Peals Rung by Masters and Officials of the ODG

• F.E.Robinson's 1000th peal
• Peal rung by past masters 1973 - 2003 23 March 2003
• Officers peal for 125th Anniversary in 2006

Rev. F.E.Robinson - A prolific ringer - the first to ring 1000 peals

As well as being a great reformer and the Guild's first master, Robinson was above all an extremely capable and prolific ringer. He was the first person ever to ring 1000 peals, something that a century later is more common, with many 1000 pealers and even 4000 pealers. Robinson rang his 1000th peal at Drayton on 9th August 1905. He conducted it and the method was Stedman Triples, of which he was particularly fond. In 1933 the ringer of bell 2 presented a 'loving cup' to the Oxford Society to commemmorate this event.

DRAYTON, Berks. On 9th August, 1905, in 2 hours 47 minutes.
5040 STEDMAN TRIPLES

Thanks to John Harrison, Wokingham, for the above information on F.E.Robinson's 1000th peal. Further details can be found in F.Sharpe The Church Bells of Berkshire page 97, which refers to an article in "Bell News" August 19th 1905. There is a marble tablet recording this feat in Drayton, which was intended to be a repetition of the first peal of Stedman Triples rung in Drayton in 1899.

A letter in 'The Ringing World' page 987 October 14 2005, reported that his last peal was in St. Andrew's, Uxbridge where there is a peal board commemorating the event. The transcription is:

The above was the 1250th and last peal in which the Rev F.E.Robinson took part. He was called to his rest on February 10th 1910. This tablet is placed here by his Fellow-ringers in the peal, as a testimony to the High esteem in which he was held by them and in the whole of the ringing world.

Masters 1976 - 2003

The peal was rung at Great Tew, Oxon, on Sunday 23 March 2003.

left to right: Sally Austin, Pat Newton, Graham Clifton, John Wells, Nigel Harrison, Ken Davenport, Bill Butler, Jon Chamberlain
Offices held by these ringers in 2003:

Sally A Austin	Guild Steward
William Butler	Past Master
Jonathan Chamberlain	Deputy Master
Graham J Clifton	Guild Master
Kenneth Davenport	Past Deputy Master
Nigel P Harrison	Guild Secretary
Patrica M Newton	Past Master
E John Wells	Past Master

Guild Officers Ringing for 125th Anniversary in 2006

The ODG officers ring peals for special occasions from time to time. In January 2006 a team of ODG officers got together to attempt a peal of Stedman Cinques, at Christ Church Cathedral in January, to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the founding of the Oxford Diocesan Guild.

In the Cathedral Close first peal attempt:

photo Jon Chamberlain.
Left to Right: Jon Chamberlain, Robert Newton, David Lane, Bill Butler, Claire Edwards, Tim Pett, Graham Clifton, Jim Diserens, John Wells, Ken Darvill, Doug Beaumont, Graham Firman.
The offices held by these ringers are listed below.

Unfortunately the peal was lost after 2½ hours ringing. Jon Chamberlain, present master of the ODG, nothing daunted, organized another attempt, this time in Reading on March 12^th 2006 which was successful.

Outside Reading St Laurence a successful peal attempt:

photo Jon Chamberlain.
Left to Right: Michael Till, Graham Firman, Doug Beaumont, Jon Chamberlain, Bill Butler, Robert Newton, David Lane, Kenneth Davenport, Graham Clifton, Patricia Newton, Ken Darvill, Tim Pett.

The offices held by these ringers are listed.

It will be observed that the membership of the two bands varies slightly and this is not surprising when trying to assemble a quality band, all of whom are busy people. Missing from both photos is Cheryl Watson, one of our newest and youngest Stewards who promises to be a valuable asset to the Guild on many fronts and who had to stand down from the first attempt.