The idea of a surprise major quarter peal day was first discussed at the end of April 2025, just after my first peal of eight spliced major. It was suggested that I should find a band willing to take on the task first, then identify a date to fit the band. This proved to be rather difficult, but eventually the 6th of December was decided upon even though a couple of the band had to miss out.
The effort was planned to the minute – towers, methods, car parking, toilets, lunch, church access, church events, bells up or down on arrival and on leaving, donations, schedules and ringers – all confirmed and checked, then checked again. And all for a good reason; any chance of success would rely of the day running like clockwork.
We started the day of with a quarter peal of Rutland at St John the Baptist, Enderby, well conducted by Andy Harvey, London at St Peter’s Whetstone, and Pudsey at St Andrew’s Countesthorpe, thanks to Mark Pendery and Terry Astill. After a welcomed lunch of fish and chips from Countesthorpe fish bar, the group continued their trek to Claybrooke, where Andy conducted a glorious-sounding quarter of Superlative. Mick Angrave then called the Bristol, at All Saint’s Sapcote, and we attempted some Lincolnshire at Barwell. Unfortunately, we got just over half way before needing to stop, due to illness, meaning substitutes were needed for the Yorkshire at Earl Shilton and Cambridge at Stoney Stanton
Finally thanks to the following:
- To Neil & Alison Harvey and Dom Travis for stepping in at the last minute to help with the final two quarters of the day.
- To everyone who assisted on the day, whether it was ringing bells up & down, opening towers etc
- To Angela Preston (mum) for providing refreshments periodically throughout the day, next time I shall make sure I take advantage of this.
Details of all the successful quarter peals can be found here: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=22264
Tessa Preston
Editors note: Also congratulations to Tessa for ringing her first quarter peal of Bristol Maximus, at Melbourne: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1918252
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