Read more…"/> Lewisham District – March update – Kent County Association of Change Ringers

Dear all,

Here’s the monthly roundup of news from your Lewisham District.

A busy day at Horton Kirby!

Thank you to all who came to the February District practice at Horton Kirby – 29 (!) people in the tower made for a very busy Saturday morning! Ringing included Yorkshire Major, Plain Hunt, Stedman and Grandsire Triples, Plain Bob and plenty of rounds and call changes. Many thanks to Lesley and the Horton Kirby ringers for making us so welcome, and for making the arrangements at the Bull afterwards – what a super pub!

Upcoming events

The next District Practice is on the evening of Friday 10th March, 6.30pm – 8.30pm at Bromley Parish Church. There’s parking available in the church car park, or the bays outside are free of charge after 6.30pm. Recommended pub afterwards is the Star and Garter, a short walk from the church, to be followed by a curry at Mount Everest for those who want to. Their dishes are redolent with spice and flavour, but the restaurant does get very busy on a Friday night so we will need to book! Please email  by Tuesday 7th March to reserve your place if you want to come for the curry. The practice and pub are open to all without pre-booking of course.

After that there’s a Practice plus Business Meeting at St Nicholas Chislehurst at 10.00 on Saturday 1st April starting at 10am, and a quick reminder to keep Saturday 1st July free if you can for the Country Meeting in Maidstone, which will include a visit to the fabulous heavy ten at All Saints.

Competition time!

The District call change and striking competitions are to be held on the afternoon of Saturday 20th May at St Mary Cray. Full Rules for each competition are at https://kcacr.org.uk/lewisham-district/lewisham-district-competition-results/, but here are the headlines:

  • Striking comp: 240 changes of any recognised Doubles or Minor method. Individual band members’ names need not be submitted in advance, so rule 8 will not be applied.
  • Call change comp: 120 rows; about 12 calls; maximum of three ringers in any band who have previously rung a peal. Rules 5, 15 and 16 will not be applied. Any band who “normally” rings together is welcome to enter.

If you’d like to enter a band for either or both, please just email us –  no later than Saturday 6th May – Coronation Day! Don’t forget to include the name of your tower and which of the competition(s) you’re planning to enter.

 Firsts and Footnotes

February’s highlights, from BellBoard:

  • First quarter in the method – Svetlana Sokolova, 1250 Yorkshire Surprise Major at Bromley
  • Most methods – Ross Hartley, 5040 Spliced Major in 20 methods at Beckenham
  • Circled the tower to peals – Nick Wilkins at Farnborough

Congratulations to Stephanie and Richard Barclay on the birth of Edward Charles Johann, marked with a peal at Chelsfield. “Happy birthday” quarters were rung for Max (21) at Crayford, and Svetlana (are we allowed to say 40? ) at Bromley.

Quarter peals were rung in memoriam for Ros Farmer at Farnborough, Bob Smith at Crayford and former Churchwarden Michael Woodfield at Beckenham.

That’s all

Please keep the communication coming. You can contact us any time by email  . Hope to see you at Bromley on 10th March!

Best wishes

Ruth & Nigel