This story was inspired by memories of our thirteen years in France and a visit from grandson Christopher and girl friend Ellie, both eighteen year olds at the time. Following a visit to see a firework display where I admit we imbibed perhaps rather too much Cahor Rose Wine, Ellie was sick on the way home, we being just in time to get her out of the car and onto a nearby grass verge. Poor Ellie was so embarrassed, but my wife Rita consoled her; “Don’t worry Ellie, we have all been there” True words indeed reminding me of a similar occurrence during the Autumn of 1950 at The Globe Inn, Corston, Somerset where I was the chief participant.

Part way through my National Service I was stationed at St Athan, South Wales and spent several weekends at Bath, staying with Roger Fry and enjoying a weekend’s ringing at The Abbey and other locations, including Corston, and hence The Globe. I recall drinking a pint of beer followed by cider and on leaving the pub heaved up over a cobbled patio, the forecourt of the pub. With me was Roger and (oh dear) Bill Prescott from Timsbury with daughters Brenda and Hilda. I was rather keen on Brenda but after this disgraceful exhibition my amorous intentions unsurprisingly came to naught. However to continue with the story, Roger had had many attempts for a peal of Cambridge Major, all coming to grief. “I can perhaps fix that”, I said, “how about a few days at Leicester?”

Invitation accepted and on Monday, October 9^th, 1950 we rang 5120 Superlative at Hugglescote, followed two days later by 5056 Cambridge Major at Claybrooke, then on Friday, October 13^th, 5057 Stedman Caters at The Foundry. These peals were conducted by Harold J Poole who had kindly made the necessary arrangements. Our final effort was 5040 Minor in three methods at All Saints, Leicester, conducted by Ernest Morris on Saturday, October 14^th. Interestingly this last peal was the first of minor for Tony Jesson and Winifred Burton who later married Brian Warwick. Other well known names of the times were my pal, Terence A Thornber, John Hill, Herrick Bowley, Leonard Trevor, Alfred Ballard, Shirley Burton, Colin Harrison of Taylors Foundry and J. Frederick Milner. Thus Roger, on No 3, rang his first peal of Cambridge Major.

However I must briefly return to Corston where Roger in an effort to alleviate my embarrassment, said with a laugh, “John when you visit Somerset you should take note of a saying we have in these parts,

BEER ON CIDER MAKES A GOOD RIDER, BUT CIDER ON BEER MAKES YOU FEEL QUEER”

For me true words indeed but will they be heeded by today’s young ringers when visiting Somerset perhaps after a peal on one of those heavy rings, a warm summer’s evening? Readers I will leave that to your own conclusions.

John Bennett