One of the things the training officer enjoyed as a youngster was taking part in outings, quarters and peals during the school summer holidays. So, as an experiment, we invited our young ringers to get in touch with their ideas for quarter peals that they would like to attempt. Unfortunately there were only two “takers” but nevertheless the following quarters were arranged and successfully and enjoyably completed with some very good ringing achieved, each one having being requested by the “students”.

LONDON, EC, St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames Street, August 16th, 1319 Grandsire Cinques: Shirley McGill 1,Gillian Leale 2, Anne Rueff 3, Stephanie Rueff (First quarter peal on 12 bells) 4, Sarah Taylor 5, Sheila Cheesman 6, Michael Bangham 7, Michael Uphill 8, Robin Leale 9, John Hawes 10, Leon Thompson 11, Jeremy Cheesman 12. Afterwards, Michael Bangham generously provided refreshment for members of the band to celebrate his birthday.

BENHILTON, All Saints, August 17th, 1280 Yorkshire Surprise Major: Michael Uphill 1, Michael Moreton 2, Thomas Wood (25th quarter) 3, Michael Bangham 4, Sheila Cheesman 5, Shirley McGill 6, Robin Leale 7, Jeremy Cheesman © 8

CARSHALTON, All Saints, August 17th, 1280 Cambridge Surprise Major: Jeremy Cheesman 1, Michael Moreton 2, Sheila Cheesman 3, Thomas Wood (First of Cambridge Major) 4, Shirley McGill 5, Michael Bangham 6, Robin Leale © 7, Michael Uphill 8

WANDSWORTH, Holy Trinity Church, West Hill, August 17th , 1260 Stedman Triples: Robin Leale 1, Sheila Cheesman 2, Thomas Wood (First of Stedman Triples) 3, Michael Moreton 4, Shirley McGill 5, Jeremy Cheesman 6, Michael Uphill © 7, Michael Bangham 8

However, there were a few other youngsters not yet up to quarter peal ringing for whom we were able to arrange a couple of sessions.

The first of these was at St Peter’s, Croydon on Wednesday 18th , during which Joe Wakeling (treble) and James Fox (tenor) rang their longest touch yet, 360 Bob Doubles and this was followed up by James (who is a little older and therefore quite naturally has a little more stamina) ringing the treble to 500 Plain Bob and Grandsire Doubles.

Finally on Friday 20th, we met for a full morning session at St John’s Caterham, courtesy of Noel Gibbin. There we had Noel’s ringing family, Susan and their daughters Alice and Ruth and four youngsters from St Peter’s, South Croydon. Joe Wakeling, and his younger brother, Oliver, were brought along by their dad, Tony, himself a ringer at St Peter’s. Michael Moreton brought along James Fox and George Gillams. Each had three goes at something of their own choice. All of the youngsters had a go at calling some call-changes. James and Joe both rang Bob Doubles “inside” for the first time. One of St Mary’s, Caterham beginners, Laurie, was also able to join in for a few lots of rounds. There was help on hand from Robin and Gill Leale, Jeremy and Sheila Cheesman, Michael Bangham, Ross Weddell and Tom Wood. Many thanks to them all!

After two and a half hours of almost solid ringing we went to the “Pilgrim” and had an enjoyable lunch together. James closed the proceedings by leading the four Croydon boys in a lovely little speech of thanks to the more experienced ringers for guiding them through the morning.

So, I think, a very worth-while experiment, quite a lot achieved. Perhaps on the back of it we might be able to encourage a few more youngsters to join in next time.

Michael Uphill