Autumn tour 2005 - Oxfordshire, 28-30th October

This was apparently Pauls first tour, and I want to firstly thank him for reminding me of some of the events, I would like to apologise if these events are not in the right order, and would like to site the time elapsed and alcohol consumed as the main factors which contributed to this.

We met on Friday night in the quaint village of East Hendred at the Eyston Arms, the first of one of the three local pubs we were to frequent over the course of the weekend. This was a cosy low roofed pub with a big log fire and a good supply of Adnams Ale, which went down very well indeed. We retired that evening to Snells Hall, where I vaguely remember Andys bedding being stolen, and games of eating as many marshmallows as possible occurred.

On the Saturday morning we awoke to horrific sight of Idris (beloved UWASCR mascot) hanging from a beam in the Hall. This was however overcome with the help of the culinary delights of a breakfast provided by catering officers Minime, Rona and Becky, was much enjoyed by all. St. Michael and All Angels, Steventon; St. Peters, Drayton and St. Helens, Abingdon were the first three towers to be visited on the tour, this was followed by a buffet lunch at the Prince of Wales in Shippon. The Afternoon towers were All Saints, Marcham and St. Blaise at Milton. The catering officers provided an evening meal, I seem to remember it being a pasta creation and being very enjoyable indeed. This was to precede a visit to the second of East Hendreds three pubs, The Wheatsheaf. This was a pub that many in the society found even more enjoyable than that of the previous night, to the extent that some members of the Society played on the childrens playground next to Snells Hall well into the small hours, whilst other members (Minime) were unable to manage making breakfast the next morning.

Sunday began with a beautiful clear morning, and following another fantastic breakfast we went to out first tower, that of Saints Peter and Paul in Wantage, the local market town, and where Sir John Betjemen had penned the Bells of Wantage, a poem which still hangs on the wall of the ringing chamber. The final tower visited was that of Saint Augustine of Canterbury in East Hendred itself, this was a fine old church, and we were treated to a tour of the belfry by the local tower captain, who showed us a fascinating clock dating back to the 14th century. The final of the three pubs we were to visit was the Plough, and it was here we had Sunday lunch, and spotted some very unusual characters, one of whom bore a striking resemblance to Matt Lucas in Little Britains Andy and Lou sketch.

The tour was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and my thanks go to Ross for organising it and managing to get us such a nice hall, as well as to the catering officers, James, Rona and Becky for such wonderful food, and finally the ringers of the locality who allowed us the use of their bells.

- Pete Hampson