In bell ringing, a ‘peal’ is a period of ringing, usually lasting around three hours and with over 5000 changes – all rung from memory of the method ‘blue line’. They are often rung for special occasions and commemorated with boards in towers.
The United Counties’ Association
Tenor 12 cwt
On Saturday 17 May, 1884, in 3 hours and 6 minutes
A Peal of 5056 KENT TREBLE BOB MAJOR
Ringers
- John J. Brierley
- John Holden
- John Sidebottom
- Thomas Wilde
- James Sellars
- James Nuttal
- James S Wilde
- Thomas Brocklehurst
Composed by John J. Brierley
Conducted by James S Wilde
Footnotes:- Messrs. Brierley and Holden belong to Saddleworth; Sidebotham and Nuttal from Mottram; S. and J . S. Wilde from Hyde; Sellars from Glossop; and Brocklehurst from Hayfield.
Notes BN 1884 p 91
annotation Jeff Brannan 29th May 2023
I was interested to read this again. J S Wilde was a well known composer (of peals) in his own right.
Yes, he lived in Hyde but later emigrated to Dunedin (East coast of South Islam, New Zealand. When he arrived there were no bells for hundreds of mile, but he did continue with his composing and made very occasional visits to Christchurch – his nearest ring of bells. Some considerable time after JSW’s death a ring of bells were installed at the church of Otago, Dunedin. I was in New Zealand in February 2020 and was privileged to be asked to conduct one of his compositions, which I did on 15th February. 4 of the band members were on holiday (includes Nina and myself) the other 4 were expats now living in New Zealand – 3 from the far North of North Island the other (ex Marsden) has lived in Christchurch since the 1960’s.
After the peal the whole band were photographed outside JSW’s former home and very likely where he composed the peal we rang.
Historic Saddleworth Church 