Advanced Weekend in Brisbane November 2025
Organiser's Report
The Superlative Surprise Major QP Band
Despite some challenges, including cancelled and delayed flights, a very successful Advanced Ringing Weekend was held in Brisbane from 14-16 November 2025. ANZAB provided funding for helpers who were organised by Phil Goodyer.
The weekend started with a Friday evening session at St Andrew's, South Brisbane, focusing on Stedman Doubles and surprise minor, followed by drinks and a light meal at a nearby pub.
Saturday ringing was held at St John's Cathedral, with one stream focusing on surprise major and another on Stedman Triples, Grandsire Triples / Caters, and Little Bob Major. Highlights included Tom Finn's first blows in, and first touch of, Cambridge Major, and a very enjoyable quarter peal of Superlative Surprise Major (my first in method and Dylan's first in method as conductor). A very pleasant dinner was also held on Saturday evening at the German Biergarten at Wooloowin.
After service ringing on Sunday, which was pleasingly enhanced by our visiting ringers, several of us relaxed at a local coffee shop before reconvening for an interesting seminar by Mary Symes on combining methods, followed by afternoon ringing. Ringing was again divided between surprise major and Stedman / Grandsire / Little Bob; one highlight was splicing leads of surprise major, and another (unexpected!) one was ringing a plain course of Stedman Caters with several local ringers, including two first-timers.
All in all, it was a very successful weekend, and we thank our visiting helpers (Mary, Dylan, Derek and Alan - plus Patrick whose flight was cancelled) for sharing their expertise and for helping us to develop confidence with methods that we don't normally get a chance to ring. We also thank ANZAB for funding their travel costs to support this weekend.
Harold Bartlett