Saturday, 7th August 2021 saw the return of Lilliputters Guild events after an 18 month hiatus, not least brought about because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Whilst too many uncertainties over restrictions meant a Summer Tour was out of the question this year, we were still able to hold a day outing in London. With some 15 attendees, travelling from Swindon and Sussex, Leicester and York, and even the deep, dark depths of the New Forest, it was certainly good to be back!
0:11 - St Vedast, Foster Lane (6, 16-2-12 in F)
5:39 - St James Garlickhythe (8, 9-1-25 in G#)
11:43 - St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge (12, 26-3-9 in D)
After starting at St Magnus - but more on that later - we wandered over to St Vedast. If some of us looked a bit damp, that’s because we were - the heavens opened in impressive fashion as we walked over! Still, we soon dried off whilst ringing this super mid-weight six, located right across the road from St Paul’s Cathedral and a minute’s walk away from St Mary le Bow - a very prestigious location! The bells here were cast by Mears & Stainbank (Whitechapel) in 1960 and replace a six of similar weight, destroyed in 1941 when the church was bombed. Ringing featured here includes Plain Bob and Norwich Surprise Minor (inside), and Spliced Plain and Little Bob (outside), although Cambridge, Grandsire and Stedman were also rung - the latter, by far and away the best touch here, I regrettably did not record. St Vedast, by the way, was a French bishop, whose name is often translated to Foster in English… surely it is no coincidence the church is on Foster Lane? Two other churches in England - one in Norwich, and one in Tathwell, Lincs - are also dedicated to St Vedast, although neither of these have ringing bells.
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After a hearty and sociable lunch at our favourite haunt (The Crosse Keys), it was off to the Royal Jubilee Bells at Garlickhythe. Cast by Whitechapel in 2012, the bells are most famous of course for their trip along the Thames during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant prior to being hung in the church. Before then, the tower had three clock bells, which still remain, separate to the change ringing bells. We undoubtedly had our best ringing of the day here, and the hour was over all too soon; for your entertainment, may I proudly present a mixture of Bristol, call-changes and Stedman, although good touches of Grandsire and Plain Bob Triples were also brought round successfully.
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Finally, it was back to St Magnus for our second ring of the day here. Another Whitechapel ring, these were cast in 2008, following a project led by Dickon Love to restore bells to the tower following a period of some 70 years’ silence. In 1940, the previous ring of 10 bells had been removed from the tower for safety, lest they be destroyed in the War. They were never put back, in part as four were cracked, and hung around at Whitechapel’s foundry for years before finally being scrapped in 1976. Indeed, thanks must go to Dickon for his flexibility in allowing us to ring here twice, and for his superb website, from whence I have obtained most of the information in this description. Ringing featured here incorporates Double Doubles - with Grandsire on the front 6 and Plain Bob on the back bells - Stedman Triples on the back 8, and - saving the best till last - our traditional Forwards/Backwards, a cracking end to the day and executed in masterful fashion!
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It was certainly good to be back - here’s to the next one!