The Lilliputters Guild Summer Tour 2022 – Day 2

00:00 - Sully
03:22 - Penarth
05:28 - Llanishen
08:39 - Caerphilly

Ready and raring to go for our first full day (despite the inevitable late night for some of us!), we headed out at a very leisurely time for four local towers. We were joined for the first three by local ringers Debbie, Matthew, Adam and Catherine, and we hope they enjoyed their "Lilliput Experience". :-)

Our first tower was Sully, a sweet-sounding, easy-going little six which quickly became a front-runner for the favourite tower of the week. The five old bells were rehung in a new cast-iron frame by Taylors in 1961, at which point they were augmented to six. More recently, they were subject to a major overhaul by Nicholson's a few months ago. Under Smashley's stewardship, the ringing here included Stedman and Grandsire Doubles (featured here, with thanks to Captain Michael for the interior Grandsire footage), and courses of Bourne and Grandsire Minor.
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?...

Our next tower was Penarth, with its tall, unusual saddleback tower situated high on a hill above the town. Sadly, the predictable Welsh weather meant we did not get to enjoy the fine views over Cardiff - we could make some vague outlines out through the mist! We were joined here by Mike, a social scientist at Swansea University, who I had got to know during lockdown. Penarth bells are a complete 1935 Taylor eight and, whilst there is undoubtedly something very nice upstairs, the sound doesn't quite translate down, likely due to the small tower. Cambridge Major is included here, although Grandsire Triples and call-changes were also brought round successfully (the less said about the Stedman, the better!...)
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?...

After a convivial lunch, where we educated Mike in the wonders of ringing (and the myriad of terminology we use!), it was a drive across Cardiff to Llanishen for the lightest bells of the week. These are a complete Whitechapel six, cast in 1977 and replacing a previous ring. As expected, they were very cute; easy to ring and nice to listen to, and small enough that a few group members who wouldn't normally venture round the back end got a rare tenor grab! The ringing here includes Cambridge Minor - rung by four band members aged 17 or under, with Smashley and I bringing the average age up significantly! - and call-changes outside.
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?...

Our final tower of the day was Caerphilly, famous for its castle and its cheese, and neither of which we got to experience on this occasion. Whilst undoubtedly fine bells - a 13cwt 8 of 1910 Taylor vintage - they were very quiet inside, which let them down somewhat. Nonetheless, they felt well-kept, and the ringing chamber was very smart. The four early birds kicked the ringing off here with some Bob Minimus, which encouraged the rest of the group to find the tower door and stop us! Whilst Stedman was successful this time, the ringing recorded here was call-changes (inside) and our first jump-changes of the week (forwards and backwards) filmed outside, where the bells sound absolutely stunning.
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?...

A quiet evening saw half the group disperse to various practice nights, and the rest of us enjoy a spag bol dinner - where, in the lack of a cheese grater, Charlotte improvised with a potato peeler! - and some word games.

Coming soon - Day Three, our "Big Adventure Out" - but did we leave Brecon and its bells in one piece?... Find out soon!