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St Mary's Bellringers
The bells are rung on Sunday mornings at 9am for the 9.30 Communion service, and for other services by arrangement. Practice night is Monday 8.00 - 9.30. All visiting ringers are most welcome.
Eric Godfrey (pictured) is the Tower Captain for St Mary's Bellringers. For further information about the group, please contact Wendy Wallace at wendywal@talktalk.net or see the Addington tower page on the Surrey Association of Bellringers
.Some of St Marys Addington ringers who took part in the Striking Competition March 2010 (pictured below).
Addington Celebrate 50 Years of the Six Bells
On the weekend of the 3rd-4th February 2007 Addington ringers celebrated the 50th anniversary of the six bells in grand style. The festivities began with an outing into Kent on the Saturday afternoon in glorious sunshine. Eric Godfrey arranged for us to visit Kemsing, Chevening and Horton Kirby, all relatively new rings of six. The bells provided everybody, both current and ex ringers, with a chance to participate. It was lovely to watch people who had not rung for a long time pulling a rope again, albeit with trembling knees and someone standing by!
After the outing it was home for a quick change and then off to the celebration dinner. The venue was decorated with bells and flowers, beautifully arranged by Mavis Cocks in memory of Penny, her daughter, who was a ringer. The guests of honour were Heather Brown and Valerie Hambling, two grandchildren of Mr. James Brown, whose generosity made the augmentation of the bells possible. Rev. Jeanne Males said grace and then a buffet supper was enjoyed by the assembled ringers, both past and present.
The meal was followed by a presentation to Margaret Godfrey to thank her for organising the evening and all the hard work that entailed. Then people were asked to reminisce and to share their ringing memories. One lady talked about when mini skirts were fashionable and making sure her attire was suitable for ringing by standing in front of a mirror with raised arms! Another said they could remember ringing their first quarter peal inside and how happy they were when it came round. The raffle was drawn at the end of the evening, starting in the traditional way but there was a twist. If you won a prize you had to stand holding it and it could be taken off you by a future winner. It was hilarious.
The next part of the celebrations took place on the Sunday morning. A thanksgiving service was held at St. Mary’s with representatives of the Surrey Association joining the Addington ringers, congregation and friends. Wendy Wallace and Lindsay Ould planned the service, using prayers and hymns relevant to ringers.
The Rev. Jeanne Males led the service. She thanked Eric Godfrey for all his years of service given in such a humble way. Several ringers participated in the service, reading, saying prayers and giving a short presentation on the history of the bells. After the service photographs were taken to mark the occasion, including one with James Browns’ grandchildren, and then it was time to cut the celebration cake The finale of the weekend was a quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Minor rung on the Sunday evening by members of the current band.
Throughout the weekend the friendship shared by us all shone out and that is what we will remember for a long time to come.