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Canterbury District |
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| 120 Club results | |||
| Programme for 2009/2010 | |||
| District officers | |||
| District towers | |||
| District Newsletter |
Officers for the forthcoming year were elected at the Annual District Meeting at St Dunstan's on 10 October as follows:
Ian Young sends this update on 21 October 2009. The first stage of tower repairs has been completed and the scaffolding removed. However, early in the New Year Stage 2 of the tower repairs will commence: this is a much larger job than Stage 1. We are told there will be no ringing from 4 January 2010 until November, when the intention is to complete the works by the Patronal Festival on 26 November (ish). We are awaiting confirmation of these dates and I will then let you know.
In the meantime we're sorry to say that practices are suspended for the time being.
The October edition of the District Newsletter is now available and you can read it online or download it to read in comfort at home or in the pub. All you have to do is click on the appropriate link at the top of this page.
The 2009 callchange striking was held on 19 September at Littlebourne. The draw took place at 3.45pm followed by a service conducted by Katherine Harrison with Matthew Young playing the organ. Tea was served in the church throughout the competition by members of the local WI.
| posn | tower | rang | faults |
| 1st | Canterbury, St Stephens A* | 5th | 23 |
| 2nd | Canterbury, St Dunstans | 2nd | 36 |
| 3rd | Canterbury, St Stephens A | 1st | 48 |
| 4th | Thanington | 3rd | 50 |
| 5th | St Peter-in-Thanet | 4th | 54 |
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Winning band for Canterbury St Stephen. L-R: Craig Huxley, Harry Smith, Peter Molony, Jacob King, Jane Huxley and Sarah Smith |
Craig (L) with judges Keith and Susan Record |
Craig Huxley proposed the vote of thanks to Rev John Allan for use of the bells, Susan and Keith Record for judging and everyone involved in the organisation of the competition.
The 190th anniversary of the official opening of the bells in the Waterloo Tower at Quex Park was 4 August. In 1819 ringers from all over the country were invited to the event and peals were attempted by the College Youths and the Cumberlands — though only the latter company scored.
On Saturday 1 August this year the Quex Park Society rang a quarter peal of Grandsire Caters to mark the anniversary and hopefully more quarter peals will be scored next Saturday, 8 August, when the Canterbury District will gather at the tower for ringing and a barbecue provided by the Society. Any other ringers who would like to come and join in will be most welcome.
The 200th anniversary in ten years' time is already being spoken about and ideas discussed as to how such an important event can best be celebrated.
A contemporary watercolour (1820) of the tower in its early days, with Quex House in the background |
We're very sorry to have to announce the death, in the early hours of Sunday 26 July, of Janet Lawrence of Great Mongeham. She was one of the longest serving members of the KCACR, having been elected in 1948. Janet's funeral was at Great Mongeham on Tuesday, 4 August, followed by a private cremation. Donations may be made to the Pilgrims Hospice at Margate c/o J Dilnot Smith & Son, at 183 Gladstone Road, Deal CT14 7EL.
David writes: Although I reached 65 last April, the thought of complete retirement (if there is such a thing for clergy) did not appeal. The Bishop of Dover kindly told me last autumn of the possibility of a "House for Duty" appointment in Thanet. This turned out to be All Saints, Westbrook, Margate, and I have been appointed the resident priest there. The job description states that in return for the vicarage rent and rates free, I will undertake a limited number of days' duty per week, plus all occasional offices (baptisms, marriages etc) and Sunday services. Quite how "limited" will work out in practice in an active parish one can only discover when one has been in post a little while.
I send best wishes to all and although you will be sorry to learn that we have only one bell, Quex Park is only a couple of miles or so away. And it's only ten minutes' walk to Margate's glorious sands and the new Turner Gallery for the rest.
Due to problems with the Great South window the south door has been closed until further notice. On Sundays, ringers must assemble in the nave and be escorted to the tower door. On Thursdays they must assemble by the north-west entrance door by 7.15pm. Strictly no access available after 7.30pm.
Webmaster was rather sad to have to collect this item from Campanophile rather than have it sent directly to the KCACR site ;-(
The Kent BRF gang were busy at Newnham on a cold and frosty morning in January 2009 when they dismantled the bells prior to them being rehung and augmented to six. By the end of May the six bells were hung and rung for the first time on the 29th (for details and photos click here).
On 7 June the parish laid on a splendid lunch at the George for those involved in the restoration / rehanging work, and the Revd Richard Birch, himself a ringer, organised a rather less than serious striking competition. There were two sets of judges and four teams. Two of the judges were ringers from just down the road (Clare and Phil Larter). The other two were non-ringers, Charlie and Edna Clark, who've lived in the village all their lives and remember the old four when they were being rung regularly over 40 years ago. Charlie retired as churchwarden recently after many years in post, while Edna has been sacristan for a long time.
After the judging the two pairs of judges compared notes and found that they agreed completely — who says non-ringers can't tell good from bad ringing! Clare and Phil had produced scores in the time-honoured manner and declared the results as:
| posn | team | faults | rang |
| 1st | Ladies | 43 | 3rd |
| 2nd | Local(ish) ringers | 47 | 4th |
| 3rd | Hythe | 55 | 2nd |
| 4th | BRF Heavy Gang | 71 | 1st |
Richard noted that in days gone by ringing contests were often rewarded with hats or gloves, so he had decided that this tradition might well be revived, and the winning Ladies were all presented with pairs of gardening gloves (which is what they're holding in the photo below).
Our sincere thanks go to Richard and the PCC of Newnham for their wonderful hospitality and welcome. The occasion also coincided with the village Open Gardens day, so there were many great gardens to visit as well as bells to ring, and there was a constant stream of interested folk in and out of the church all afternoon.
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The winning Ladies' team |
Newnham church |
The less than victorious Heavy Gang |
Congratulations to the Canterbury District on winning the County 10-bell challenge at Greenwich on 29 November. For more details and photos just click here.
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The District's annual carol service and social was held on 13 December at Bekesbourne. Jackie Christian writes: Unfortunatly I couldn't get there for the ringing but my inside sources tell me there was some very good and lovely ringing. The church was full and the singing of carols, the first carols for me this year, makes it feel like Christmas not the rushing around buying presents and food but getting together with friends and family as it should be . . . The weather was dreadful but having negotiated the large puddles to get to the Village Hall the Bekesbourne ringers had made a very nice shepherd's pie and an assortment of puddings — one of which had alcohol free on the label. In true ringing tradition that was the last to go! Dancing was to Meadow Folk and as the photographs will testify a good time was had by everyone |
Programme of events for 2009/2010 |
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Please check in The Ringing World for final details |
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| Date | Event | Venue |
| 12 Dec | Carol service and social | Birchington (8) |
| 9 Jan 2010 | Quarterly meeting | Whitstable, St Alphege (8) |
A new feature was added for the first time in 2007. You'll notice that all venues appear in blue and are underlined. This means that if you click on the place name you'll be taken directly to a largish scale map. At the top of the map, just under KCACR, there is a scale indicator, and you can click on this to make the map smaller or larger as you wish. Have fun!
There was discussion of Heritage Open Days at the recent county general committee meeting. In the Canterbury District Dover joined in in 2008. Check for details here.
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