Page 42 - BR September 2023 (1)

September 2023

 
Chris (Concertina) and Denny (Vocals and Guitar)
have brought their unique sound to audiences
across the globe since 1993. In 2016, they joined
forces with Emily (Fiddle and Vocals) blending vocal
harmonies and strings to their unique sound. Their
soulful songs, exhilarating tunes and quick-witted
banter ensures no two concerts are ever the same.
Please do NOT contact The Drax Arms for further info
etc but send an email to pipthebass@btinternet.com.
pipthebass@btinternet.com
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September 2023
 Call Changes need a 'call' from a leader to indicate when a change is to be
made eg 123456 to 214356 with a bell either slowing up or speeding up to move
 one place to the new order until the next 'call' which could be 241536.
Method Ringing is a mathematical type of method when the bells change their
order every time and needs to be memorised:-
 Belfry
The present bells were rehung in 1919 to 1920 having been deemed dangerous
by the then Vicar Rev Montague Bere. They were lowered to the ground through
the trap door and taken to the Mears and Stain bank Foundry in Whitechapel by
The Skittle Alley horse and cart to Wareham Station and thence by rail to London. This was
The Drax Arms remembered by Tom Woolfries who taught ringing, wound the clock, put up the
Bere Regis flags, maintained the bells and churchyard and countless other jobs for over 30
years.
They returned in 1920 with the present steel frame and an extra treble bell
 marked 'PAX 1919' all paid for by anonymous but very generous donors and the
 clock mechanism was then able to be replaced as a result of an appeal and
parish collection including 'Egg Money' from the donation of money raised 'from
To reserve a seat please send eggs laid by hens on Sundays in Lent!'
email to To have the present set of six cast today would cost over £40 000 without all the
frame, wheels, headstocks etc and without the cost of labour to do it.
The 5th bell is 'UP' s that you can see what has to be done before ringing can
take place. The front four and sixth bell are ‘DOWN’ for safety and so the clock
can continue to strike.
The bell stays up due to the stay located on the SLIDER and ringing takes place
when the SALLY is pulled and the bell swings round 360 degrees and then another
pull on the ROPES END returns it back 360 degrees and can with skill be stopped
UP again or continue to ring. Skill in speeding up the rotation or slowing it down
allows the changes to be accomplished. This sort of full swing ringing is fairly
unique to the British Isles.
Item to see - Old pieces of clock mechanism when it was wound daily, louvers in
order to keep in or deflect sound and keep out nesting birds and current clock
hammer mechanism.
Roof Level
Flagpole, weather vane and lightning conductor, chimney for central heating,
three large pinnacles (old but replastered, 1976 replaced after being struck by
lightning, 1995 the cost found by an anonymous donor) and small ones over the
staircase all in memory of Mr Bert Griffin. The VIEW over the village and
countryside
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