Written by Sue Green, published in the Ringing World Oct 2nd 2015
Helen and Matthew’s wedding on Saturday, 15th August was bound to be an occasion for lots of ringing. They met when they joined York Colleges Guild in 2007 and have a wide circle of ringing friends across the country. But with Matthew’s passion for scouting and a shared love of the outdoors, there also had to be a tent and a fabulous countryside setting. The idyllic riverside village of Burnsall, in the Yorkshire Dales, was chosen as the base for the weekend’s celebrations as it provided a delightful hall for the reception with a small, but perfectly formed, eld opposite for the tent and a ring of six next door for a quarter peal!
The first quarter to mark the occasion had been rung the previous Sunday at York Minster, where Helen is a member of the band, and a peal was scored at Huntington on the Friday evening by other Minster ringers. With another successful quarter the same evening at Horton-in Ribblesdale, the day’s ringing brightened what had been a rather wet and miserable day (weather-wise), especially for those who’d volunteered for tent erection duties.
But Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny for the drive to Ilkley (Helen’s former home tower) for the wedding service in a church lled with family and friends, plus ringers and scouters from all over the country. Even the minister, Reverend Dick Watson, used to be a ringer with the Ilkley band.
The bells were rung both before and after the ceremony by the local ringers, members of the Minster band and friends from York Colleges Guild and Leeds University Society, whose summer tours played a key role in Helen’s early ringing career. Handbells were rung during the signing of the register by Peter Sanderson, Peter Hughes, Lizzie Frye and Johny Stokoe.
Then it was off to Burnsall for drinks in the all-important tent, which had dried out in the morning sunshine and now looked spruced up with its baskets of greenery and swags of handmade bunting.
The village hall had also been transformed in a similar fashion by the hard work of the bride and groom, and friends and family – plus the invaluable creative expertise of the couple’s York ringing friend, Holly Leese. Everyone agreed it was the perfect setting for an afternoon of eating, drinking and speech making and an evening of enthusiastic ceilidh dancing.
The ringing celebrations continued on Sunday with a peal at Birstwith, and quarters at Burnsall and St Chad’s, Shrewsbury.
The weekend was a wonderful celebration to mark the marriage of two people brought together by ringing, but who also share a great love of the outdoor life. The same hard work and enthusiasm they both bring to these activities was very evident in the time and effort they’d put into planning their wedding. But I know they’d also like to thank all the very many people who worked so hard alongside them to make it such a special and memorable day.
YORK, All Saints, Huntington Fri Aug 14 2015 2h35 (5) 5024 Yorkshire S Major Comp. D F Morrison (No 488)
1 Tina A Walker
2 Peter J Sanderson 3 Sophie E Palmer
4 Peter D Hughes (C) 5 Christine B Potter
6 James A Sanderson 7 David A Leese
8 Timothy P Bradley
By York Minster ringers with best wishes to Helen Green and Matthew Illman on the eve of their wedding at Ilkley. 100th peal: 7.
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BIRSTWITH, N Yorks,
St James the Apostle
Sun Aug 16 2015 3h2 (11) 5024 Yorkshire S Major Comp. Donald F Morrison (No.6975)
1 Maurice Calvert
2 Eleanor H Maude
3 Cindy Maude
4 Daniel T Calvert
5 Elizabeth C Frye
6 David G Butler
7 Nicholas J Green (C) 8 R Andrew Sutherland
Rung to celebrate the wedding of Helen Green and Matthew Illman, which took place yesterday at All Saints’ Church, Ilkley.
First peal: 4.
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WANDSWORTH, Gtr London, Holy Trinity, West Hill
Sat Aug 15 2015 2h55 (15) 5088 Bristol S Major
Comp. Robert W Lee 1 Esther S Pilgrim 2 Rebecca Steed
3 Emma R Jones
4 Christopher J Field
5 Phillip P Ridley
6 Christian J Brown
7 Benjamin J Meyer
8 Matthew J Jones (tno) (C)
Rung to commemorate VJ Day, in acknowledgement of the sacri ce made by so many, including Dick Channer who is a member of the congregation of this church.
Also with best wishes to Matthew Illman and Helen Green on their wedding day. First peal: 2.
First in method as conductor.
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York. (Minster) 9 Aug, 1276 Grandsire Cinques:
Emma Coles 1, Gail Cater 2, Helen Beaumont 3, Alice Etherington 4, Helen Green 5, Tina Walker 6, James Holdsworth 7, Christine Potter 8, Roderick Horton 9, Peter Sanderson (C) 10, Timothy Bradley 11, James Sanderson 12.
With the warmest good wishes of the band to Helen Green and Matthew Illman for their wedding next Saturday.
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Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorks. 14 Aug, 1260 PB Minor:
Gill Glover 1, Cath Butler 2, Eleanor Maude 3, David Butler 4, Alan Glover 5, Andy Sutherland (C) 6.
With the best wishes of the band to Helen Green and Matthew Illman for their forthcoming wedding, at Ilkley on 15 August 2015.
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Burnsall, N Yorks. 16 Aug, 1272 York S Minor:
Alice Longdon 1, Sue Green 2, Gill Glover 3, Alan Glover 4, Tony Cocks 5, Kath Cocks (C) 6.
Rung to celebrate the marriage of Helen Green (daughter of the 2nd) to Matthew Illman who met at York Colleges Guild. They were married at Ilkley Church on 15th August 2015.
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Shrewsbury, Shrops. (S Chad) 16 Aug, 1280 Spliced S Major (3m):
Biff Patterson 1, Amanda R Craig 2, Jad Bienek 3, Madeline J Harris 4, Gillian R Glover 5, Brian S B Kear 6, Richard D Blagrove 7, Alan M Glover (C) 8.
Rung before Evensong, and to celebrate the wedding of Helen Green and Matthew Illman, which took place yesterday at All Saints’ church, Ilkley.
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Ilkley, W Yorks. 21 Aug, 1320 Cambridge S Minor:
Gill Cooper 1, Sue Green 2, Roger Waddington 3, Andrew Drury 4, Stuart Holtam 5, Andy Sutherland (C) 6.
With congratulations to Helen Green and Matthew Illman, who were married at Ilkley on 15 August 2015.