| This
year it was decided that the annual Striking Competition for
the branch would be replaced by a Newbury Branch social gathering.
East Garston bellringers hosted the afternoon but a number of
people from around the branch offered their time and energy
to contribute to the event. A number of activities were available
including Rounders, a Treasure Hunt and Croquet. Also on offer
was the opportunity for ringing to take place in East Garston
tower, and for those that wished, a chance to try out a Mini-Ring
supplied by Lambourn ringer, Martin Hough. Within the village
hall there were Handbells and Jenga. The handbells supplied
by Bill Butler and Rosemary Evans from Thatcham, and the Jenga
Game by East Garston's Tower Captain, Mark Brock. |
 |
 |
Becky, Jade and Amanda
set to work on the village quiz..... |
....while the queue
for the mini-ring grows steadily longer |
| The
rounders tournament gets into full swing, taking guild members
back to their schooldays |
|
|
|
|
Chris from Beenham |
Sarah from Hungerford |
Ange from Newbury |
Heather from Bradfield |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Maureen from East
Garston |
Rosemary |
from Beenham |
Becky from East Garston |
|
Martin Hough is kept
busy with a steady flow of customers wanting to experience the
feel of the mini ring. Martin points out that it is easier for
a novice to quickly grasp the technique of using a mini ring
than it is an experienced ringer. The reason being, as he put
it, "experienced ringers have to forget virtually all they
have learned when using the smaller setup, so different is the
feel of it from the larger, normal bells they are so used to
handling". |
| Typical
English summer weather meant that we were bathed in sunshine
one minute and in danger of going rusty the next. So with the
onset of a shower and being ever concious of the fact that electronic
digital cameras do not like water, I headed for the village
hall to catch up with events from within. Mark's Jenga had proved
to be a major success with a wide variation of building techniques
becoming apparent. |
| Inside
the hall, as well as the Jenga users, our visitors were busily
working on the village quiz which had been devised and tested
by Cathy Bossom and Sarah Chatters ( below right) ~
both of them Hungerford ringers. |
| Thankfully
the rain didn't last and we were soon back outside on the rounders
trail. This time we saw a mixed team of adults and children
do battle. |
| (above)
Mollie decides that anything Dad can do she can do also. These
mini bells are just the ticket.
(below) Amelia certainly isn't
going to be left out, and joins in enthusiastically....great
stuff |
| with
5pm approaching rapidly, the outside activities drew to a close.
Thoughts now turned to the magnificent spread that lay in wait
for our by now, very hungry guests. The buffett was supplied
by East Garston Tower, with a generous offering from Hungerford's
Sarah Chatters. |
|
And so we came to the
end of a very friendly, enjoyable afternoon. Marcus Allum thanked
everyone for coming and also complimented East Garston ringers
on the quality and variation of the event they had masterminded.
His thanks were also passed on to East Garston Village Hall
& Social Club for the very warm welcome that had been extended
to all who came, and for the friendly and courteous way the
branch members had been treated during their stay. |
Photos : Ken Tarbox
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