Simon Bond's Ringing Records

Half-muffled following a Requiem Mass for the Souls of the Departed.

First on 12: 5 & 7. First Surprise Maximus: 8. First Yorkshire Surprise Maximus: 3. 50th together: 3 & 8.

Half-muffled following a Requiem Mass for the Souls of the Departed.

Dedicated to the memory of Richard Barton, father-in-law of the conductor, ringer and Oxford man, who died 18th December 2007. 1500th peal: 10 First on twelve: 3 First of Maximus: 6 First in method for some unknown subset of the band but definitely including 3 and 6.

Anything to stop the composer sulking. Compliments to Luke Camden on ringing almost the entire peal with a completely untucked rope. With best wishes to the trunk-bound real Michael Williams while his polyjuice-fuelled alter ego makes peal-ringing hay. And wishing the drummer who percussed so offensively loudly in the church throughout almost the whole peal a slow, lingering and painful termination to his miserable existence. After the peal the band enjoyed a few hours in the General Elliott, and err... Aye.

First 23-spliced: James C Marchbank.

Rung on International Star Wars day although the fourth may not always have been with us.

Fills stage hole: 1, 6.

Standing on the shoulders of David House and Mark Eccleston. Hmm, hang on, that wouldn't work - maybe David's head and Mark's shoulder.

Celebrating the 550th anniversary of the foundation of Magdalen College by Bishop William of Waynflete in 1458. Waynflete Alliance Royal: b -3-4-2-3-2-1-6-5-78.9

Rung half-muffled prior to the memorial service for Henry Chadwick KBE (1920-2008), Dean of Christ Church 1969-1979.

In celebration of 1,000 years of worship at St Cross one week before the final service of thanksgiving in the church.

With the best wishes of the band and the Society to Bernard Stone for his 65th birthday and well-earned retirement.

A 30th birthday compliment and treat for Michael Childs. First peal with the Society: 8.

With fond memories of Vision On, Take Hart and Morph. Rest in peace Tony Hart (1925-2009) who died today.

Celebrating the 275th anniversary of the Oxford Society of Change Ringers.

Celebrating the 275th anniversary of the Oxford Society. 100th peal: 5.

Celebrating the 275th anniversary of the Oxford Society. 100th peal: 5. First peal with the Society: 4.

First on 12: 6.

Rung half-muffled for the souls of the faithful departed, remembering especially in this anniversary year all the members of the Oxford Society who have died since its foundation in 1734. The ringing followed an All Souls' Day performance of the Fauré Requiem in the College chapel.

Rung half-muffled in Remembrance of the Fallen.

First in the method on this planet: 2.

Lao ma shi tu. First Stedman: 5

Rung to mark the centenary this day of the sinking of RMS Titanic off Newfoundland on April 15th 1912.

First peal on the bells since retuning by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and rehanging by Whites of Appleton. Rung to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first telling of Lewis Carroll's story of Alice's adventures through the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. The peal coincided with a re-enactment of the Caucus Race on Christ Church Meadow. Rabbit Hole Alliance Royal f -3-4-56-6-2-5-45-5

Rung half-muffled in grief but with loving memory for our President, the irreplaceable and unforgettable Clive Holloway, who died this week; one change for every peal he rang.

In memory of Clive Holloway (1939-2012), who loved these bells. 200th Peal: 1.

In memory of Clive Holloway (1939-2012), our dear friend and President. By members of the Sunday Service Band of which Clive was a member for over 50 years.

Celebrating the luxury of choice.

Dedicated to the memory of Clive Holloway, elected to this Society in 1971, who passed away last year.

Dedicated to Michael Williams' father on his 65th birthday.

Celebrating the 60th anniversaries of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the first ascent of Mount Everest. First on 10: 3. First Parkrun and Peal Biathlon: 5, 7.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Fabian Stedman (1640-1713) on the 300th anniversary of his burial. Six of these bells are contemporaneous with Stedman.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Fabian Stedman (1640-1713) on the 300th anniversary of his burial. Six of these bells are contemporaneous with Stedman.

First encounter with the method: 2,6,8,9,10.

The annual commemoration of benefactors of this tower. First Spliced Royal: 2,5,7,8. 250th as Conductor.

Rung by a Sunday service band as a fond farewell to Christopher Lewis, Dean of Christ Church (2003-2014) who has been very supportive of our ringing, and without whom the 12-bell final would not have been held in Oxford. First on 12: 6

Celebrating Jenny Dyer's 40 years of ringing at Cumnor. First of Surprise: 3, 4.

First in method: 8 & 11.

Before the service of installation for the new Dean of Christ Church, the Very Rev Professor Martyn Percy. After the service Great Tom was swung for 30 minutes in celebration.

For Christmas. First Stedman Cinques: 5. Circled the tower: 1. Celebrating a record-breaking year of ringing at Christ Church with 4 peals and 21 quarter-peals on top of Sunday service ringing, fortnightly practices, ringing for college and royal occasions, and the small matter of the final of the National 12-bell Contest and all the visiting practices for that event. It's been a lot of fun and very profitable for the Royal Blenheim.

First on twelve: 7. Circled the tower: 4. The band would like to thank Helen Matthews for getting Jill to the tower. Colin Parker however ...

First in the method: some. A get well compliment to Simon Linford from the pointy end.

Rung before and during Fr Jonathan Jong's first Mass as Celebrant following his ordination at St Nicholas, Marston on June 28th.

Most metal: 12. A valedictory peal for Michael O'Hagan, leaving Oxford after 9 years of good ringing, good company, and sterling service to ringing in this city. Oxford's loss. Bristol's gain.

To mark the 751st anniversary of the College's foundation by Walter de Merton in 1264. With thanks to Chris Griggs and Katherine Stonham for stewarding during the peal.

For the feast of St Nicholas. First of Spliced on the bells. Most methods: 2, 5.

In the style of Radio 3 we explore the unfamiliar work of obscure composers.

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." -- Isaiah 9:2

First Bristol Maximus: 9. Circled the tower: 3.

New territory for some.

Celebrating Robin and Dorothy's marriage being old enough to drive.

Welcoming the Rt Rev Steven Croft as the 44th Bishop of Oxford. A truncated peal attempt inadvertently commemorating the 480th anniversary of Thomas Cromwell's somewhat unnecessarily surgical approach to problem solving.

Half-muffled following All Souls' Day evensong.

First of Maximus: 6. First of Spliced Maximus for the Society, by a local band, and for 2, 8, 9, 11. Circled the tower: 7. With the Society's best wishes to Christopher and Marianne Waterhouse as they leave their respective positions as Vergers at Christ Church and Magdalen to move to St James Institute in Sydney, Australia.

For Palm Sunday. First on 12, and first of Stedman: 6. Biggest job: 12.

Half-muffled on the harmonic minor ten for the Liturgy of Good Friday. First Stedman: 3.

First in the method: 5. Strong and stable: 12. With thanks to Janet, Doug, and Katherine for completing the band.

First Stedman Cinques: 4.

Half-muffled. Lest we forget the lessons of history.

Celebrating Jo's three successfully completed decades. Circled the tower (with a somewhat permissive interpretation of the term): 1.

First on twelve handbells: 1-2. Celebrating the first 40 years of Michael Williams.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the incarnation of Katherine Stonham on January 5th, 1988. Longest date touch for all. 1200th peal and 50th in the tower: 1. First of Cinques and Maximus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, for the Society, and on the bells.

First of Bristol Surprise Maximus: 5.

Remembering Sir Roger Bannister, an Oxford legend.

Marking the 100th anniversary this day of the death on the Western Front of the First World War of Bernard's grandfather. Bernard Alfred Stone DCM, Regimental Serjeant Major 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, died 26th April 1918 and commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial. Tyne Cot Surprise Royal -50-14.50-12.36-12-50.16-16.70.16-12.70,10

Remember Denmark in 1992. If Guildford goes the way of Yugoslavia, we're ready. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_1992

In joyful anticipation and celebration of Jill and Colin's wedding at this church tomorrow.

Preceding the first of two Petertide Ordination services in the Cathedral today. First on twelve: 6.

First Bristol Royal: 6. Most Bristol Royal: 5, 9.

Half-muffled in memory of all those we love but see no longer. The ringing followed an All Souls' Day performance of Fauré's Requiem in the College chapel.

First on ten: 5. Belatedly welcoming the arrivals of Paul Morgan and Ralph Littlewood, with congratulations to their parents, Society members Catrin & James and Jenny & Rupert. Also wishing Jonathan Cresshull a really good night's sleep.

Celebrating the centenary of Kathleen Lock becoming the first woman to ring a peal with the Society.

After a rather short peal attempt terminated by conductorial inadequacy. Michael Williams remains, but not for long.

Believed to be the 2000th peal rung for the Society, the first peal being Grandsire Caters at Christ Church on January 1st, 1734. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody rang in both peals

In anticipatory celebration of the trebles ringers' nuptials in this chapel tomorrow.

Belated farewell compliment to David Jackson with thanks for a wonderfully committed contribution to the Society's ringing during his all-too-brief spell in Oxford. First Spliced Maximus: 2, 3, 6, 9, 11.

First of Stedman as conductor on handbells. In memory of Professor Stephen Cameron, Senior Member of the Oxford University Society from 2006 to 2019.

First Cyclic Maximus: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and by a local band. Mercury Differential Little Place Maximus: 78.1.78.23.78.1.78 lh 1T

Marking the 100th anniversary of a peal rung in this tower (which was then the first for 44 years) to commemorate the Peace after the First World War. Circled the tower: 1, 5. 100th together: 2 & 4. Concrete Pigeon: -3-4-2-23-4-3-2-3-4-9,2 b

A Grand Endeavour. 500th ringer to a peal: 5 (10).

Celebrating birthdays for Jo and Bernard. First in method: 2, 5, 7, 8 & 10.

A belated welcome compliment to the now-not-so-new Sub Dean of Christ Church, Fr Richard Peers, and in eager anticipation of a social visit to his garden next week. The recovery continues: first ringing on more than eight bells here since March 2020.

Half-muffled for the souls of the faithful departed. The ringing followed an All Souls' Day performance of Fauré's Requiem in the College chapel.

Half-muffled following the College's Act of Remembrance for the Fallen.

First blows in the method: 7. Circled the tower to 10 bell quarters: 10.

Half-muffled following the funeral of Anthony David Smith CBE (1938-2021), President of Magdalen College 1988-2005. Second Oxford 10-bell tower circled to quarter peals by ringing the tenor this week: 10.

Celebrating the wedding this day of Society members Emma Stanford and Nick Hartley in Palo Alto, California. First peal in the method. California Roll Surprise Major -58-14.58-12.38.14-14.58.34-34.58 lh18

A Covid-delayed 60th birthday compliment to David Ockwell on his 62nd birthday. Also remembering Roger Barnes with great affection, a regular supporter of the Society's ringing, particularly at our Sunday service ringing at Christ Church Cathedral. 400th peal: 9. 100th peal of Caters: 7.

Half-muffled on the day of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Visitor of Christ Church.

On the eve of the Society's 385th Anniversary Dinner.

Cornish Rex Surprise Royal -56-14-56.12.30-12-50.14-14.50.14-14.50,10 (L)

First in method: 4.

For Evensong and before the Society's 386th Anniversary Dinner.

Celebrating Bernard's 80th birthday. 400th peal with the Society: 6. Circled the tower: 1.

Dedicated to the memory of Peter's grandmother, Nanette Maud Nelson, born September 1930, died 2nd December 2023.

Remembering Andrew Johnson (1966-2024). First Bristol Maximus: 5.

Dedicated to the life and work of the brilliant, unforgettable, unique Andrew Johnson (1966-2024) who has left us far too soon. Rest in peace, Andrew.