Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Ringers Pull Weeds, Not Ropes

Left to right: Jan Wilsden, Alice Heilker, Kathryn Tucker,
Diana Witt and Derek Wilsden

"Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere
Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share"

All moms and dads of a certain age know that song - it's the Barney "clean-up" song and we gritted our teeth every time our tots listened to it on the TV. However, it is appropriate to quote it in this case - on Saturday, March 27th, five St. James ringers took to the soil instead of the bells, complying with a request made by the parish secretary, Paige Bushart, for all hands to help clean up around the church in anticipation of Easter crowds.
It was a cool, breezy Saturday; however, we stayed warm by digging up weeds, pruning trees, laying pine bark and generally making ourselves useful. We missed our ringing, but knew we were doing something very worthwhile - contributing to the welfare of St. James, the church that makes our ringing possible.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Youngest St. James Quarter Peal Ringer

Quarter peal band (l to r): Charley Heilker, Kathryn Tucker, Alice Heilker, Mary Platt, Cathy Brown (conductor), Derek Wilsden, Will Eubanks and Matt Brown.

Will Eubanks stands at the tenor bell, 5 cwt.

On March 6, the day of the St. James' Guild of Change Ringers AGM, one of our young ringers participated in a quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples. Will Eubanks became the youngest guild member to ring a quarter peal on the bells, at the ripe old age of 13! He rang tenor behind, and did it very capably and rhythmically - a "must" when ringing a method on 7 bells.
Will has been participating in the Wednesday night youth ringing class for a number of years, and has been progressing steadily under the tutelage of Derek Wilsden, assisted by Charley and Alice Heilker, Cathy Brown and Mary Platt. He has become a reliable member of our Sunday service band, as well as participating in various special ringing events. He is involved in quite a few other activities, so we are grateful that his enthusiasm for ringing brings him to us as often as it does.
Congratulations to Will, and may this be the beginning of a long and enjoyable ringing career.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

St. James Annual General Meeting

The St James Guild of Change Ringers met last Saturday, March 6, at the home of Derek and Jan Wilsden for the Guild's Annual General Meeting. At the proceedings, guild officers Mary Platt (Tower Captain), Kathryn Tucker (Ringing Master), Alice Gough Heilker (Secretary), and Chris Brown (Treasurer) were reelected for their respective positions. Charley Heilker will continue as Steeple Keeper, Diane Campion as Shirt Maven, and Jan Wilsden will oversee our social calendar, with help we hope. And Sally Karkula will take over responsibilities of Librarian. Thank you ALL for your willingness to serve. After the intensity of another election season, we dismissed the lobbyists and got to the real business of the evening -- a wonderful meal, catching up on friendships and news, and celebrating Cathy Brown's birthday (28th, I think). Thank you to the Wilsden's for sharing their home with us for the evening.

The AGM was preceded by a very special accomplishment. Will Eubanks, age 13, completed his first quarter peal. He is the first St. James' young ringers to reach this level. He rang the 595-lb #8 bell as tenor to 1260 changes of Plain Bob Triples. Congratulations to Will and to the St James instructors who have been working so faithfully with our young ringers. We look forward to many more quarter peals with Will.