Outing Report 2005
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Bosham in the Meon Valley '05 By Paul Robinson
Bosham in the Meon Valley proclaimed the flier advertising the tower outing in the ringing chamber. No big deal there you may say but when was the last time you heard of Bosham (ringers) doing anything (other than watching the flooding the cars of unwitting visitors at high tide whilst they drink unaware of the perils in the Anchor Bleu)? Certainly in my time at Bosham we have not had an outing although we are encouraging ringers to spread their wings at other towers. King Canute is famed for awaiting the flood tide at Bosham to prove that he had no control over the rising waters, so it was with some trepidation that twelve Bosham ringers, four visitors from Westbourne (including John who always rings with us on Thursday), Barbara from Portsea and a non-ringer set out in a minibus and two cars (three had to come home at lunch-time) for the Meon Valley on 21st May. The journey out was timed to the minute and we almost kept to our schedule. Trepidation because for some of our number this was the first time of ringing anywhere other than Bosham and we hoped that we would have more control over the bells than King Canute had over the rising tide. In addition, the trip held further horrors. We were to ring at two towers with eight bells and this was another first for some - including our longest serving ringer George who had celebrated his ninetieth birthday the previous May. That had been celebrated by a quarter peal - another rare feat for Bosham. There were the best part of eighty years between our youngest and oldest ringers on this outing. The day had dawned fine and clear but that didn’t last and we arrived at Wickham (6 x 8 cwt) in a fine drizzle (plus a minibus and two cars). Here was our first challenge - a narrow steep stairway with a narrow hatch and one of our number has recently had a knee operation. Undaunted, we all managed the first hurdle and reached the ringing chamber. It was a squash but we even managed some reasonable Grandsire although the usual excuses of “I can’t do that on a Sunday” needed some quick modifying to “I’d better not because I’m at a new tower”. The only real excitement came when one ringer thought he had over-pulled and felt himself rising up. No it wasn’t a stay, just late-comers pushing up the trap door beneath his feet. We left for Shedfield feeling a little elated. As a band we had achieved something. A new tower and new bells. It was a Bat Day at Shedfield (8 x 13 cwt) and that wasn’t just because we were visiting. The Old Tower (which isn’t really) is a bat sanctuary and as it was open day we could buy coffee and visit the bats in the (almost) belfry. Betty Daysh, who met us, remembered Bosham ringers of years gone by who used to cycle all over the area to ring; such names as Peter Bond, Norman Smith and the redoubtable Winnie Keys (I only met her the once in her latter years) were mentioned. It was a while before many of us remembered we had actually come to ring the bells, so busy were we buying cabbage plants, drinking coffee and climbing ladders. Try as we might we couldn’t persuade Joan to attempt the spiral staircase to the ringing chamber but we enjoyed greatly the experience of ringing on eight and yes, we did try Grandsire Triples; but only for a while! The drizzle had stopped by the time we left the church and had changed into a cloudburst but it was a happy party who travelled the short journey to the highlight of the day - lunch at the Black Dog at Waltham Chase. We were only a little late leaving Shedfield as Joy and Kathy were STILL buying cabbage plants but the pub lived up to expectations (it had been recommended by local ringers) even if we had to limit the alcohol intake for fear it would inhibit (improve?) our ringing ability (some chance!) Don’t try ringing at Bishop’s Waltham (8 x 11 cwt) unless you’ve checked out where the church is first. This is wonderful ground floor eight - so no excuses for not making it to the ringing chamber this time - but the church is tucked around the back of the town. The joy here was ringing with the outside door open (well just for a while as it was a little draughty) as the sun was shining by now. We didn’t inflict our Grandsire on the locals here but achieved some creditable ringing nonetheless - mainly doubles with lots of covers A jewel in this part of Hampshire really must be the church of Our Lady of Warnford. Again, it is worth checking locations first as this is in a walled estate and access is on foot only unless you have made arrangements. The 6 bells (12 cwt) are fairly new and the Bosham ringers enjoyed them greatly. We even tried some Stedman and surprisingly managed a course quite acceptably. We had to ring down here and this is not our strong point. Unfortunately, apart from the cows there were few to hear the unusual sound of lowering in (almost) rounds all the way! Hambledon is famous for its water. The church must now be infamous for its Death Watch Beetle which appears to have necessitated the almost complete removal of the roof! Fortunately the tower seems to be sound and the 10 cwt six were a pleasure to ring (well, apart for the tenor which apparently was playing up, although the local received opinion was that possibly it was the ringers who were doing the playing up). We again achieved Stedman and all the ringers had a good go, from rounds upward - we were not rushed to leave and made the most of our time there. The journey back to Bosham was only marred by the driver’s failure to stop at toilets in the next village but we made it back without any accidents! We have a large number of ringers ‘on our books’. Sadly not all of them are able to ring regularly for services but it seems that outings and meetings do a great deal to revive and stimulate interest in ringing. I would recommend both to all ringers as a way of adding general interest to the art. It is many years since I organised a ringing outing. I would like to think that we all are as helpful to visitors as the tower correspondents I contacted - every one was full of advice and prepared to make suggestions to make the day work well. I thank them all. At Bosham we are now aiming for Single Oxford and even Cambridge. Maybe our next outing will be a little further afield, a little sooner and even more daring with its methods. Watch this space!
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