Romney Marsh & District Guild [Est. c1900]
At the Parish Church of St Nicholas
Friday, 17 April 2009 in 2h 39 (15 cwt)
5040 Grandsire Doubles
being 42 extents: 40 x 120 & 1 x 240 (11 different callings)
1 Brian Hunnisett [Blewbury]
2 Roderic K Bickerton [Watford]
3 Benjamin D Kipling[S Martin-in-the Fields] # (C)
4 Christopher J Cooper [Ashford] +
5 Halisi Drysdale [Aston Abbotts] $
6 David Jackson [New Romney] *
* First touch of in excess of 500 changes and at first attempt and first peal by a New Romney ringer for 55 years and one month exactly
+ First peal in the method on one tower bell only and 70th peal
$ First six-bell peal
# First Doubles & First Grandsire as Conductor
First six-bell peal ever rung in the tower.
After meeting short for a peal of Triples in the method especially arranged to mark the Centenary this day of the first peal on the bells after recasting of the 4, 7 & Tenor and rehanging by Mears & Stainbank. Both this peal and the 1909 peal were conducted by the respective Masters of the RM & DG in their year of office. 4th & Tenor ringer in this peal are respectively Ringing Master & Captain to the local band.
The peal also celebrates and marks the completion of the restoration of the Church and Tower costing several hundred thousand pounds and including all new louvres in the belfry and new leaded lights in the ringing room.