Troyte Ringing Centre
Registered Charity Number 1179374
News - Archive Page 3
In memory of Pat Hatchett (17.06.1933 - 16.10.2023)
Pat started learning to ring in 1965, being taught by Mike Hatchett. Although it started out with Mike simply being her tutor, the relationship blossomed and they married in 1972.
Prior to married life, Pat worked in the beauty industry. She
initially trained at a London college before opening her own beauty salon. She
gave up her business after having children, Mark and David, but continued to
work as a beautician from home on a private basis.
In the fifty plus years Pat and Mike were married, together they made over 5000 jars of marmalade and a similar amount of apple chutney. At today’s prices, they raised about £20,000 for their local churches. In addition, when visitors came to ring at Bampton or Huntsham bells, Pat would provide tea and cakes for refreshments.
Many years ago, Pat and Mike visited ‘Troyte’s ring of eight’ (Huntsham) and was shocked at the terrible state of repair it was in; the tower leaked and the floor was rotten and dangerous. Pat was keen to work with Mike to raise the funds needed to repair and restore the tower to create the ‘Troyte Ringing Centre’. Over a two-year period, Pat identified a range of people to contact and Mike began writing letters in the hope they would be able to raise the initial £65,000 needed to start restoration work.
After the Huntsham project was completed Pat, Mike and the TRC team continue to raise funds so that in 50 or so years’ time all the funds needed to rehang these bells will be available for the work to take place. At the time of her passing, the funds for future major works on the Huntsham ring of eight and the Bampton ring of six bells exceed £27,000 in value.
Pat’s very last words on the evening before she passed away were to ask for her shoes as she “was going walking”. This is a lesson to us all; never give up. Instead, keep on taking small steps, even when the going is tough, and no-one notices what you are doing.
Rest in Peace.
Taken from a longer In Memoriam by Lesley Knipe, with some help from Mike Hatchett.
Young Ringers at the TRC
TRC Young Ringers are making good progress. In the last few months Jonah and Gil have both gained level 1 using the Learning the Ropes Scheme. Eddie has recently achieved levels 3 and 4, having rung 3 different Quarter Peals. Fergus has rung a number of Quarter Peals, having completed the Learning the Ropes level 5 in June this year. Both Fergus and Eddie have been ringing on the Mini Ring in Uffculme.
Gil being presented with his certificate
Eddie receiving his certificates from Sheila
The band for Eddie's first quarter peal
Sheila Scofield
Bampton Open Tower Event – September 2023
A September Sunday afternoon saw St. Michael’s Bampton hosting an Open Tower Event which attracted nearly 20 people. Intrepid members of the public were helped to mount the steps up the tower to see the church clock and climb further ladders into the bell chamber to have the bell mechanism explained and see a silent bell being rung. This was followed back in the ringing room by a demonstration by a team of ringers showing the two types of ringing in Devon – call changes and method (or “scientific”) ringing. The braver visitors then had a go at ringing one of the two strokes on a bell themselves.
Visitors were also treated to displays and videos about bells and bellringing in the church and offered tea and cake. Information about what is involved in learning to ring was also given to all the visitors. The event was organised as part of the national Heritage Open Days.
Teddy Bear Parachuting – August Bank Holiday Monday 2023
Volunteers from the Ringing Centre helped over 60 brave teddy bears make the parachute jump from the tower roof of St. Michael’s, Bampton on Bank Holiday Monday. Excited youngsters and the not-so-young queued to get their favourite bears hoisted aloft in preparation for the jump. After retrieving the bear following the jump, owners received a Certificate of Bravery for their bear and a chocolate bar for themselves.
The parachuting raised £168 for the Ringing Centre and was part of a wider event which raised over £1,000 for Christian Aid and the St. Michael’s Heating Fund.
Level 1 certificate awarded to Jonah
Congratulations to Jonah, who was awarded Level 1
certificate and badge from the Learning the Ropes Scheme. After completing some
very good call changes at Bampton on Thursday 29th June he also
received a copy of the Ringer’s Guide to Learning the Ropes.
Les Boyce
Well Done Fergus
Congratulations to Fergus on achieving Level 5 on Learning the Ropes. Fergus began ringing in 2015 with the Bampton After School Bell Club. To achieve this final level on the scheme he completed the third QP required for the fifth level on 2nd June ringing 1260 of Plain Bob Minor inside. He has already started working through the LtR 5+ achievement logbook and is currently viewing University placements that have University bellringing teams.
Guild of Devonshire Ringers
Huntsham, Devon
All Saints
Friday, 2 June 2023 in 44m (8–0–27 in A♭)
1260 Plain Bob Minor
1 Michael Hatchett
2 Charlotte Boyce
3 Fergus Kettleborough
4 Sheila Scofield
5 Leslie Boyce
6 John R Martin (C)
Fergus completes Learning the Ropes Level 5 with this QP.
Also a 70th birthday compliment to Sheila.
Quarter Peal Band
Fergus is a regular member of the Bampton band. He was also a member of the Devon Young Ringers team which achieved 4th place in the National Youth Contest held in Exeter in July 2022.
Sheila Scofield
Ringing for the King's Coronation
Members of the Troyte Ringing Centre were busy over the first weekend in May with special ringing for the Coronation of King Charles III. At Bampton, prior to the service held in Westminster Abbey on the morning of Saturday 6th, eight of the Bampton ringers rang touches of call changes and Plain Bob Doubles. Among the ringers was Simon Bartlett, Bampton’s Town Crier, who joined the ringing after making his Coronation proclamation in the town. Details of the ringing are on
a
BellBoard Link.
Coronation Ringing at Bampton May 6th 2023
In the afternoon the two medieval bells dating from about 1300 at Petton
church were swing-chimed and in the evening general ringing (
BellBoard
Link) and an extent of 720 changes of Plain Bob Minor (
BellBoard
Link) was rung at Huntsham. Further ringing took place in the afternoon at Bampton
for a wedding being held the same day as the Coronation (
BellBoard
Link).
Coronation Ringing at Huntsham May 6th 2023
In addition to the activities on Coronation Day itself several members joined in ringing events for the Coronation both before and after the event. Peals were rung at Huntsham on Thursday 4 May (Rutland Surprise Major) and the Thursday following (New Cambridge Surprise Major). Further afield, Mike Hatchett rang a peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal at Shepton Beauchamp on Coronation Eve, thereby ringing peals on Coronation Eve 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II and on Coronation Eve 2023 for King Charles III. He also rang in two 6-bell peals in Wiltshire in the weeks before and after the Coronation. Other members were involved in ringing a quarter peal in Tiverton on the Sunday and ringing in the villages around Tiverton – Cruwys Morchard, Upton Pyne and Witheridge - on the Monday Bank Holiday.
Les Boyce, TRC Chairman
Moving on from Plain Bob Doubles
This April I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take part in a Troyte Ringing Centre
short course called Moving on from Plain Bob Doubles. The idea was to introduce learners who
were comfortable with ringing a touch of P.B.D. to St Simon’s Bob Doubles and friends. The
course consisting of a theory session followed by a practical ringing session.
Thursday afternoon I met with my fellow Iearners, Magot, Carla, Paul and Jack in the very
comfortable and pleasant Library and Resource Centre in Brampton. Immediately made to feel at
home by our trainers, Les Boyce and Mike Hatchett, with tea, coffee and a plentiful supply of
biscuits. We were presented with very professional and comprehensive learning packs from which
we were able to grasp the theory of the method, and the two hour session flew by. I think we were
all very surprised to learn just how many friends St Simon’s had, not realising he was such a
popular chap, and there was a moment of panic about just how many of these friends we would
be trying to ring. We were quickly reassured that the object of the practical session was to ring a
plain course of St Simon’s and his best friends, St Martin’s, St Osmund, and Eynesbury.
Two days later we were all met up again with several lovely helpers at Huntsham Church to see
how much of the four methods we had managed to absorb. There was many ups and downs as
you would expect, but there was plenty of time, support and encouragement for everyone to have
a go at all four methods and in the end our trainers were very happy with our first attempts. The
session ended with a pleasant lunch provided by Sheila Scofield and a time to relax and chat. To
continue to improve it was agreed that the group would arrange further practical sessions in the
near future at Huntsham.
Group photo of trainees at Huntsham Church April 2023
This course was a very good and fun way to explore new methods and I would certainly
recommend it to any learner wishing to move on from PBD. It certainly gave me a big boost to be
able say I now know four new methods as I left Huntsham church that afternoon with a smile on
my face and the feeling of real achievement.
Moira Bell, St Peter’s Tiverton
Cadbury Ringers learning to raise & lower in peal
Having recently had the bells re-hung, the band approached the Troyte Ringing Centre for some support in Raising & Lowering the bells in peal. Having had to cancel the date in December, due to snow, we were able to meet the request on Saturday 25th February. On a cold, yet sunny, morning in a church which has yet to raise further funds, this time for heating, seven members of the band were supported by six helpers from other towers.
Beginning the session with raising 4 bells, one student in at a time, tips and hints on improving performance along with video clips from the ART Raising & Lowering DVD, all progressed on to ringing all 6 bells with two or three students in at a time, the morning soon flew by. All made significant gains in understanding & performance.
Thanks to Gordon and his wife, Chris, for a warm welcome and time to catch up over lunch at Cadbury House.
The group photo in Cadbury Church around the font - 25th February 2023 Photo: Shiela Scofield
Sheila Scofield
Parachuting Teddies 2022
Reproduced from the September '22 issue of Ringing Round Devon
Cream Teas in Bampton Churchyard
The Bellringers invited residents of Bampton to join them for cream teas during one of the hottest days in August. Tables were set in the shade of the Yew tree, teas served from the West door and tables set with interesting items for sale under the shade of the Maple tree. This was an excellent chance for Bampton folk to meet with the bellringers, hear about bellringing and for the Bellringers to raise £470 towards the TRC. The Troyte Ringing Centre raises money to keep the bells in good order, invest in the future and to contribute to the costs of the Church.
August 10 2022 - Volunteers and customers at the sales stalls
-photo by Jessie Jones
Jeffrey Knipe: 1949 - 2022 R.I.P.
Jeffrey died at home after a very short illness on Sunday 30 January 2022. He had been under the weather for some time, for longer than most of us knew. But the weather continued to get worse until a week in hospital was needed during early January 2022, followed by a programme of palliative care.
Jeff had been a key member of the Troyte Ringing Centre peal band for almost exactly 17 years. His first peal at Huntsham was on 22 December 2004 (peal no 19 in this tower) and his last was on 16 December 2021 (peal no 603 in the tower). He was an extremely competent ringer making very few method errors. Perhaps five or six peals passing between small almost un-noticed trips. He was always a very welcome and reliable member of the band. He was also a competent conductor and seemed to really enjoy conducting Grandsire on any number of bells.
However Jeffrey had other skills. Peal ringing at Huntsham contains a strong social element - usually a pub lunch at The Redwoods in Uplowman, or a cooked breakfast there, if the peal failed early enough! Conversation formed a big part of these occasions and Jeffrey was excellent at introducing topics into conversation that he knew would generate animated discussion amongst those present. Sometimes the conversation became very animated and after lunch those lunching at adjacent tables received an apology. We need not have worried too much because we discovered some came to lunch at The Redwoods on Thursdays to listen to the conversations of these strange people who spent so much time ringing tower bells.
Shepton Beauchamp was his home tower. Jeff did much for this church, its tower and its bells. This excellent light ring of twelve bells, for which Jeff did so much, will sound out their message in his memory for years to come.
Jeffrey loved his family, especially his grand children and it was wonderful that he could spend time with his wife, his children and grandchildren during his final period of bad weather.
Jeffrey will be missed by many. His contribution to the Troyte Ringing Centre peal band has been enormous and he will be irreplaceable.
Rest in Peace Jeff and Rise in Glory.
500 Peals on Huntsham Bells for Mike Hatchett
Congratulations to Mike Hatchett. On Thursday 13th January 2022 he rang
his 500th peal on the bells at Huntsham. The peal band are detailed
below:
Guild of Devonshire Ringers
Thursday, 13 January 2022 in 2hr:39min
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by Robert D S Brown
1 Peter L Bill
2 Frederick J Sage
3 Rev Christopher Renyard
4 Richard H Johnston
5 Michael Hatchett
6 R Nicholas Lawrence
7 James Kirkcaldy
8 Robert D S Brown (C)
Mike Hatchett's 500th peal on the bells
Bellboard Link
Ken Smith
Teddy Bear Parachuting 2021
Back in action after 2 years the Troyte Ringing Centre were back in action on August Bank Holiday raising money for Christian Aid. Bellringers from Bampton & Tiverton entertained their audience of young, and not so young, bear owners by launching their well loved teddies from Bampton tower. Queues of teddies lined up on the tables waiting to have their parachutes attached. Taken two by two up to the top of the tower, in a basket, to be launched from the top one at a time. The weather was kind, with a breeze from the NE which meant only one casualty falling into a nearby tree. From past experience the ringers retrieved him by means of a line from the top of the tower and he was sent off for a second attempt. More than 50 certificates for bravery were issued and all went away happy.
Top of the tower launching the teddies - Mike Hatchett and
Mike Ward
Ground staff helpers - Carla Dawes, Ann Barrow, Jenny Jones, Jess, Fergus and
Les Boyce
Sheila Scofield
Photographs Sheila Scofield and Mike Ward (top of the tower)
600 Peals at Huntsham
Congratulations to all the peal ringers at Huntsham. On Thursday 18th November 2021
the 600th peal was rung on bells at Huntsham. The 600th peal band are detailed
below:
Dorset County Association
Thursday, 18 November 2021 in 2hr:37min
5004 Back Se Fore Alliance Major
Composed by Robert D S Brown
1 Michael Hatchett
2 Jeffrey Knipe
3 David Hird
4 R Nicholas Lawrence
5 Lesley A Knipe
6 Rev Christopher Renyard
7 James Kirkcaldy
8 Robert D S Brown (C)
The 600th peal on the bells
First Peal in the Method
Back se fore Alliance Major
Place notation-38-14-56-36-34-18-34-56-78,12
Leadhead d 18674523
FCH Groups BDa
Ken Smith
Teddy Bear Parachuting Back by Popular Demand!
If you go down to the Church today
You’re sure of a big surprise
If you go down to the Church today
You’d better go in disguise!
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain
Because today’s the day the
Teddy Bears have their big jump!
It seemed like the whole of Bampton turned out
in force to make sure the Teddy Bear parachuting was a great success this year.
In time honoured tradition Garfield was the first bear to have a go followed by
all the other brave bears of Bampton including a crocodile, an Elsa doll,
Paddington bear, a fluffy bat and a vintage bear (don’t think it was a Steiff!)
Each bear was awarded a Certificate of Bravery and went home triumphant.
Cream teas were available in the church and despite busy bakers having made 8
dozen scones the cream teas sold out. There was also a quiz with questions
about the Church. The weather was kind to us and we enjoyed the sunshine.
The event raised £298.53. This will form part of the Troyte Ringing Centre
donation to the Bampton Church Fabric Fund. But perhaps more importantly,
a lot of fun was had by all.
One brave Teddy in flight and then safely down.
View from above and one Ted got stuck on the roof. Here is the rescue operation captured on camera.
We were all wearing our new Troyte Ringing Centre Hi Viz jackets.
Here is Mike Ward our Bampton Steeplekeeper modelling the jacket.
Mandy Burnett
Replacing the Bampton Clapper
I have prepared a photo essay showing the Replacement of Tenor Clapper at Bampton,
that can be downloaded in PDF format
HERE.
Jack Ward
500 Peals at Huntsham
Congratulations to all the peal ringers at Huntsham. On 17th May 2018
the 500th peal was rung on bells at Huntsham. The 500th peal band are detailed
below:
Guild of Devonshire Ringers
Thursday, 17 May 2018 in 2hr:44min
5040 Surprise Minor (7 Methods)
One extent each :- London, Ipswich, York, Durham, Beverley, Surfleet, Cambridge
1 Mervyn C Way
2 Jane C Spencer
3 Lynne P Hughes
4 Richard H Johnston
5 Michael R Spencer
6 Donald B Carter (C)
The 500th peal on the bells
25th this year - 6
75th together - 5 & 6
Rung as a 70th birthday compliment to Richard Johnston
Ken Smith
100 "Castle" Peals Completed
Congratulations to all the peal ringers that have taken part in the "Great
Western Castle Class Locomotives Peal Project", which was 100 peals
rung to commemorate, as the name suggests, the GWR Castle Class of locomotives.
Most of the peals have been
rung at Huntsham, however on 29th September 2018
the 100th peal, "5057 Earl Waldegrave Surprise Major", was rung at St Mary Magdalene church, Chewton Mendip.
The Waldegrave family seat is Chewton House, near
Chewton Mendip.
The 100th "Castle" peal band are detailed
below:
Full
details of the Great Western Castle Class Locomotives Peal Project can be found here.
5057 Earl Waldegrave Surprise Major
Composed by Charles Middleton arranged by Robert D S Brown
1 Thomas R Garrett
2 Barrie Hendry
3 Lesley A Knipe
4 Rev Christopher Renyard
5 Andrew H Ball
6 Jeffrey Knipe
7 Robert D S Brown (C)
8 Timothy F Collins
First Peal in the method Earl Waldegrave Surprise Major
-38-14-58-16-12-38-14.56.5678-1456.56.38-12-16-58-14-38-12
Leadhead b 15738264
FCH Groups BDc
Remembering Great Western Castle Class Locomotive No 5057 Earl Waldegrave
Originally built as Penrice Castle, June 1936. First shed allocation Newton
Abbot. Renamed October 1937. Double chimney and 4 row super heater fitted July
1958. Last shed allocation Old Oak Common. Withdrawn March 1964 and scrapped.
This now completes the Great Western Castle Class Series with all locomotives
from 5000 Launceston Castle to 5099 Compton Castle having been rung to the
length of the engine number . The ringers of 3, 6 ,7 and 8 have personally
completed the series.
The band would like to associate the peal with the late John Cornelius of
Shepton Beauchamp whose article in the ringing world “Railway Reveries” was part
of the inspiration to undertake this series.
Ken Smith
Ringing Remembers
Huntsham ring in Remembrance, 11th November 2018
Sheila Scofield
Tiverton, St Peter's celebrate 150 years of bellringing
The Band who rang in 2018: Tim Bayton, Catherine Thorpe, Sheila Scofield, Matthew Weighell,
Les Boyce, Mark Heritage, Charlotte Boyce. John Martin, taking the photo, was the 8th ringer
(Image: John Martin)
Bells have rung out over Tiverton in celebration of the 150 anniversary of bellringing in the town.
Although bells had been rung at St. Peter’s since Tudor times, by the mid-19 century the existing ring of eight bells had fallen into
disrepair and one bell was badly cracked. Under the leadership of Col. Charles Troyte of Huntsham Court a new group of ringers,
the St Peter’s Society of Change Ringers, was formed in November 1867 to put the bells into good order and to ring regularly for services.
After a year of restoration work an “Inauguration Festival” of ringing was held in November 1868. This culminated in a peal rung by the
St Stephens Ringers from Bristol which consisted of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples, taking nearly three hours of continuous performance.
To mark the 150 anniversary of that first “scientific” peal at St Peter’s and the end of the 150 year of the Society, a band consisting of
four resident members and four invited ringers met at St Peter’s on Saturday November 24 to ring a similar peal of Grandsire Triples.
Les Boyce, a member of the Tiverton bellringers said: “5040 is the maximum number of different changes which can be rung on seven changing bells
without any repetition. Ringing without a break and following the method’s pattern from memory, this was a significant challenge for several members of the band.
“However, the piece was performed with good striking throughout and completed in
3 hours and 22 minutes – a remarkable feat of mental and physical endurance.”
Reproduced from devonlive.com
Mike Hatchett celebrates his 2000th Peal
On Thursday, 17 January 2019, with a peal of
Yorkshire Surprise Major, rung at Huntsham, Devon, Mike Hatchett achieved his
2000th peal,
sixty-six years plus after his first. Although he has lived in Devon in this millennium,
he was formerly a resident member of the Oxford Diocesan Guild, with whom he rang his early peals.
His first peal was rung at Horton, Bucks in August 1952. Mike rang his 1000th peal in
June 2008 at
Wonston, Hants.
Bath & Wells Diocesan Association
Huntsham, Devon
All Saints
Thursday, 17 January 2019 in 2h 51 (8–0–27 in A♭)
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by R D S Brown
1 Jane C Spencer
2 Lesley A Knipe
3 Rev Christopher Renyard
4 Richard H Johnston
5 Michael Hatchett
6 R Nicholas Lawrence
7 Michael R Spencer
8 Jeffrey Knipe (C)
2000th peal for Michael Hatchett
Ken Smith
Certificates for our RINGING REMEMBERS Recruits
Here is Nano receiving his Level 2 Learning the
Ropes Certificate. Nano has been ringing for 1 year and is making great strides.
He is a helper at the Bampton after school Bell Club and comes to practice
nights at both Huntsham and Bampton. Now he has his Level 2 he says he will come
to more Sunday Service ringing and will soon be ringing at his first wedding. I
am extra proud as he is my first Learner. Well done Nano!
Our Troyte Ringing Centre adult learners have
achieved Level 1 Learning the Ropes. Bridget and Steve have been having lessons
on the Bampton Practice bell with Mike and Pat Hatchett and they regularly come
to Thursday practice nights at Bampton. Last week we all enjoyed some call
changes at backstroke. Well done Steve and Bridget!
Mandy Burnett
