Newsletter March 2012 - chantler.plus.com

Wellingborough Branch
The New Year has started well, when some 50 people attended the Annual
General Meeting which was held at Finedon. For those who attended for the
meeting only they missed an excellent service and address by the Rev Richard
Coles who is also a Radio 4 presenter on Saturday live. He gave a short address
about how the sound of the bells ringing meant different things to different
people, including his two dogs who he said when they heard the start of the bells
they would settle down for an hours sleep as it meant he was working.
Similarity to my dog who settles himself down and quickly falls asleep in the
ringing chamber window until the practice is over and the bells are in rounds
and lowered. At this point he raises his head and starts to whimper.
It was with regret that the Committee accepted the resignation of Janet Wilkins
who has retired after many years as Vice Chairman and 200 club organiser but
we wish her well in what ever she does with this free time.
It seems an eternity now since the branch held it's annual quiz at Earls Barton
Church Hall in early December. There were 11 teams taking part and as usual
the event was very competitive with the Rushden team winning by 1/2 point with
971/2 out of 100 followed by a team from Bedford who regularly join us for this
event. All tucked in to an excellent supper prepared by Brenda Dixon and a
variety of puddings prepared by branch members. The competitors all agreed
that the quiz had been not too hard but not too easy, thanks to the preparation
of the questions by Brenda and John Dixon.
If we turn the clock back even more to the Summer Festival and the 8 bell
striking competition at Thrapston, our congratulations to the team of:- Harry
Curtis Irchester, Pam Bailey, Sarah Hedgecock,Cathy Dixon, Alan Marks, Simon
Dixon all from Rushden and Tim Samson of Orlingbury who came lst with
Kettering 2nd and Daventry 3rd.
Congratulations to Rodney (Rod) Walker who has since
the last issue celebrated 70 years young. Rod is a
retired bell hanger who worked for John Taylor of
Loughborough for 23 years. He travelled all over
the world in his working capacity. Rod learnt to
ring at Harold in Bedfordshire when only a mere lad
and to mark this a peal of Cambridge Surprise
Minor was rung by his Bedfordshire friends with
Rod on the Treble and to mark his attachment to
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Irchester for over 35 years a quarter peal of Plain