The Trumpington Society of Bellringers Saints Mary & Michael, Trumpington Last updated 6th February 2012

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Announcements   Kitty Willers was a remarkable woman. Born in 1898 in Cambridge, she began ringing at Trumpington in 1918, and served as Tower Captain at Trumpington for 56 years until 1976. She donated two treble bells to Trumpington in 1957. In 1924 became the first lady to conduct a peal for the Ely DA. She taught numerous people to ring, and many ringers still remember her, her endeavours and her interesting character. We have collected some people's reminiscences and lots of photos on a new page: Kitty Willers - An Appreciation, By the Bellringers and Friends of Trumpington Parish Church.     On Wed 30th November, a reported from the Cambridge First newspaper visted Trumpington to meet our Tower Captain, Sam,   and our Vicar Andy Chrich, to talk about ringing for the Olympics. You can read the report and see the photos here.

Trumpington Parish Church in the Feb snow (Photo by Sam)

The Bells of Trumpington Parish Church The Parish Church for the village of Trumpington, near Cambridge in the Diocese of Ely, is dedicated to Saints Mary and Michael. Its tower houses a glorious ring of 8 bells cast by John Taylor & Co (Loughborough) in 1957. The heaviest (tenor) bell weighs just over half a ton (10-2-22 cwt) tuned to the note G. The bells are rung on Sundays for the morning service and Evensong (see times below), on Wednesday evenings for practice, and for weddings and other special occasions/services. There is sometimes a peal, quarter peal, training event or ringing by visitors at weekends. The bells were recast and rehung with new fittings in an extended frame with two additional trebles to form an octave in 1957. The 50th anniversary of the bells was celebrated in November 2007 with some special ringing. The original 5 bells in the tower were augmented to 6 in 1928, with the addition of a new treble, all hung in a new oak frame. The organ loft, made from the old frame, was dedicated by the Archdeacon of Ely in 1929. There are actually 9 bells hung in the tower - the late medieval 5th bell of the old six, cast at Bury St Edmunds circa 1450, is hung for tolling as a Sanctus Bell above the others. Here are the Weights, Notes and Inscriptions of the Bells. Here's a map to find it. OS Map Reference TL 443549. Note there is a one way road system from Maris Lane to Grantchester Road.

Ringing Times Sunday Service ringing is from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m for Morning Service (except on 3rd Sunday of each month when from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m) and from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m for Evensong. On Sunday evenings there may sometimes also be a quarter peal attempt at 5:00 p.m, prior to ringing for Evensong. Practice Night is Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Visitors welcome! Weddings and visiting bands by arrangement with the Vicar (Andy Chrich) and Secretary.

Society Officers Contact Us Tower Captain : Samantha Gorman Assistant Tower Captain & Secretary : Robert Oakeshott, Tel: 01223-529642 Treasurer : Mark Norris    Steeple Keeper & Webmaster : Stephen Theobald

Other local ringing-related web sites: Trumpington Church Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers Peter Hinton's Cambridge District pages The Cherry Hinton Bell Ringers Great Wilbraham Guild of Change Ringers Other general ringing-related web sites: Campanophile Web-based Peal/QP records and forthcoming Events BBC Radio 4's Bells on Sunday The sound of church bells from around the country, on iPlayer The Ringing World The Weekly Journal for Church Bell Ringers Dove's Guide on-line The definitive source of information on rings of bells Method search engine linked to Martin Bright's method printer PealBase Andrew Craddock's on-line database of peals rung Links to other Bellringing resources by Roger Bailey The largest (deepest-toned) handbells in the world - the Malmark G-Zero and A-Zero Stephen's composition pages: Quarter Peal Compositions Some novel compositions in standard methods Miscellaneous Touches Some conducting ideas for practice nights

Trumpington Bells

2012 Date Touch band, in order, in the tower		Date Touch of 2012 Yorkshire S Major Mark generated a wonderful Date Touch of 2012 changes of Yorkshire S Major for us, and Robert called it in masterful style on New Year's Day Sunday 1st January 2012 to welcome the New Year. The band retired to the Unicorn as usual for refreshment, and a novel photo opportunity, courtesy of the bar staff.		2012 Date Touch band, at the Unicorn bar
23-spliced band		Peal of Spliced Surprise Major in 23 methods for the Royal Wedding A Peal of 23-Spliced Surprise Major was rung at Trumpington on Friday 29th April 2011 to celebrate the marriage of HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey on that day.
2011 Date Touch band, in order, at the Unicorn bar		Date Touch of 2011 Grandsire and Superlative It is becoming a tradition at Trumpington to ring a "Date Touch" on New Year's Day to welcome the New Year. 2011 is a tricky number of changes to synthesize using standard methods and calls. Stephen dreamt up the basic structure of a date touch, then had a lovely time writing a computer program to search for some true compositions, from which the most musical one was selected. The resulting Date Touch of 2011 Grandsire Triples and Superlative S Major came round cleanly at the first handstroke of the treble's 1-2 down dodge just before the final "wrong" on Saturday 1st January 2011. The band retired to the Unicorn as usual for refreshment, and a novel photo opportunity, courtesy of the bar staff.