Exeter Ringers in France. Again.
Friday & Saturday 30/31 May 2008

Peter Bill writes...

As well as ringing on their 72cwt twelve a group of the Exeter Cathedral Ringers also enjoy the opposite end of the ringing scene and will drive miles to sample the delights of an available mini ring. Last year, on the late May Bank Holiday weekend, we spent a pleasant time in the South of France near Albi ringing a peal and quarter peal on Alistair Moon’s mobile mini ring at Senouillac in the Pays de Gaillac. The thoughts inevitable turned to ‘what shall we do next year?’ and the problem was instantly solved when we discovered that former Exeter ringer Peter Sawyer, and his wife Chris, were having a mini ring installed in their recently converted property in Northern France. Pete and Chris have spent 5 years converting a barn situated just south of Domfront on the border of Normandy and the Loire into a lovely home. There was also a small barn which was originally known as the ‘Petite Maison’. Pete has restored this and it is now called ‘Le Petit Beffroi’ housing a 16lb Matthew Higby mini ring.

Le Petit Beffroi (left and middle) and relaxing in the garen

The village of Soucé is set in rolling countryside not unlike that of our West Country with cider orchards and dairy farming. It has the great advantage of being only a couple of hours drive from the Channel Ports of Cherbourg and Caen. The regional airports at Rennes and Dinard are also only just over an hours drive away. Even though our numbers had risen from the eleven who went last year to 17 this time we were able to be accommodated in two excellent Bed and Breakfasts only a few minutes away from the bells. The numbers meant that we would have to try for at least two peals and there was also a request for a quarter peal from some of the non peal ringers. Pete and Chris had already rung the first quarter on their bells during a visit in February from Devon ringers James, Elaine and Thomas Grant when the six had been made up by former Yorkshire ringer John Robinson who now lives about half an hour away. Our appointed ringing day was to be the Friday after the late May bank holiday but a number of us used the opportunity to spend some time sight seeing in France. Simon Rudd, who had joined us in Senouillac last year, drove up from his holiday in the south of France whilst others arrived on the Tuesday and Wednesday to do a little exploring of the Normandy/Loire area. Peter and Carol Bill arrived by train from Paris on the Thursday having spent the previous few days there and were collected by Pete from Rennes at the same time collecting Margaret as she flew into the airport there from Exeter. Two more arrived the same evening whilst we were enjoying a meal in Domfront and the band was completed the next day by Matthew, Paul and Brian who came on the overnight ferry and arrived with time to spare for the first peal.

Pete had kindly given up an opportunity to ring in the first peal on the bells so that the same band from the previous year could attempt another new method to be named in honour of the new ring. David Hull had supplied Matthew with a new method and composition which were eminently suitable to little bells and was rung at the first attempt. The ringing was little hesitant to start - probably because their natural speed is a little slower than we are used to ringing at Pig-leTower or Bishops-Ting-Tong - but we eventually settled into a good rhythm and found the bells easily ringable and very musical which was enhanced by attributes of David’s composition. After an inevitably long, and to a certain extent liquid, lunch the second peal was rung in good style, Brian calling what we believe is the first peal of triples (certainly by rope and wheel) on mainland Europe. The days ringing was completed when John Robinson joined us for the first eight bell quarter on the bells and we finished off with a BBQ when we were joined by some of the French friends of Pete and Chris whom we have met on previous visits there and who as usual were completely bemused by English change ringing on handbells.

The peal bands (left and middle) and the quarter peal band.

The following day we decided to attempt another peal which was unsuccessful in spite of some very good ringing but perhaps we were a little lacking in concentration after the rigors of the eating and drinking of the night before! That disappointment was more than made up for by an afternoon visit to the Bell foundry at Villedieu which is just over an hours drive from Soucé but conveniently situated on the way back to the ferry for those who were travelling back that day. This was kindly arranged by John and Anne Robinson and we were treated to a guided tour (in English) and should definitely be added onto the list of attractions worth visiting in the area. The overnight ferry travellers had time to visit Mont St. Michel on their return journey and no doubt the supermarket was visited to load up with wine. Those of us who were staying one more night enjoyed another long and leisurely meal in the town of Ambrieres which is only a short distance away. The Sunday saw the last of us depart, either to visit other friends in France or return home leaving Soucé and the hamlet of La Chesnaie to return to its quiet rural existence.

Villedieu bell foundry

Our thanks have to go to Pete and Chris Sawyer for their hospitality, arranging such excellent accommodation for us and booking restaurants etc. but especially for allowing us to invade their lovely home for a few days. It is a delightfully peaceful area of rural France and ideally situated for exploring the regions of Normandy and the Loire. The bells are very ringable and sound well but Pete has installed efficient sound proofing so they do not interfere with the sounds of the local countryside. The travelling also proved relatively easy and even the drive from the Channel Tunnel would only take about 4 hours but with the variety of ferry ports and budget airline routes available a journey from almost anywhere in the UK is viable. For those really keen a peal attempt could be arranged with less time involved than you might need to ring a peal in the UK. An overnight ferry out and afternoon one to return would see you home in the UK in less than 24 hours. Having said that you would then miss the undoubted attractions of the visit to France (and I don’t just mean the food and drink). Pete and Chris can be contacted by e mail at le.petit.beffroi@gmail.com

Of course the question now is ‘What do we do next year?’

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