Canterbury District
				120 Club results
				Programme for 2008/2009
				District officers
				District towers
				District Newsletter

Quarter peal week

Eighteen quarter peals were successfully completed during the recent Canterbury District quarter peal week which ended on 5 October, as listed below:

The leading conductors were Mike Little (5) and Cathryn Hills (3).

District ADM 2008

The Annual District Meeting at St Dunstan's on 11 October was, as always, well attended. Mike Little took the service, disappointing the congregation en masse by missing out the sermon completely. So quick did he rattle through the service that when we arrived in the hall for tea, the kettles hadn't even boiled!

Officers for the forthcoming year were elected as follows:

• Chairman: Len Huckstep
• Secretary: Tony Martin
• Assistant secretary: Jean Easley
• Treasurer: Cathryn Hills
• Ringing master 1: Donald Niblett
• Ringing masters 2: The Records
• District rep on County committee: Jo Horton and Brian Law
• Press rep: Jackie Christian
• Newsletter editor: Clare Larter
• 120 Club promoter: Brian Reynolds
• Committee members: Paul Barton and Sarat White

Having looked after the bell bucket for many years keeping its shiny red plastic coat clean and in tip top condition it was with great reluctance (and I think I saw a tear in his eye) that Ian Young handed the bucket over to Brian Reynolds. Unfortunately within the space of 5 minutes Brian had lost said bucket and then, to add insult to injury when he found it again, kicked it and very nearly spilt its contents all over the floor. We expect greater things in the future and hope that the bucket will be kept in the same tip top condition as it has been in the past Brian!

A raffle was held. The "Chilhamites" Janet and Chris had to leave early to go to the theatre and left their raffle tickets under the guardianship of Paul Curtis. In true ringing tradition Janet and Chris had written on their tickets alcohol only and wine please. As it happened they didn't win anything anyway.

The meeting ended without any controversy and ringing continued at St Stephen's.

Jackie Christian

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!

October District Newsletter now online

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. Congratulations Clare on another splendid issue.

Heritage Open Days comes to Dover

There was discussion of Heritage Open Days at the recent county general committee meeting. In the Canterbury District Dover is joining in this year. Check for details here.

Eastry now an eight

After some delays Eastry now has a very good eight. Check for details here. A report from Peter Dale on the dedication of the three new bells and the rededication of the original five appears below.

The five bells have been completely restored and hung in the original timber frame, with three new bells being hung in a new steel frame. The work was carried out by Matthew Higby & Co Ltd, with the KCACR bell restoration team providing much of the labour and local people giving a great deal of support in kind.

The service of dedication on Saturday 2 August was conducted the Rt Revd Richard Llewellin, former Bishop of Dover, and attended by officers of the KCACR and Matthew Higby's representative. The local ringers marked the symbolic handing over the tolling rope by the bishop to the churchwardens with some rounds.

After taking part in the general ringing after the service, members of the Association joined the locals for a sumptuous tea in the village hall. Eastry tower captain Mick Johnson performed the cake cutting ceremony, after which the festivities continued well into the late afternoon with the Association's new display banners attracting much interest.

The general consensus is that the old and new bells have blended into a fine octave and the event was most fitting conclusion to a very worthwhile project.

The celebratory cake	Two of the six KCACR panels on display

Don and Ruth hit the big 5-0

On Saturday 26 July 2008 Donald and Ruth Niblett of Canterbury celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with a wonderful ringers' tea party in their garden near St Stephen's church. Entertainment had been laid on — the Trafford Ring and a magician clown — both occupied and entertained young and old alike. Donald and Ruth were married at St Mary's Rye and came to live in Canterbury in the 1960s, since when they have been stalwarts of ringing in the City, throughout the Canterbury District and the county — indeed Donald is currently a District ringing master. At the District meeting at St Laurence-in-Thanet earlier in the month the District presented our "Golden Couple" with a celebration cake and it was duly cut and much enjoyed last Saturday. Hazel Basford

St Clement's, Sandwich

Ian Young writes (8 July 2008): There will be no ringing at St Clement's as the first stage of major repairs to the stonework on the tower is commencing. This involves scaffolding in the bell chamber and ringing will be impossible. Work will begin next week and is anticipated to last several months. We have to do some minor tasks in the tower beforehand and so ringing has now stopped. I do not know when we will be able to recommence — the original estimate was six months but that was when the work should have begun in April. I am sure the Rector will be keen to have the bells rung for Christmas. I will let you know when we have some news.

Striking competition

The 2008 competition was held at Godmersham on 10 May. The draw took place at 3.45pm followed by a service conducted by Rev Peter Russell with Craig Huxley at the organ. Hot drinks were supplied by Jean Easley whilst competing bands brought their own teas which they ate in the sunshine out in the churchyard.

Judges Pam and David Manger gave their comments on the bands and announced the results as follows:

posn	tower	rang	faults
1st	Canterbury, St Dunstan	3rd	9
2nd	Canterbury, St Stephen Jammies	9th	14
3rd	Birchington	6th	19
4th	Whitstable St Alphege	2nd	19½
5th	Ospringe	7th	26½
6th	Lyminge	8th	31½
7th	Thanington	5th	57
8th	Canterbury, St Stephen Dodgers	1st	72

		Subsequent to the competition the Cathedral band, who'd been placed third, withdrew as they had entered the competition after the deadline, so they do not appear in the above list. Paul Barton proposed a vote of thanks to the Rev Ian Campbell for use of the church and the bells, Craig Huxley for playing the organ, everyone involved in the organisation of the competition and to Pam and David for judging the competition. Canterbury St Dunstan now go through to the County 6-Bell competition at Aldington in September.
The winning St Dunstan's band

Thanks to Clare for letting me nick this item from the July newsletter — Ed.

Unusual quarter at Quex

Those ringers who have been to the Waterloo Tower at Quex Park will appreciate that it is a most unusual place. Privatly-owned full-sized rings of 12 are pretty rare. Unless the visitor has had the opportunity to ascend the tower, they will have missed a further curiosity in that above the ground floor ringing room is another more beautiful light and airy empty room through which the ropes descend and are guided. This room is decorated to a high specification with larger windows, wood panelling and ornate plaster frieze and ceiling typical of the early 19th century when it was built. Many of us have wondered if this was the original ringing room designate, but judging by the rope bosses in the ceiling which indicate that the ropes would have fallen very close to the walls, it is concluded that it cannot have been used for ringing.

The Quex Society members have talked for some years of pulling up the ropes and ringing from the upper room and thanks to the efforts of the Society Master, Mike Little, this notion became reality. During the week Mike refitted the ropes on the back eight to a hight suitable for ringing from the upper room, and at the weekend society meeting, we spent the Saturday afternoon ringing from the mystery room. We could not ring all 12 because it would have meant dismantling rope chutes on the 2nd and 3rd of the ring of 12.

Five quarters were attempted on 3 May 2008, of which four were sucessful (see reports). After a barbecue supper more open ringing ensued. We concluded the day very atmospherically ringing by storm lantern (there is no electricity in the tower) when we rang a touch of Major then rounds fairly sucessfully on the 12 with the front four ringers ringing from ground level in a different room from the back eight ringers, the master bellowing the instructions to both rooms.

The picture below is of the band who rang the first quarter from the upper room and are L-R Paul Barton, Philip Hills, Andrew Hills, Rebecca Davey, Mike Little (C), Cathryn Hills, Mark Chittenden-Pile and David Sheekey.

Paul Barton

Jonathan and Sarah's wedding

Jonathan Young and Sarah Eastburn were married at St Giles church, West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire (where they both ring) on Saturday 15 March 2008. A local band peal, of Lincolnshire Surprise Major, was rung prior to the wedding. On the following Sunday a quarter of Yorkshire Surprise Major was rung in celebration, the band including the happy couple, Phil and Ian Young, and Marilyn and Malcolm Barden (Jonathan's aunt and uncle).

Ruby R Brett 11 July 1921 — 11 January 2008

Ruby was born at Great Polder's Farm, Sandwich. The family then moved nearer to Woodnesborough, where she lived until after WW2. During the war she joined the WRAF and was posted to RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire, where she gained the rank of corporal, working with barrage balloons. After the war Ruby went to work at the butcher's shop in Wingham.

In 1947 Ruby's family again moved, this time to Eastry where, as a regular churchgoer, she met Jack. In 1949 they were married at Eastry church and moved to a farm cottage nearby, where Jack worked. It was here in 1952 that the first of their three sons was born. In 1954 they moved to Goodnestone where Jack, Ruby and the boys soon became part of the community. Jack passed away in 2002.

Also in 1947 Ruby was encouraged by Jack to learn to ring at Eastry. Once she had learnt, both she and Jack would often ring three times on Sunday mornings, first at Eastry then cycle to Goodnestone for the next service and then back for the second service at Eastry. The job of tower secretary at Goodnestone came to Ruby in the late 1950s. She had decided to retire from the job at the end of 2007, having retired from active ringing in the 1980s when she found she was unable to climb the uneven stairs.

Ruby had her principles which she liked to keep; she would give but not expect to receive. She would give plants, flowers and vegetables from her garden to friends and in season flowers to the church. Ruby professed to be the only person in the village to own a "Blessed Hat". This came about when, at a service, the vestry key was unattainable, she was to take the collection and had no bag, so she improvised. She whipped off her hat, took the collection in it and then presented it to the vicar at the altar — it was duly blessed!

In 1998 Ruby announced that she had got a job! This turned out to be two or three afternoons at Goodnestone Park, sitting at the gate taking entrance money for Lady Fitzwalter. This she took very seriously and woe betide anyone trying to slip in free or on the cheap. Ruby put this job before anything else as she loved to meet people, swapping stories or telling them about the village, church or park.

The highlight of Ruby's life came at Easter 2002 when, accompanied by her son Andrew, his wife Sue and Lady Fitzwalter, she had the honours of meeting HM the Queen and being presented with Maundy Money at Canterbury Cathedral.

Ruby's funeral took place at Holy Cross Church, Goodnestone on Monday 4 February. The service was conducted by Revd Nigel Hale and a poem was read by the actress Joanna Lumley (onetime resident of Goodnestone and a personal friend to Ruby). Before the Service a quarter peal of Grandsire Doubles was rung, half muffled, by ringers who had known and been friends with Ruby for very many years: Susan and Keith Record, Derek Chatfield, Len Huckstep and Phil and Ian Young. Due to a mix up over times, after the end of the quarter the tenor was tolled for almost half an hour. Ruby would not have been pleased to know that she was late for her own funeral — there would have been some strong "ticking off".

Three other quarters were rung to celebrate Ruby's life:

Saturday 12 January at Bekesbourne: 1260 Stedman Doubles. 1. Phil Young, 2. Graeme Booth, 3. Sarah Eastburn, 4. Jonathan Young (c), 5. David Hird, 6. Ian Young

Sunday 13 January at St. Dunstan's, Canterbury: 3 Doubles methods. 1. Susan Hills, 2. Jo Horton, 3.Cathryn Hills (c), 4. Danny Scott, 5. Andy Brett, 6. Philip Hills.

Sunday 27 January at Goodnestone: 3 Doubles methods. 1. Cathryn Hills (c), 2. Philip Hills, 3. Andrew Hills, 4. Andy Brett, 5. Danny Scott, 6. Len Huckstep.

All future requests for the use of Goodnestone bells should be made to: Mr A C Brett, 4 The Crescent, Eythorne, Dover CT15 4BB. Phone: 01304 830076

District ringing school

The 2008 District ringing school was held on Saturday 9 February at Sturry. This year we did something slightly different — a training day for change ringing on handbells.

The morning session was a "refresher" course for people who had done handbell ringing before. We ran three groups, where ringing ranged from plain hunt through to Little Bob Major. Lunch was enjoyed at a local hostelry before returning to the church for the afternoon session. Five groups were run for 14 people who were completely new to change ringing on handbells, with all the morning people acting as helpers. Everyone mastered plain hunt and some groups experimented with Plain Bob.

Some of the groups in action at Sturry

We had a total of 28 people ringing through the day and at least six sets of handbells in use. Everyone did really well and it was wonderful to see such an interest in change ringing on handbells: this is definitely an emerging skill in the Canterbury District. We plan informal follow-up sessions at most District meetings. Anyone wanting more information about handbell ringing should contact Clare or Philip Larter.

Clare Larter

Dr David Shrimpton

David moved to Sheldwich from Oxford with wife Terry, daughter Hannah and son Ian in 1998, to take up his new post as lecturer in Computer Science at Kent University. Their arrival in the village was universally welcomed — a thoroughly lovely family. Hannah very early expressed a wish to learn to ring our relatively new bells and, for support, David came along too! Both were naturals and in the early bell-handling stage, I well remember the wonderful father/daughter rivalry demonstrated each Thursday, as first one would master a new stage and then the other, similarly. None of us could fail to notice the close bond between the two of them, a bond that was also self-evident between David, Terry and Ian too. Both David and Hannah became stalwarts of the Sheldwich/Selling band, but it was soon evident that David in particular, had been resoundingly bitten by the ringing bug and it became a very important part of his life. He rang regularly at Ospringe to gain experience, which he would then use to good effect with his home team and also helped out at Faversham whenever he was able. It was after the ringers' Christmas dinner 2006, that David fell ill, thinking he had food poisoning. A year later he was too ill to attend the 2007 Christmas dinner, but it was lovely to have Ian there to represent the family, Hannah being away at Oxford University.

On 29 December 2007, after one short year, David lost his battle with the rampant pancreatic cancer that was to take his life, despite enduring a great deal of suffering in an effort to conquer it.

He lost the battle, but not his dignity. David died peacefully, as he lived, anxious that visitors to his bedside were not distressed by his condition — thinking of others right up to the end.

David — a gentle, wise, witty, bright, thoughtful man will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but never forgotten. He died too soon.

Requiescat in pace.

Paul Evans

District carol service 2007

Feverish activity in the kitchen	"I couldn't eat another thing"
	The District's annual carol service and social was held on 9 December at Ospringe. Hearty thanks go to the Ospringe band and their helpers for such a great occasion enjoyed by everyone. The ringing before the service drew a large number of members wishing to ply their skill on this rather demanding octave. The Revd Ali Duiguid conducted an uplifting service that blended traditional carols and lessons with more modern items. All then adjourned to the school hall at nearby Ospringe Primary where a roast dinner with all the trimmings awaited us, and if all this wasn't enough there was a quiz to round off the evening. What a magnificent effort! Peter Dale
"Wicked!"

Call change striking competition 2007

This year's competition was held at All Saints, Petham, when seven bands took part. A short service followed the draw, immediately followed by the ringing. The judges were Susan and Keith Record from Herne. Hugh Routh kindly stepped in at the last minute as tower steward to insure no visitors wandered into the ringing chamber during the test piece (it was the church's open day). Following the ringing a short business meeting followed and the results were given as follows:

Susan and Keith presenting the cup		Craig even before the evening celebrations!		St Stephens A* from L to R: Jacob King, Peter Maloney, Craig Huxley, Toby Huitson and Harry Smith. Missing from the picture is Jane Huxley

Phil Elderton