Germansweek

Brian Singleton, the captain of the church bells and bell keeper, and Tim Donkin, being the secretary and treasurer arranged the annual get-together evening for Germansweek Bell Ringers' Club recently.

The evening started with 30 minutes of bell ringing, during which 37 people gathered to enjoy the event.

Brian Singleton gave a short talk on the more recent history of the bells.?In 1995, Peter Cresswell and members of the parochial church council raised sufficient money to enable the bells to again ring the full circle rather than chimes.

A team was then formed, which included Peter and Liz Cresswell, Heather and Nigel Fullbrook, Fran Cashmore and the late Philip Sutherland and the late John Cashmore.

Brian ended his talk by referring to the complete re-hanging of the bells in 2007 which involved a great deal of hard work and money raising and said he was pleased to have the company of four parish councillors and past and present ringers for the get-together.

Ringers for the evening were Jackie Armstrong, Chris Gaden, Tim Donkin, Colin and Adam Hill, Nigel Fullbrook, Ken Ogbourne, Brian Benyon and Eric Moon (Ashwater captain).

Photographs were taken of past and present ringers by Sam Sleep.

Brian also thanked the ringers who have supported him throughout the last year — without their help the bells would have been silent.

Thank were also expressed to Tim Donkin for the work he does as secretary and treasurer, also to all church members for selling draw tickets and for prizes donated, and to the ladies for laying on a magnificent buffet, Sandy and Ron Hopkins, Mandy Greenaway, Heather Fullbrook Marcia Singleton and Nikki Donkin.

Nigel Fullbrook expressed thanks to Brian for all his hard work during the years.