerton to York. Later on the train to Edinburgh some of us washed down a silver service sausage, egg and bacon full English breakfast with Jeff Laurence's champagne celebrating his birthday a few days early - he said he was just practising! Cheers Jeff.

Our thanks go to the literally dozens of ringers who turned out at all times to accompany us, to let us in and out, to ring with us, to feed and water us and to generally make us all feel very welcome and very much at home. This was the tour of a life-time, an experience to be remembered for a long time. Once again a special thank you to Simon for conceiving, coordinating and delivering this wonderful tour. Same time next year Simon?

Photo DJB Photo DJB
Photo DJB Photo DJB

Ringing at St Mary le Bow on 23rd August.

Photo DJB Photo DJB

Food at lunch time.

Photo DJB Photo DJB
Photo DJB Photo DJB

Waiting outside St Lawrence Jewry.

Photo DJB Photo DJB

Vicki Hodgkin at Jewry.

Ringing at St Paul's Cathedral.
Photo DJB Photo DJB

Handbell ringing at St Paul's.

Photo DJB Photo DJB

A view down St Paul's.

The Geometric Staircase in the South Tower.
Photo DJB Photo DJB

Returning from St Paul's.

Reception at The Counting House.
Photo DJB Photo DJB
Photo DJB Photo DJB
Photo DJB Photo DJB
Photo John & Christine Clarke Photo John & Christine Clarke
Bristol. Dinner in Nottingham.
Photo John & Christine Clarke Photo John & Christine Clarke
St Martin le Grand, York. Taylor's mini ring.
Photo John & Christine Clarke Photo John & Christine Clarke
Photo John & Christine Clarke Photograph Alan F. Ellis
Enjoying a barbecue at Towcester.
Photo David Hull Photo David Hull
Ringing at Edinburgh Cathedral. Fettes College.
Photograph Alan F. Ellis Photo David Hull
Photo David Hull Photo David Hull
Group at Fettes College, Edinburgh. Fettes College bell tower.
Photo David Hull Photo David Hull Photo David Hull
Mike Clay removes the floor at Fettes. The Master holds up his Scottish saltire to attract some strays at Waverley station. The Master has a well earned rest.
Photograph Alan F. Ellis Photograph Alan F. Ellis
Quarter peal band at Shiplake, Oxon. Alan Berry's group at Loughborough Bellfoundry.
Photograph Alan F. Ellis Photograph Alan F. Ellis
Too many for the tower at Ault Hucknall. The Master accepting his appreciation gift from Alan Ellis at the end of tour party at York Brewery.
Photograph Alan F. Ellis Photograph Alan F. Ellis
The Master admires his gift. The Master and his 'other' gift.
Photo David Hull Photo David Hull
David Town and Ian Staves from Northallerton. Rick Dirksen, Chris Jarman, Rhys Greenhalgh and Hervey Bagot ring handbells.
Photo David Hull Photo David Hull
Various people enjoying themselves. Jennie Town, David Pipe, Rick Dirksen and Chris Jarman on the handbells.
Photo David Hull
It all becomes too much for David Town.

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