For many years in the town of Great Blicester has stood the 10-bell tower of Saint Goodenough where I, Gudgeon Pynn, am the Tower Captain. The bells are famous throughout the land for their mellow tenor, 19cwt in A {bells of this weight are usually tuned to the note F, E or E flat. Have a look in "Dove"}. One of the ringers is an elderly gentleman, Bert Headstock, who enjoys recounting his many tales accumulated during the ringing of his 20,000 peals {20,000 peals is extremely unlikely}. Bert is always keen to give advice to the newer ringers whom, he believes, benefit from it. Unfortunately, he is known for his glaring errors and unlikely claims. There are 12 in this episode; some obvious, others not. Can you find them or get others to help you? The prize - deeper understanding.

    One night recently, after the practice, Bert was enjoying his customary pint of Marston's Bass {Marston's don't brew Bass} along with an up-and-coming lad by the name of Rusty Dingler. Bert saw his chance and started telling Rusty about his many heroic efforts at the bitter end of a bell rope {the end of a bell rope is the "tail end", the "bitter end" of a rope is the actual end of the rope as tucked in half way up the tail end}. But, before he began, Bert decided to buy them another pint of Bass each. On his return, Bert started telling Rusty about his earliest peals. He recalled that his first peal was one of 5056 Plain Bob Minor {peals of Minor must be multiples of 720 and are therefore normally 5040} (6 extents, each called differently {5040 is seven extents, six extents is too short for a peal}) on the fine ring of 6 at Over Pulling, where the ropes fall all around the font, Still being inexperienced, Bert had covered {Plain Bob Minor on six bells can't have a cover}. Also, said Bert, half way through this peal, because the weather was very hot and everyone had had the sun in their eyes the whole time {how can six people stood in a circle all have the sun in their eyes at the same time?}, the band had decided to stop for a break and resume later that evening {you are not allowed to stop for a break!}. Bert then remembered that, after the peal, the conductor had showed him one of the extents that he had used, thinking that Bert might be able to call it; Bert now thought that Rusty could call it. The extent was:

W B H 23456
s s s 53246 {these three singles produce 52346}
s     42356
Repeat six times

{The Diary contains a similar extent but with a bob H in each part. It is not necessary to include this bob to obtain a true extent and this course end is correct when this bob is omitted. Thus the second course is correct. Those of you who had a mistake here are therefore not correct.}

{two problems with "repeat six times": Problem 1 - Repeat six times means do it seven times in all. There are no seven-part extents of minor (go on, prove me wrong). Problem 2 - Since the first part produces 42356, which has three bells out of place, the second part must produce 34256 and the third part 23456. This gives six courses, which is only 360. In other words there must also be singles at H half way and end. This is now a true extent}

Rusty was very impressed with the story of Bert's first peal and offered to buy the next round, which he did. He returned from that bar knowing that there would be more from Bert...

Gudgeon Pynn.
e-mail Gudgeon at gudgeon@pynn_net.clappers

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