Message from Claire & Bill Holbrook


Bill and Claire Holbrook (nee Howard) would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks to all the Guild members who sent us cards, gifts and best wishes for our wedding at St Johns, Washingborough on the 30th August. We would especially like to thank the ringers (not just from the Central branch!) who grabbed a rope for us on our magical day. 300 changes of Stedman triples, specially composed and conducted by Alan Bird was rung before the service as the guests were arriving and then a touch of Grandsire triples, conducted by Mick Stracey, was rung as the Bride arrived (which was heard, as the Bride was early (!) and so sat in the wedding car and listened before walking up the church path to the sound!). Grandsire triples was rung again as we left the church and then many members of the congregation were up and down the tower for open ringing as the official pictures were taken. We then made our way up for photos with the service band before leaving for the reception with the bells still ringing out behind us. Wonderful!

Claire & Bill and a selection of ringers!

Prior to the main event, instead of 'hen' and 'stag' nights, the week before, we had hen and stag quarters at Harmston and Washingborough (Bob triples and Stedman triples) which included ringers from the West Lindsey, Northern and Eastern branches and the Best Man, Chief Bridesmaid and the official photographer! The morning after the big day, we rang our first quarter as a married couple (Grandsire triples, again!) Which also included 4 members of The Open University Society of Change Ringers who had travelled from Ludlow and London for the ceremony.

Once again. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone.

Claire and Bill x



Lincoln Diocesan Guild
WASHINGBOROUGH, Lincolnshire
St John
Saturday, 18 August 2018 in 43m (12-1-11 in F#)
1260 Stedman Triples

1 Colin Ward
2 David Fox
3 Jeremy Wheeldon
4 Jonathan P Clark
5 Bill Holbrook (the Groom!)
6 Greg Harrison
7 Alan D H Bird (C)
8 James Northway

1st in method 5 and 6
The 'stag' quarter

Lincoln Diocesan Guild
HARMSTON, Lincolnshire
All Saints
Saturday, 18 August 2018 in 45m (10-2-0 in G#)
1260 Plain Bob Triples

1 Tierney Rayment
2 Gemma Evans
3 Sue Faull
4 Joanne French
5 Claire Howard (the bride!)
6 Sandra Underwood
7 Sylvia M Taylor (C)
8 Chris Jackson

100th quarter 2
The 'hen' quarter!



The stags and some of the hens after the QPs


And then the day after the wedding, this was rung!

Lincoln Diocesan Guild
WASHINGBOROUGH, Lincolnshire
St John
Friday, 31 August 2018 in 42m (12-1-11 in F#)
1260 Grandsire Triples

1 Tim Hughes
2 Denise A Hughes
3 Claire Holbrook
4 Bill Holbrook
5 Jonathan P Clark
6 Colin Friend
7 Louise Booth (C)
8 James Northway

To celebrate the Marriage of the ringers of 3 and 4 at this church yesterday, the first quarter together as a married couple. Birthday compliments to the ringer of the second.
Also for the Open University Society of Change Ringers