I was lucky enough to be invited on a Peal tour of Suffolk by the Lancashire Association.
My first stop on the 8th May was S Gregory in Sudbury, a 16cwt 8 in the note of E. I arrived with an hour to spare and so had a walk around the lovely town.
The bells were due to be re-hung the following week, so this would be the last peal on the bells before the re-hanging. Unfortunately we didn't make the Peal, but as we often say: 'if they were easy to get, they wouldn't be worth getting!'
After the peal attempt we went to discuss the loss at a nearby pub and socialise with some of the ringers that I had never met before. I then went off to find my hotel for the evening and to try and find an evening meal. About a mile down the road I found an Indian and so took a leisurely stroll in the late evening springtime sun.
As you can see the food didn't disappoint, it was fantastic.
The next morning, (9th May) I got up early and travelled to the first tower. I arrived in plenty of time and well before my other team mates. So I went for a walk around a disused quarry ay the back on the church.
After my walk, I made my way to the Church and met my other team mates.
The Church at Barham. There are 6 bells at Barham and the tenor weights 11cwt, further details of the bells can be found here:
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?tower=16954 The bell ropes fell into the church porch, as it was such a lovely sunning morning it was a pleasure to ring there, not so sure if it had been a cold frosty morning! The peal was successful and was finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Further details of the peal can be found here:
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1515912
After the peal we made our to Wickham Market to The Tea pot for lunch.
The afternoon peal was at Cretingham, Martin, who was in charge of organising the tour had pealed the bells at Cretingham many years before when there had only been 5 bells. They are now a 7cwt 6, similar to Haughton. Here is the listing on the Dove site.
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?tower=15333. The peal was a success and was completed in 2 hours and 45 minutes, details of which can be found on Bellboard:
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1515911It was the Lancashire 39th peal tour, and it has been running for 40 years, with only a couple of years been missed due to the recent Covid pandemic.
That was was me done, the rest of the Peal tour ringers were stopping on to the Friday, but I had to leave due to work and family commitments, so I made my way around the winding country Suffolk roads to the A14, and then eventually on to the M6 to get home.
Hopefully my ringing was good enough to get an invite next year!
Trevor Lock
