More News from the Bell Tower.

Well, here we are again with more news from the Bell Tower, and by the time you read this we will be into the year 2002!

Since the renovation of the Bells etc., at St John's we do seem to have become very popular in the ringing world, and on Saturday 24th November a band of ringers visited our tower to ring a Quarter Peal celebrating the Annual Colegate Dinner event, which has been going on for the past thirty six years! The method they rang was called Grandsire Doubles, conducted by Neil Thomas, and Steve Day (the retired Northern Branch Ringing Master) organised this event, so we felt quite honoured.

For those of you who may be interested, a Quarter Peal consists of 1260 changes, whilst a whole peal consists of 5040 changes, as a matter of interest we have hanging in the ringing chamber a copy of a whole peal rung in 1826 by a Coltishall band, however, the original peal board has been missing for many years, and any information as to it's whereabouts would be gratefully appreciated.

Whilst the Coltishall Ringers were enjoying the annual Christmas Dinner at The Red Lion on Monday 10th December, some ringers from Knapton realised that our tower would be empty! (as we usually practise Monday evenings) so David Smith on behalf of Knapton Tower Captain Andrew Lubbock and band, organised an attempted Quarter Peal of Grandsire Dobles. Then when we thought all would be quiet for a while I received a telephone call from a Mr Richard Carter of the South Walsham ringers, requesting permission to ring in the New Year at St John's from 11 to 11.30 naturally thinking they would ring at midnight, but after further arrangements and telephone calls to ensure the church would be available, I discovered they would be ringing at 11 to 11.30 AM! which is a much more sociable time to be letting them in and out of the church.

May I take this opportunity to wish all the Coltishall parishioners a rather late Happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Audrey Weston
Secretary