Happy birthday Atlas

[NB Thistle]

I saw on my Facebook feed that it is Atlas' 90th birthday today and it was a rainy afternoon, so I put this together. I know there's a few ringers on here so hopefully it's not too off track! https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1907599

[MtB]

1 hour ago, NB Thistle said:

I saw on my Facebook feed that it is Atlas' 90th birthday today and it was a rainy afternoon, so I put this together. I know there's a few ringers on here so hopefully it's not too off track! https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1907599

 

A hand bell quarter-peal I think. 🔔 Congratulations! 🔔

 

Two ringers, each ringing a bell in each hand. Way beyond my modest abilities! 

 

 

[NB Thistle]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

 

A hand bell quarter-peal I think. 🔔 Congratulations! 🔔

 

Two ringers, each ringing a bell in each hand. Way beyond my modest abilities! 

 

 

Yes, a handbell quarter. Methods composed for the occasion. My lad & I specialise in minimus in hand on the boat, very easy to organise, not always so easy to ring!

Edited November 30 by NB Thistle

[Francis Herne]

Thank you Luke and Elliot!

 

Three of the Atlas & Malus team, myself included, are ringers so your efforts are certainly appreciated.

 

We shall have to try ringing it on the boats, but that will require both some handbell revision and borrowing a set of handbells.

 

We took Atlas down to Stretton Wharf last weekend in preparation for some work (photo Tim Barrett).

Unfortunately - or perhaps fortunately given the Brewood stoppage - that had to take place before the 21 closed last week, so she's missed 'Winterfest' taking place at Hawne Basin today. Malus has been open to visitors instead.

[NB Thistle]

7 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

Thank you Luke and Elliot!

 

Three of the Atlas & Malus team, myself included, are ringers so your efforts are certainly appreciated.

 

We shall have to try ringing it on the boats, but that will require both some handbell revision and borrowing a set of handbells.

 

 

Our handbells live on the boat so we can sort this at the 24hr next year?

[Francis Herne]

3 hours ago, NB Thistle said:

 

Our handbells live on the boat so we can sort this at the 24hr next year?

If any of us are in a fit state mentally or physically at the finish line!

[IainScott]

Always carry handbells: you never know when you might meet some ringers on a canal boat...

[MtB]

21 hours ago, IainScott said:

Always carry handbells: you never know when you might meet some ringers on a canal boat...

 

Easy to say, but a second hand set seems to cost about £3k+ ...

 

Or am I looking in the wrong places?!

 

 

 

[IanD]

17 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Easy to say, but a second hand set seems to cost about £3k+ ...

 

Or am I looking in the wrong places?!

 

Maybe -- do boaters with handbells on board keep them securely locked away, unlike AGM batteries? 😉 

[NB Thistle]

On 02/12/2025 at 10:05, MtB said:

 

Easy to say, but a second hand set seems to cost about £3k+ ...

 

Or am I looking in the wrong places?!

 

 

 

Our (very) second hand set cost me £300 from a friend during lockdown. It was quite amusing taking them to the youth practices in Birmingham when they were ringing socially distanced in the churchyard, seeing who had only experienced beautifully maintained St Martin's Guild handbells before!

[PeterScott]

On 01/12/2025 at 12:18, IainScott said:

Always carry handbells: you never know when you might meet some ringers on a canal boat...

Handbell ringing on boats 1974-75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick decode for not-bellringers: a Peal is a bellringing performance (on tower bells or handbells) taking about three hours , in which each bell rings about five thousand times, and if there's a serious mistake during that time, everyone stops, the performance doesn't count in the records, and the band will have to have another try another time. A Quarter Peal  is a quarter of the length.

 

Challenge for locations for ringing handbell quarter-peals in 2026;

- across Pontcysyllte aqueduct (sittging on the roof); 

- northwards through Blisworth Tunnel (mind the river entering overhead trying to fill the handbells with water: wear a suitable hat);

- ascending Bingley-5;

- Tower Bridge to Thames Barrier, (with passing Thames Clippers);

- circling in Tixall Wide (no reverse) ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wet 19Aug2016 BCN MainLine

[NB Thistle]

On 10/12/2025 at 18:11, PeterScott said:

 

Challenge for locations for ringing handbell quarter-peals in 2026;

- across Pontcysyllte aqueduct (sittging on the roof); 

- northwards through Blisworth Tunnel (mind the river entering overhead trying to fill the handbells with water: wear a suitable hat);

- ascending Bingley-5;

- Tower Bridge to Thames Barrier, (with passing Thames Clippers);

- circling in Tixall Wide (no reverse) ...

 

 

 

A quarter peal attempt last year during a passage of Wast Hill Tunnel was unfortunately unsuccessful. Not quite in the league of Pontcysyllte but we've done several quarters on Edstone Aqueduct.

 

I don't think any quarter peal band can top this one through Tower Bridge though...

 

 

Full story here http://london.lovesguide.com/articles/james_garlickhythe2012-07-27A.pdf

 

Edited Saturday at 13:58 by NB Thistle
Added a bit

[PeterScott]

2 hours ago, NB Thistle said:

I don't think any quarter peal band can top this one through Tower Bridge though...

Full story here http://london.lovesguide.com/articles/james_garlickhythe2012-07-27A.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gosh, WeWuzThere, Amazing, if damp. day

 

Edited Saturday at 16:36 by PeterScott
link

[NB Thistle]

On 13/12/2025 at 16:13, PeterScott said:

 

 

 

 

 

Gosh, WeWuzThere, Amazing, if damp. day

 

Fantastic pictures, thank you for sharing those. It was in between my tall ship and narrowboat days so I watched it on telly. Must have been amazing to be a part of it all.