Simon Bond's Ringing Records

Rung immediately before the enthronement of the Right Reverend John Pritchard as the new Bishop of Oxford.

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.

Fills stage hole: 1, 6.

First Bristol Maximus: 5 & 8.

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

Rung in memory of Henry Chadwick KBE (1920-2008), Dean of Christ Church 1969-1979.

Rung half muffled for Remembrance Sunday. 1st of Cinques on 12 - 5.

Birthday compliments to Michael and Jenny. First on 12: 8.

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

With thanks to Becky for being a last minute replacement.

For Mothering Sunday and a birthday compliment to Claire.

1st in method: 6,8. The mark the retirement of Edward Evans after 35 years as the Dean's verger.

First on 12: 6.

1st Maximus: 8. Not a birthday compliment to Robin.

First in the method on this planet: 2.

First on 12: 8.

1st on 12: 8. With the Society's compliments to Charlotte Everett who celebrated her seventieth birthday yesterday.

First peal in the method. Parson's Pleasure Surprise Maximus: 3-5.4-5-3-34-5-6-7.6-6.9.8-0.ET lh 12

1st Bristol Maximus: 6, 8, 9.

First on twelve as conductor.

First on 12: 6.

100th together: 7 & 11. For Candlemas Carol Service.

First of Stedman Caters: 4.

A 60th birthday compliment to Ian Greenley. 400th quarter and 100th as conductor: 9.

100th together: 4 & 5. After meeting short for Pudsey Maximus. Dedicated to our mothers.

For Easter. First on 12: 8. First Bristol Maximus: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11 and by a Sunday service band. 200th tower bell peal in the House.

To celebrate the marriage of HRH Prince William of Wales to Miss Catherine Middleton

First on 12: 6. First Stedman Cinques: 2 & 8.

First Grandsire without going into the hunt: 5.

Half muffled for Remembrance Sunday.

The Society would like to send its best wishes for a speedy recovery to Rob Austin who is currently in Stoke Mandeville hospital.

First in method for most of the band.

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

First of Bristol Royal: 4 & 5.

To celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the first telling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Revd C L Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), a fellow of this College.

First of Maximus: 9.

First inside: 2. During the flood of Oxford; RIP the Royal Blenheim carpet.

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.

To welcome Rosalind Ann Esbester, a daughter for Mike & Nicki.

Half-muffled for Remembrance.

To welcome Rosalind Ann Esbester, born 1st October; Simon George Lee, born 16th October; and Alistair Thomas Bell & Esme Niamh Bell born today. With the OS's warmest wishes to all the new families!

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.

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

First Bristol Maximus: 6. A compliment to Esme and Alistair Bell immediately before their Christening in the Cathedral.

500th Quarter: 11.

First in method for all. Welcoming Revd Dr Edmund Newey, installed as Sub Dean yesterday.

Half-muffled for Remembrance.

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 in method: 4 & 6.

Circled the tower as conductor. A 26th birthday compliment to Katherine Stonham, lover of spliced surprise major. Rung by a Lincoln College practice night band.

First on 12: 9, and as conductor. First of Stedman Cinques: 5. Birthday compliments to Katherine Stonham.

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

First Maximus: 8. A birthday compliment to Jennie Williams, Michael's mum.

First in the method: 6.

First on twelve: 4, 5, 7, 8 & 9. Before the Christening of the Dean's grandson in the Cathedral. A birthday compliment to Courtney Spoerer who was unable to ring today.

100th quarter peal: 9. 550th quarter peal: 10. First of Ariel: 3, 4. Birthday compliments to the team mascot.

For Easter. First Bristol Maximus: 8 & 9. First on twelve 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

This was followed by 5 minutes of reverse rounds and five minutes of tolling on the tenor. Rung half muffled prior to the Vigil in commemoration of the centenary of the declaration of war on 4 August 1914, and remembering particularly those members of The House who gave their lives. At the conclusion of the service, Great Tom was struck 100 times.

First on 12 without David Hull: 6.

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.

Welcoming the Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, installed as Dean of Christ Church yesterday. Circled the tower to peals: 2.

First of Maximus: 6. 50th together: 10 & 12.

Half-muffled for Remembrance.

First in the method for some of the band.

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.

First on twelve: 5 & 6.

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.

First on 10: 4.

First in method: 5.

First on twelve: 6 & 8. A compliment to Stephen Dann, following his recent DPhil viva, from eleven newly-created badgers. Claire Bell, Chris Backhouse, Sîan Moorhouse, Hugh Wilkinson and Caroline Lomax, also newly-badgered, would probably like to be associated with this performance. Also rung with best wishes and congratulations to Kirsty and Bob Wallis on the birth of Chloe Felicity Wallis on Friday.

First Stedman Cinques: 7 and as conductor.

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

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

First of Maximus: 5 & 8. To celebrate the success of Big Michael's Super-Duper Quarter Peal Day II.

First in burlesque attire: 6. With best wishes from the conductor to the Society for their support during his Mastership.

On Society Dinner weekend.

First "just a quarter" of Cinques: 2.

First Yorkshire Royal as conductor.

To celebrate the forthcoming 90th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. First of Maximus: 2. First on 12: 8 and as C.

Bye bye Dan.

New territory for some.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of the Very Revd Prof Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church.

First of Royal: 5.

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.

Most regretted wardrobe decision: 8.

First in method: 5.

Half muffled for Remembrance Sunday.

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.

On Society Dinner Weekend. First in method: 2. First with place bells 4, 0, 9 & 3: 6. Can still ring big bells (take note, Glint): 12.

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

First Bristol Royal: 5.

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

1st in method: 7. 1st on 12 as conductor. Rung to congratulate Courtney Spoerer and Hannah Guggiari on their engagement.

With the Society's compliments to Freddie Frye following his first visit to the tower this morning.

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

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.

All twelve members of this band rang their first quarter peal of Bristol Maximus on these bells. The band is placed from most recent (June 2017) on the treble to least recent (June 2006) on the tenor. We would like to associate Jenny Lane, Courtney Spoerer and Harriet Armitage, who also qualify for this band, with this performance. 200th together: 9 & 11.

First of Bristol Surprise Maximus: 5.

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

First in method: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11. Boltorelegocampanophobia: the irrational fear of Bolton being relegated while you're ringing a quarter peal.

Got wood: 12.

First in method: 7.

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

First on 12: 5. Most metal: 12.

First of Maximus: 7. First of Surprise Maximus: 2. Rung to celebrate the installation of the new Succentor, the Reverend Philippa White.

A compliment to William “Bill” Lewis, a custodian at Christ Church for many years, on his retirement.

First on 12: 3. First on 12 as conductor. First of Grandsire Cinques: 5.

"That composition had lots of rounds in it" - KAS

First of Maximus: 8 and as conductor. 100th together: 3 & 6.

Believed not to be first in method: 6. Dedicated to mothers everywhere, especially Alan's.

First of Maximus: 6, and as conductor. Congratulations to Hannah and Courtney!

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 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

50th quarter peal and first in method: 6 In anticipation of the wedding of Richard Puckey and Caroline Barton, sister of Dorothy Hall.

First of Spliced Royal: 3, 5, 6.

To celebrate the Christening of Ralph Littlewood. First of Cinques and Maximus: 4, 5, 6, 8.

Rung for OUS dinner weekend. First on twelve as conductor.

Special thanks to Dorothy for stepping in some time after the last minute after one member of the band was last seen sinking into the Thames.

First of Stedman Cinques as conductor. Rung as a farewell compliment to David Phillips, leaving for Canada.

For Science!

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.

Celebrating the 70th birthday of Simon Edwards, and 0th birthday of Edward McManus, Simon's grandson, both yesterday.

Congratulations to Craig, who graduated with a DPhil in maths yesterday.

200th together: 2 & 9.

Half-muffled for Remembrance.

Welcoming Florence Catherine Irene Stonham, born on Friday. Also in anticipation of the wedding, tomorrow, of James Knight and Louise Gorman.

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

In memory of James Dyer, sometime member of the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Singers, and Jim Godfrey, verger 1988-2023. Circled the tower: 1, 5 Smallest person, biggest job, first on twelve: 12

First of Surprise Maximus and first of Maximus on tower bells: 7. A 30th birthday compliment to Craig "Shakira" Robertson. Thanks to Katherine for making the dash down Abingdon Road when one of our band, who should have cycled, found herself stranded on the Oxford Ring Road.

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.

First in method: 8 & 9.

First on 12: 8.

Celebrating the forthcoming wedding of Katherine Stonham and Alan Eyles.

Trickiest shizzle for some. 550th quarter: 8. Well done, Jon!

First in method, and congratulations on passing his driving test: 6 (first attempt for both). First with the Society: 1, 6. First Maximus as conductor.

First Maximus: 5.

First of Maximus: 8. First in method: 9.