Early May Bank Holiday weekend saw a group of thirteen ringers from Dorchester and West Dorset branches (plus various spouses) take a road trip to Ypres in Belgium to ring on the recently installed eight at St George’s Memorial Church.
During the weekend, which was brilliantly organised by Margaret Saunders (Sherborne), we rang two quarter peals as well as three separate sessions of general ringing. We also had chance to explore the area with a tour of Tyne Cot Cemetery (Passchendaele), the Trenches Museum and the Ypres Salient Museum, expertly guided by Upwey Tower Captain Andrea Jacob, who over many years, has made a study of the First World War. At Tyne Cot, Andrea found the memorial to fallen Upwey ringer, Hope Break, at which we paid our respects. On Sunday evening we also attended the very moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
It is believed that Sunday’s quarter for evensong is the first occasion when members of SDGR have rung a quarter peal on the WW1 Memorial Bells in Ypres.
Andy Waring
