REPORT ON 2005 RINGING ROADSHOW

Saturday 10th September saw the fourth Ringing Roadshow, the biennial event that brings the industry, ringers, and other bell enthusiasts together under one large roof for displays, seminars, workshops, and the opprtunity to peruse and buy bells and bell-related items from the largest selection of such items you are likely to find in one place anywhere in the world. This year it was held in the big exhibition space beneath the main stand at Newbury Racecourse.

As well as the usual items we offer for sale on such occasions, Whitechapel Bell Foundry strives to deliver something different every Ringing Roadshow. For the 2005 event, we set up an area where, over the course of the day, works manager Mark Backhouse constructed a tower bell core from loam and bricks while explaining the intricacies of the process to the many visitors who stopped by to watch. Then there was the bell pitching area where visitors were invited to pitch two tower bells under the supervision of our master tuner, Nigel Taylor. Though not new to the roadshow, our engraving machine also proved popular and many mini-bells were engraved on the spot with visitors' names.

As always, the task of getting all our equipment, displays, and sales items to and from the foundry - and the unloading and assembly/disassembly of same - was a mammoth task. Those who performed these labours this time, and who manned our various tables during the event, Were Alan & Kathryn Hughes, Elizabeth Hughes, Peter Trick, Mark Backhouse, Steve McEwan, Mandy Davis, Carolyn Baker, Neil Thomas, and Bob Hansen. 'Non-official' team members from WBF who were present as visitors but who also helped out were Ben Kipling and Simon David