Sat, 24 February 2007

Well done to the Rochester District band for coming 2nd in the county 8 bell striking competition at St Margaret, Rochester on 24th February.

As most people would not have rung on these bells, only reinstalled in March 2006, it was felt ringers should have the opportunity to ring them.  They are a light ring of eight, reasonably easy to ring in spite of the long draught.  All six Districts had entered a band, the draw taking place at 2.45pm and ringing commencing at 3.00pm.  The judges, Nigel and Janice Taylor from Rayleigh, Essex, arrived in good time to try the bells and choose a position in the gallery to judge from.

Ringing commenced more or less on time while waiting bands either milled around in the church or outside in the churchyard where, in spite of the strong wind blowing, there is a splendid view of the River Medway and you can hear the bells well.

After all the teams had rung the allotted test piece, which was a plain course of Oxford Treble Bob Major, a superb tea was supplied by the Friends of the Parish of Rochester.  Donations were invited and a sum of £102 was raised to be divided between church funds and the St Margaret's tower fund.

The judges were then invited to give the results.  They gave comments on each band, saying that on the whole the ringing was very good but two of the bands rang too fast causing them to incur faults by tripping over themselves.  The results were then declared in the usual reverse order with Canterbury District being declared the winners.  The trophy was duly presented to the winning band.

The Association Chairman, David Manger, then gave a vote of thanks to Father Gary Colville for the use of the bells, to the judges Nigel and Janice Taylor, and to Ray Cowley and the St Margaret's band for arranging for the bells to be available and organising screens to the ringing chamber and finally to the Friends of the Parish of Rochester for tea.

The final places and faults were as follows: -

[Margaret Funnell]