WINCHESTER AND PORTSMOUTH DIOCESAN GUILD.

PORTSMOUTH DISTRICT AT CURDRIDGE.

Excellent weather favoured the meeting of the Portsmouth District held at Curdridge on Saturday last [July 21st], and, although the attendance was not up to the usual average, those who did attend had a very enjoyable time. Members were present from Bishop’s Waltham, Curdridge, Fareham, Haslemere, Portsmouth (St. Mary’s), Ringwood, Swanmore and Wickham, and also Mr. G. Bull from Binfield, Berks.

Service was held at 4.30 p.m., at which the Vicar (Rev. A. Helps Storey) conducted the Guild’s form of service. In the course of his address he expressed delight in welcoming the members to Curdridge, and hoped that they would soon visit them again.

A splendid tea awaited the ringers at the Reading Room, over which the Vicar presided. At the business meeting which followed he was unanimously voted to the chair, and was supported by the secretary (Mr. F. W. Rogers). Several new members were elected, including the Vicar as an honorary member, and Messrs. C. Guy (St. Mary’s, Portsmouth), and E. Warner (St. Thomas’), as ringing members.

It was decided to hold the next meeting at Shedfield together with Wickham and Swanmore during October, the date being left for the secretary to arrange. Due notice of this however will be given in ‘The Ringing World.’

It was also decided to hold a by-meeting at Bishop’s Waltham (where it is hoped shortly to complete the octave) on August 25th or, failing that, at Hambledon.

Votes of thanks were accorded the Vicar for the use of the bells, Mr. A. Mears for having everything in readiness, and also to the organist. This concluded the meeting and the members returned to the tower for further ringing, where they were met by the Master (Mr. G. Williams), who had come from another meeting at Micheldever. The Vicar accompanied the ringers to the tower, and took part in some Grandsire Triples. Other ringing included Stedman Triples, Plain Bob, Treble Bob, Double Norwich, Cambridge and Norfolk Surprise Major.

At the request of the Vicar, after the tower-bell ringing had ceased, some of the members rang touches of Grandsire Caters, Stedman Triples and Treble Bob Major ‘in hand’ on the Vicarage lawn.

The Ringing World No. 905, July 27th, 1928, page 474