The York Colleges Guild of Bellringers
Dinner Day Weekend 2006 - 16th-18th June
Group Photo
On Friday evening of June the 16th many people from all around the country made their annual pilgrimage to York for the Guild's Dinner Day. That evening saw ringing at All Saints, North Street. This ground floor ring, which isn't often blessed with the presence of the YCG, presented some problems for those less experienced on hideously odd-struck bells. However, some reasonable ringing was achieved; mostly Doubles and Minor but some Surprise Major was rung with help from past members. The upstairs room at the Yorkshire Terrier, Stonegate, had been booked from 9pm onwards and there everyone stayed until closing time.
The ringing on Saturday this year was in the Selby area, rather than the usual York City Centre towers. Meeting bright and early in Goodricke car park was, perhaps, not the best idea as I found Rebecca Lane patiently waiting at Vanbrugh. Our President was also waiting in the wrong car park after kindly offering to drive some of us to the day's towers. As should have been expected David Denbigh was late as was James Knowles. So, having eventually located all necessary people and placed them in suitable transport, we arrived at Selby Abbey a few minutes late but fortunately the bells were already up and we had to leave them that way when we finished. Lizzy kindly steered the Guild through some Plain Hunt Cinques on this very nice 12. For some members this was the first experience of ringing on 12.
The next tower, Sherburn in Elmet, proved to be a very picturesque church with a resident cat. The bells, rehung by Taylor's in 1993, went okay but were perhaps not the most tuneful of the day. The standard of ringing was high with touches of Stedman Triples and Surprise Major being rung.
Lunch followed at the Sam Smith's brewery tap in Tadcaster; sandwiches and chips had been pre-ordered and were waiting for us on our arrival. Beer flowed and an executive decision that the bill be footed by the YCG was made (Don't tell Allen!). In keeping with tradition, the bright orange Frisbee belonging to Charlotte was giving an airing by Tadcaster church, our next ringing venue.
The ringing at Tadcaster was very enjoyable, with Triples and Major being rung. Bishopthorpe was next on the list, but as the day was getting on the ringing was beginning to deteriorate and a number of ringers decided to go back home rather than make it to the final tower, St Olave's in the city centre. Here we were joined by Ant Allen, who had skived off for most of the day and was very keen to ring. A good touch of Kent was rung but generally the ringing was poor due to everyone being knackered.
This year's dinner was held at 'The Park Inn' (formerly 'The Moat House' and previously 'The Viking') on North Street. There was a minor panic as when we got there they didn't have any record of 'York Colleges Guild', but it turned out that we were down as 'Bell Ringers' instead. Worry over, we were pointed in the direction of our room. Once the feasting was over, Daisy and Sarah had (unknown to our guests) organised a barn dance led by James. This proved to be a lot of fun, but left some people with bruises the next day as barn dancing soon turned into an alcohol-fuelled carnage, with our President David Potter being carried through the air on his chair at speed by Ant and Dom. Fortunately there were no serious casualties. Every one appeared to be very merry, even Allen "I'm not drinking" Eccles. I think only photos can explain the aftermath of the Dinner. All in all a good evening - the best in years, some past members claimed.
Sunday dawned and everyone was up bright and early for service ringing. Well okay, not quite everyone. In fact not many at all. We met at the Potters' who kindly provided lunch before ringing at the 'The Parish' (previously The Arts Centre), the former home of the Guild. Ringing here was very unusual as it is in a bar-cum-restaurant. Many people enjoyed the experience of ringing behind a bar, and watching the bells go round through the windows above. Following that there was ringing at the Minster for Evensong. Quite a scary place for those who haven't rung there before and quite a scary place for people that have! Rounds and call changes on twelve were rung.
That evening the enthusiastic met at Spurriergate for the Colleges Guild practice. The presence of some past members allowed for advanced ringing with Norwich S Minor being scored. After such a long weekend we decided that we should ring down and go to the pub early! The Hansom Cab was our resting place until we were rudely thrown out at closing time.
Our thanks go to Daisy and Sarah for organising Dinner Day, James for co-ordinating drunken people through a barn dance, Arthur for organising the towers, and to the churches that allowed us to use their bells. Thanks also to the people that drove cars and were happy to fill them with bell ringers.
Kevin Atkinson
Getting ready to eat
Table 1
Table 2