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Fund raising news
Ely ringers held a bottle stall on 8th July and made an excellent £75. (I completely forgot to mention tire £10 profit from their tower outing in March - sorry!)
The Grand Draw did much better than David Gilbert's initial estimate of 'about £400' in the Last issue: the final figure was £688.27! This prompted a very nice letter from the Treasurer, finally deserved by David and all who helped.
The car boot sale on 12th August raised a creditable £60.40, thanks to the Palmers, Dee Smith and David Gilbert (but no thanks to a certain Secretary who let them down at the last minute).
And Rosemary's plant stalls have now raised a total profit of £250 this year: amazing!
Christmas cards should be on sale by mid-October, and Quiz Sheet II should be available for puzzling over during the Christmas break, (Quiz Sheet II news is elsewhere.)
The appeal letters to PCC secretaries should all now have arrived, plus the copies to tower correspondents/captains. Please twist your PCC's arms! In addition, each (adult) Association member should have received a letter from the Treasurer. This invites you to do something on a more personal basis: please think about how you can do your bit to keep our bells ringing.
As ever, monthly raffle prizes are welcome: the 'bank' is moderately healthy (thanks to those who've given so generously), but will soon shrink!

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New member news
Welcome to Ray Clist (unattached, for now at least) who moved into the District from Trowbridge and was elected on 2nd September. At the same time we re-elected Soham's Robin Palmer after a long absence, and the Rev. Brin Singleton (also from Soham), an ex-Wisbechite (he was tower secretary at Northwold).

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We've got your number, Nigel!
Association Public Relations Officer (and Ely ringer) Nigel Sutton has changed to cable. His new phone number is (0) 1353 610903 and email: nigel.sutton@ukgateway.net.

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Ringers' excuses, or It's not my fault, really

The problem is the ropes, they are ....	too fat, too thin, too stiff, too limp, too damp, too new, too old, too long, bewitched.
The Sallies are ....	too fat, too thin, too high, too low, the wrong colour.
The problem is the ringing room, the draught is ....	too long, too short.
The box is not the right size. I need a hole to stand in. The walls are the wrong colour. The sun was in my eyes. The room is too dark. There's something nasty in the window. It's too hot in here. It's too cold in here. The problem is the bells The bell is odd-struck. The bells are too loud. I can't hear my bell. I couldn't hear the treble lead. I don't ring light bells. I don't ring round the front end. I don't ring heavy bells. I don't ring round the back end. I thought someone else was the treble/tenor. I thought I was on a different bell. What do you mean, anticlockwise'? The problem is the conductor I didn't hear the call. Was that 'Bob' or 'Single'? I thought you said That's all/Rounds/Stand'. I thought you said 'Grandsire'. The conductor shouted at me. I didn't realize it was me you were shouting at. What do you mean, Lead'? I'm in 8th's place! You didn't say this was going to be a touch. I'm doing the front work.

[To be continued in next issue]

The above was taken from the

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Association striking contest results
Only two bands (both Huntingdon District - we must try harder in 2001!) made it to the six-bell at Denver on 30th September, so three scratch bands were rustled up to make it worth a trip from the Midlands by judges Eric Critchley and Anne Cook. The eight-bell at Downham Market only had three teams, as Cambridge District were unable to enter a band this year.

SIX-BELL: 1st: St Neots, Cambridge S Minor, 40 faults. 2nd: Scratch 'A', Plain Bob Minor, 48 faults. 3rd: Great Gransden, call changes, 53 faults. 4th: Scratch 'C', Plain Bob Doubles, 58 faults. 5th: Scratch 'B', call changes, score not announced but 'deserved marks for grit and determination'!

EIGHT-BELL: 1st: Huntingdon, Grandsire Triples, 40 faults. 2nd: Wisbech, Grandsire Triples, 46 faults. 3rd: Ely, Plain Bob Triples, 58 faults.

At a short SGM after tea, a grant of £350 to Burwell was ratified. (Burwell's eight are now fully ringable again, and were welcomed back into action with a peal on 23rd September, which was also rung to celebrate the tower captain's 60th birthday.)
Thanks to the Wisbech District for arranging the day, and to the Great Gransden ringers who laid on a magnificent tea - the judges regretted not being able to award a trophy for the food!

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The Huntingdon District are at Godmarhchester from 3pm on 15th November; their Annual Dinner is on 25th November; and their ADM is on 20th January at Huntingdon. Secretary Philip George, telephone: (0) 1767 677553, email: psgbells@aol.com has more information.

The next Wisbech District meeting clashes with our Training Day on 28th October, but 25th November's meeting is at Shouldham, 2.30-5pm; 16th December is at Wisbech St Mary from 3pm; and their ADM is on 27th January at Downham Market. Secretary John Harris, telephone: (0) 1553 810711, email: john.harris1@virgin.net) has more details.

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DONALD FRANK MURFET
Don Murfet was born on Christmas Day 1933 and died on 15th September this year after a long illness. He lived in the fenland village of Sutton-in-the-Isle, famous for its pepper pot tower, all his life. Don was educated at the then Soham Grammar School. This small school seemed to be a breeding ground for ringers as others to pass through it were Richard Housden, Donald Knights, Roger Palmer, John Couperthwaite, Barry Bass and the writer. Don spent his entire working life working as an engineer for the Ely company of F A Standen & Sons who are renowned for their manufacture of agricultural machinery. There he achieved the reputation of being able to make anything out of anything. Don obviously made a deep impression on his employers for when they presented him with a watch to mark 25 years service with the company they succeeded in having his name inscribed incorrectly on it.
Don was taught to ring by Stanley Shipp in the early 1950s on the difficult heavy six in his native village. At the same time Mansfield Ginn was teaching a band at Willingham. When the two bands met Don's reaction to the fine six at Willingham was 'don't they go fast'. Don's first peal was at Sutton on 2nd January 1955 when the local band rang Plain Bob Minor which was also Stan Shipp's first as conductor. It was rung as a farewell to Don before departing for National Service in the Army. Upon completion of his stint for the country Don returned to ringing and rang a few peals in the late 1950s usually with Don Knights and Mac Ginn at the helm. In the early 1960s his 8 bell repertoire increased with attendance at the then Tuesday evening surprise practices at Trumpington. At this time he was invited into peals regularly by George Thoday and later by Ken Hesketh who came to Cambridge in 1963 and he was from then on in constant demand. After the augmentation of Meldreth in 1968 Don was a regular in the peals there until his illness. In April 1998 he rang in John Gipson's 1000th peal on those bells whilst in September of the same year he rang in what was to be his last peal at the tower. Don rang 1,095 peals for the Ely Diocesan Association and with peals rung for other associations and the College Youths, including several on the early around peal tours, his final total must have been in the region of 1,350 mostly rung round the light end where he was particularly proficient. He was always content to leave the conducting to others since he remembered his sole peal as conductor for the number of occasions he inserted a call to be reminded by half the band in unison that there should not have been one.
I first met Don when Roger Palmer encouraged me to attend my first ringing meeting. At that time Don was the district secretary with those two indomitable characters Geoff Lucas and Mac Ginn as the ringing masters. As George Thoday was also at this meeting little did I realise at that time the influence these five individuals would have on my life, not only in ringing but also other associated things, and they were all to become very good friends. Don subsequently rang in my first peal, my first as conductor and also in my first of surprise as conductor on 8,10 and, unusually, 12 bells. I say unusual because Don only rang a handful of peals on 12 and whilst he was competent enough on 10 to have rung several peals of surprise royal, including London No 3, he was happiest ringing on 6 or 8. At the time I stopped keeping records a few years ago I had rung considerably more peals with Dumps (as he was affectionately known because of his stature) than anyone else. I estimate that we had probably rung some 50 peals together. Certainly they include many of the most enjoyable especially as you were guaranteed a convivial time in his company afterwards. In my early peal ringing days he often gave me a lift in his Morris Minor and I can still remember being ordered to lean forward as we went up steep hills.
It would be wrong if this gives the impression that Don was just a peal ringer. After the bells at Sutton were declared unsafe to ring because of the tower Don began a lasting liaison with Wilburton ringing there both on a practice night and on Sundays. He also assisted at Chatteris and Haddenham and elsewhere when needed over the years. For the Association Don served the Ely district as secretary and he also had several stints as district ringing master. He also acted as a Central Council representative for a few years. One of the intriguing things during his stewardship as secretary was that although there were monthly ringing meetings he only held two business meetings per year, namely the ADM and the meeting prior to the ADM. At the latter Don would read the minutes of the previous ten meetings. It was rare to go to an Ely district meeting when Don was not in attendance.
What I will miss about Don is his wonderful humour. He could see the funny side of the most serious of situations. In one neighbouring district the business meeting had been long winded having been chaired by the local vicar who eventually reached the item for any other business and asked if there was anything else to bring up. Don, in characteristic mode, injected light relief to all by saying 'what about the workers'. I recall when CAMRA came on the scene and he described it as a load of rubbish stating that you should not worry about the quality of beer but just concentrate on quantity and then you would be guaranteed to get the odd decent pint. Another classic quip was made about those who join Conservative and Labour clubs. Don said that most had no political beliefs whatsoever but only joined because the beer was cheaper.
Don was a bachelor and he always did his housework on a Sunday morning after ringing with the proviso that it had to be finished by 'five to twelve' so he could be at the Brook or the Legion at opening time.
The number of ringers past and present, some of who had travelled long distances, attending his funeral at the Cambridge Crematorium on 26th September showed his immense popularity. I consider it a privilege to have known Don and to have spent so many happy hours in his company. Characters like him are hard to replace. Farewell my friend, rest in peace.
Alan M. Barber

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Sunshine and showers in Suffolk
[Continued from July issue]
A quick fiddle with the ignition and a swiftly replaced spark plug soon allowed progress to resume, and I was only slightly late to the tower.
The steps up to the ringing chamber here were very slippery due to the rain and pigeons. Inside, the scene was one of cramped and awkward ringing. The treble ringer is tucked up in one corner and has to look round a large ladder to see the other bells. By about halfway through our session here the assembled company had dwindled in numbers, the Fordham contingent having to leave early for a wedding, and Janet Curry leaving to pick someone up from Stansted Airport. Peggy also took her leave early.
Undaunted, we continued on our way to the last tower of the day. Curiously, I was the last to leave Poslingford and, without overtaking any of the convoy, reached Stradishall first. Hmmm. I was met here by the cheery countenance of Mr Kiddy. I never did learn his first name. I took the opportunity to accompany this fine fellow up to the bells while he treated the bearings to a drop of oil. The bells had last been used on New Year's Day and so a bit of lube was probably in order. This ring of five actually go fairly well, but our lightly weary group failed to do them justice by trying to push the bells along a bit too fast Mr Kiddy joined us for some Grandsire, and I called a halt to the proceedings a little earlier than planned due to a lack of ringers and enthusiasm.
It was a good job the day hadn't been planned to finish with a flourish on an eight - past experience, you see. It was sad to note that it was not known when the Poslingford bells would next be rung after our visit. Makes you think, doesn't it? Farewells were bade and we all went home: a day out that ended with a beautiful sunset as I nipped along the Soham bypass.
Thanks are due to all those who turned up on the day, and it was a shame that a couple of Ely types who wanted to come couldn't due to last minute illness. A few more people would have made the outing a little easier, but it went very well all the same. The varied nature of the bells was both enjoyable and challenging, and tested the abilities of all the ringers. We still managed to ring a wide selection of methods including Stedman, Grandsire, Plain Bob and St. Osmund. The day also wade a small profit of £10, which has been donated to the Bell Fund as promised. Finally, there will be another Ely outing next year, so clear your dianes for 24 March 2001. Andy Maddams
[We're very grateful to Andy for the success of the Crab & Winkle outing on 7th October It's £41 profit has gone into the District fund to make up for past outings' losses - Ed.]

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Swavesey ringers go to the Dome
No, not THE Dome: Swavesey Millennium Country Day Dome. .A structure measuring 220 feet across and 30 feet high, made out of ropes, scaffolding poles and 1,500 feet of bunting! Unlike THE Dome, ours stood on the meridian line rather than next to it.
Swavesey bell ringers joined in with the community atmosphere of the Country Day with our stall in the dome. We borrowed a mobile belfry from the Litchfield Diocese to show bow ringing works and give people a chance to 'have a go'. There was a steady stream of people, including several children who showed interest either by just watching or actually having a pull on the ropes. We borrowed the Association display boards to try to explain how ringing works and showed photographs of bells and ringing in action.
We tried to recoup some expenses by having a 'guess the weight of the bell' competition. We used a small bell hung in a frame, which weighed 8.214 kgs. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us. Caroline Stevens

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