Friday evening saw me in Bangor, County Down with my friend and fellow Lib Dem, Stephen. We were exploring the seaside town with him showing off his hometown and me getting some sea air and learning a bit more about the town whilst there.

I travelled out by train and we set off up into Castle Park. Being two Foursquare addicts we added Schomberg HQ 1689 where the Duke of Schomberg had a base prior to marching to the Battle of the Boyne. Then we walked up past the Castle to the Walled Garden, which is very attractively laid out and restored by North Down Borough Council.

Passing a squirrel (unfortunately a grey – Groan!) we headed back into the town centre and down to the harbour, after which we had a bite to eat in Little Wing.

In the evening, I started to see what it was that gets Stephen so excited when he it is not politics.

Hobby number 1: Bowling

The Bangor Bowling Tournament was being officially opened and it was the turn of the local Member of Parliament, Sylvia, Lady Hermon to do the honours. In her speech beforehand she recounted how her father had been a bowler and how he would probably be looking down and laughing at her throwing the first bowl in the tournament.

She thanked the council for its care and attention in providing and looking after the bowling greens and their facilities in Ward Park, and even managed to mention the Coastguard station that she and others are trying to save. A politician who is keeping on message is always worth a listen to.

And then it was ready to do the business of the first ceremonial bowl. She was ably helped by two very well dressed ladies from the bowling fraternity. Sadly I didn’t get to see what their blazers and various badges meant – but they looked terribly grand and important.

The sponsors were thanked – Spectator Newspapers and Teddie’s Bar. And so it was down to business. From my view point you could only see the back of the gathering but it meant that you could see the technique which I am sure others could critique.

Hobby number 2: Bell ringing

After standing and watching as the mixed pairs got under way, we began to walk back towards the station so that I could make my way home. And then the somewhat inevitable happened when within earshot of a bell tower, a bell started to go up. I turned to Stephen and said,

Have you ever been in a bell tower before? Come on, let’s go. You might even get a go!

Well up we went (adding Bangor Parish Church) to Foursquare as we went and when I entered the ringing room, we were received a very warm welcome from Colin Holliday, the tower captain. There were now a total of six people in the tower and eight bells. With four experienced ringers, one learner, and Stephen it didn’t seem likely that there would be much ringing done.

However, we did show Stephen some simple call changes, and some Plain Bob Minimus (on four bells), and then he had a go himself. There was plenty of chat, and we worked out that once trained up he would be able to ring, then head down for practice at Trinity Presbyterian before the service there. Simples!

Towards the end we even rang Double Court Minimus which I had not rung since the days of Ballymena Hon. Society of Bell Ringers ringing every method in Diagrams for Minmus and Doubles – and that wasn’t yesterday, since Claire Hudson who was Tower Captain at the time died in 1994.

It was an enjoyable evening, and I will definitely be heading back to Bangor on a Friday evening for bell practice there. Let’s hope that Stephen can be enticed off the bowling green and into the tower during the winter months as well. I’m sure his mathematical brain will be able to cope with the methods.

Back to the tournament

Watch out for Stephen in his match in the Bowling tournament tomorrow morning at 9.30, in Ward Park.