Big O Celebrations

3 Northern Division Celebrations

Recently we were able to indulge ourselves by celebrating two very special “Big Os”. First it was Stan Arnold’s ninetieth birthday and we all had a great time celebrating this. For Stan the Saturday before his birthday was the ringing celebration and this started at Slaugham where Stan rang Stedman Doubles and then, to his great delight, he also rang a plain course of Stedman Triples. People travelled from far and wide to join with him at this special time and there were quite a few happy reunions!

Leaving Stan and friends merrily ringing and chatting, eight of us gathered at Crawley to ring Stedman Triples to welcome Stan as he arrived for tea. We did not quite manage a quarter peal, but we had some superb ringing and all enjoyed it greatly, especially as Judy Howard had travelled from Norfolk to be with us and to conduct the ringing. After welcoming cups of tea provided by an excellent set of ‘kitchen ladies’ we settled down to more chatting and the serious business of eating, with a short burst of handbell ringing as is our tradition! The evening finished with cake cutting, singing appropriate songs and toasting Stan. Stan and his family spent his actual birthday evening enjoying a meal together.

One week after Stan’s birthday there was another. Eric Knapp spent a very busy week celebrating his ninetieth. It all began the day before his birthday when twenty-eight of us gathered at ‘The Ardingly Inn’ for an excellent meal, which John More had organised for us. The room and table were decorated for the festive season and we all enjoyed the company as well as the food. On his birthday a mainly local band attempted to ring a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples (second attempt planned), whilst Eric was entertained to a small ‘Game Keepers’ Party at ‘The Half Moon’ in Balcombe. Further celebrations followed during the week, including a family meal at which all of Eric’s immediate family (daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter) were present. On the Saturday Eric was able to listen to some of the peal of six spliced, which was rung for him at Balcombe, (with thanks to Ian Oram).

So two of the oldest members of the Sussex County Association have celebrated their birthdays in style. Both still ring where there are no stairs to climb and we enjoy their company at different events.

Since then we have achieved our quarter peal of Stedman for Stan. David Smith came to Crawley to conduct it with half of the original band ringing. We hope to ring Eric’s quarter to celebrate his seventy years of membership of the Sussex County Association in 2007.

But the partying did not stop there!!! A surprise party was held in Lower Beeding Village Hall to celebrate Margaret Tilley’s “Big O” birthday. Planned by her daughters and husband, family and friends gathered to welcome her to a ‘chat, eat and disco’ event. Margaret thought she was being taken out to a meal (sorry but it was only a sandwich or two or three or even more!) and Richard drove her around a number of ‘posh’ venues before turning into the Hall car park. The Hall had been suitably decorated with photos of Margaret celebrating different events in her life. A very happy time was had by all.

Congratulations to all the ringers who have had or are about to have a special “Big O” birthday. May they all enjoy their different celebrations. Here’s wishing them all a happy and healthy future with good ringing in excellent company.

Wendy Wheeler, Unattached

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