BELL RINGING


The initial peal of six new bells was installed at St. Giles during 2012. Two further bells were added during April 2021. The pre-existing fourth bell was removed and retuned. See panel to the right.

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The band of St. Giles ringers, all novices when we started in October 2011, practised under the guidance of experienced local ringers.

The Tower Community at St. Giles includes the following:


Tower Captain: Nick Wilkins
Deputy Tower Captain::Lesley Barclay Secretary: Nick Wilkins
Treasurer: Liz Brown
Steeple Keeper: Lesley Barclay

Ringers: Lesley Barclay, Oscar Brooks-Wilkins, Liz Brown, Julie Cox, Sam Cox, Emily Cunnane, Carol Fryer, Joadie Lovrencic. Alex Moore, Jacqui Moore, Megan Smith, Olivia Stanton, Helen Stockman, Nick Wilkins


Sunday service ringing 9.20-10.00am, practice alternate Mondays by arrangement and QPs/peals Tuesdays 11.00am by arrangement.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about bell ringing and/or would like to have a go they should contact Nick Wilkins on 01689 830844 nickwilkins36@gmail.com

See also Installing the St. Giles Bells.

Recent Peals and notable Quarter Peals rung at St. Giles

Peal rung on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 in 2hrs 47mins

(Tenor 3–1–18 in D) 5184 Farnborough Surprise Major Composer J W Parker

1 E Lesley Barclay
2 Thomas F Lawrance (Conductor)
3 Stephen R T Pocock
4 Nicholas Wilkins
5 David Finch
6 Martin Turner
7 Peter J Joyce
8 Peter Emery

50th peal in the tower.
On 31st October we achieved something very unusual. We rang a full peal of a method called Farnborough Surprise Major. The layman would term it a tune, but ringers call it a ‘method’. Farnborough Surprise Major had only been pealed twice previously - both at Farnborough, Hampshire.

This also happens to be the 50th full peal in the tower since the original six bells were installed in 2012.

Two Quarter Peals rung on Tuesday 24th October 2023

(3–1–18 in D) 1260 Plain Bob Triples in 44 mins.

1 Oscar Brooks-Wilkins
2 Nigel Pointer
3 Judith Bagshaw
4 Mark T Elvers
5 Jacqueline M Barlow
6 Charlotte Elvers
7 Nicholas Wilkins (C)
8 Olivia Stanton

First of Triples - 6
First covering to Triples – 8
(3–1–18 in D) 1344 Plain Bob Major in 46 mins
 
1 Oscar Brooks-Wilkins
2 Charlotte Elvers
3 Nigel Pointer
4 Judith Bagshaw
5 Mark T Elvers
6 Jacqueline M Barlow
7 Catherine M Lewis
8 Nicholas Wilkins (C)

First Major - 2.
Birthday compliments to Charlotte (22nd) and Oscar, (25th).


Quarter Peal rung on Tuesday, 26 September 2023 in 46mins

(3–1–18 in D) 1296 Little Bob Major


1  Melanie J New (née Wilkins)
2 J Richard Anthony
3 Anne M Anthony
4 Jacqueline M Barlow
5 Angela Wilkins
6 Lesley Barclay
7 Kath White
8 Nicholas Wilkins (C)

Appropriate number of changes to celebrate the recent 96th birthday of José Wilkins, mother of the ringers of the 5th and 8th and grandmother of the treble ringer.

Peal rung on Tuesday 29 August 2023 in 2h 58mins

(Tenor 3–1–18 in D) 5088 Lincolnshire Surprise Major


1 E Lesley Barclay
2 C Mark G Ockelton
3 Peter J Blight
4 Peter J Joyce
5 David Holdridge
6 Anne L Rueff
7 Ray Taylor
8 Nicholas Wilkins (Conductor) 100th peal

Composed by C J Sedgley/W Barton


Peal rung on Tuesday, 13 June 2023 in 2hrs 41mins

(3–1–18 in D) 5008 Double Norwich Court Bob Major Composer: C J E Wyld


1 Catherine M Lewis
2 Stephanie J Pattenden
3 Nicholas Wilkins
4 James W Belshaw
5 Ian H Oram
6 Peter J Blight
7 Peter J Joyce
8 Colin J E Wyld (Conductor)

Rung in celebration and anticipation of the dedication of the two new bells by Simon Burton-Jones, Bishop of Tonbridge on 18th June.

Peal rung on Tuesday, 6 June 2023 in 2hrs 44mins

(3–1–18 in D) 5184 Superlative Surprise Major S Jenner

1 Janice A Byrne
2 Nicholas Wilkins
3 Ian H Oram
4 Shirley E McGill
5 Anne M Anthony
6 Thomas F Lawrance
7 Peter J Blight
8 Stanley Jenner (C) 

Rung to celebrate the life of local resident Ernest Stanley Burrell (1921-2023) i

The peal was rung immediately prior to his funeral at St. Giles Farnborough, being also the 79th anniversary of D Day. 

 Ernest was awarded Legion d’honneur for bravery on D Day.

Peel rung on Tuesday, 11 April 2023 in 2hrs 25mins

(Tenor 3–1–18 in D) 5024 changes of Spliced Surprise Major

8 Methods: 736 London; 640 Cambridge, Pudsey, Superlative; 608 Bristol, Rutland; 572 Lincolnshire, Yorkshire; 132 changes of method; all the work.

Composition by N R Aspland

1 Nicholas Wilkins
2 David J Dearnley
3 Dickon R Love
4 David Kirkcaldy
5 Anne L Rueff
6 Ian K Bushell
7 John B Keeler (Conductor)
8 Paul N Mounsey

Celebrating Easter.
 

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Quarter Peal rung Tuesday 1st June 2021 in memory of Revd. Graham Shaw

This was the first quarter peal in the tower since augmentation to an octave, the new tenor being rung to a QP for the first time. However only six of the bells could be used, due to COVID restrictions governing the number of people allowed in a confine space.

This was rung in memory of Revd. Graham Shaw, 21.2.1944 - 21.4.2021, former Rector (1987-1995) and in the presence of Graham’s partner, Jorge Toro

Rung in in 40 minutes
(3–1–18 in D) 1260

Plain Bob Minor

1 Caroline A Stockmann
2 Jacqueline M Barlow
3 Michael J T Stuttard
4 Terence V Barnard
5 E Lesley Barclay
6 Nicholas Wilkins (C)

By way of explanation, the 1260 refers to the number of changes (different combinations rung on the bells) and Plain Bob Minor was the method (tune to the layman!). 3-1-18 is the weight of the new tenor bell in hundredweights, quarters and pounds and the new tenor note is D.

Caroline Stockmann of Sevenoaks, who rang bell number 1, kindly and generously contributed to the augmentation and her name, as well as her mother’s, is on the new tenor bell along with the names of other former parishioners. Caroline’s husband, Michael, who rang bell number 3 helped with the physical . augmentation works as did Lesley Barclay.



In fact, a number of current Parishioners listened to the ringing of the quarter peal and it was also the first quarter peal rung on the bells since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.

We looked forward to the relaxation of restrictions so that eight people could mix indoors and we could then ring the newly augmented full octave.