…taken from: www.ulscr.org.uk/2008/10/southern-universities-association-weekend-24th-26th-oct-2008.

I am being forced to write this whilst sitting in the Marisco Tavern as I have been avoiding writing this due to alcohol erasing most of the weekend from my memory.

Definitions
ADD: Alcoholic Drinks Drunk
MOOS’AW: Members of other societies acquainted with

Day 1

We arrived in typical UL style in time for the pub not the ringing. In the pub we met members of other societies and I began to forge relations with other societies starting with the OUS. Eventually (having got lost on the way) we made it to the Church Hall where more drink was had before a game of football with a pumpkin. Then some of us attempted to sleep despite the loudest snoring I have ever heard.

ADD: approx. 10, MOOS’AW: 1

Day 2

I have been told I rang in 2 striking competitions. We didn’t win either unfortunately. We drank a lot then had a ceilidh where we danced around a passed out Alan Reading. Afterwards I went to The Hobbit and began to complete the Fellowship (drink all 5 cocktails served in pint glasses) before going back to the hall to find Alan Reading up and drinking gin straight. Eventually I passed out.

ADD: approx. too high to remember, MOOS’AW: 4

Day 3

We went to a quality Southampton Wetherspoon’s with of course quality food. Then wandered back to the station via Primark, WHSmiths and Zavvi. Once back in London we rang hand bells at Hart Street and went to Bart’s.

ADD: again too many, MOOS’AW: 0

It was a good weekend full of wastage and general fun. Thanks to the Southampton University Guild for organising it.

Total ADD: enough to destroy my liver, MOOS’AW: 5

Lizzie Stokoe

P.S. On day 2 we attempted a hand bell quarter unsuccessfully and had a human knot.

…taken from: www.ulscr.org.uk/2007/11/southern-universities-association-weekend-9th-11th-november-2007.

On a fine Friday evening in November, the UL bravely set off, equipped only with beer, pasties and a hand-drawn map of Bristol, to the SUA competition. Organised only days beforehand, we were surprised to have a map at all but thankfully it was accurate enough to get us to the first pub, having arrived, in the finest traditions of the Society, late enough to avoid any ringing. After several drinks, leaving the Poodle quite incapacitated, we were led back to the hall, which turned out to be locked.

Thankfully, we managed to get inside and, after enjoying the tricycles and other toys which were apparently left there for the children’s group that used it, decided we needed some sleep before the ringing the next day.

And so, with various degrees of enthusiasm, the SUA awoke to the sight of industrial amounts of toast, bacon and orange juice. After consuming what our stomachs would let us, we made our way into the centre of town towards St Mary Redcliffe, stopping only to find Peter’s toothbrush on a set of steps. The ringing on the part of the UL was at least as good as their competition showing, so we left quickly and went towards the tower where the 8-bell competition was being held. Arriving early, both of our teams (neither of them eligible) got to ring early in the order leaving us more time to return to the Wetherspoon’s that we had spent so much time in the night before.

After a half hour wait, we managed to order some beer and food, and mentally prepare for the 6-bell competition in the afternoon. This mainly involved drinking and in one case ripping open trousers jumping a fence, but we arrived for the 6-bell competition optimistic about our chances to win. We entered three teams and once they’d all finished we adjourned to a local pub and then got lost trying to find the next tower, opting instead to again adjourn to a different pub, where we met some NUA people who were apparently gatecrashing. Thankfully, we had chosen the pub that the scores were being announced in so we were happily drinking when the rest of the ringers arrived. With bated breath the scores were read out, and London was read first every time, putting us in a convincing last place in every competition.

Not wanting to let that dampen our spirits, we continued with a long argument about poker and then some more drinking and then moved onto a hall where the barn dance was taking place. Amid much drinking and falling over, the UL showed that while it might not be able to beat the other universities at ringing, we could certainly give them a run for their money on the dancing. Exhausted, we eventually made it back to the hall to play truth or dare and ‘ring’ with half-full bottles tuned to different notes.

The next morning, the Bristol master showed us how a real SUA does drinking by swigging from a bottle of Tesco cider while running Sunday morning ringing.

This was followed by breakfast near Redcliffe, and drinking the bar dry within minutes of it opening, before moving on to St Thomas to ring on Bristol’s ‘comedy’ eight. Possibly the worst bells the UL have rung on in some time, these bells dropped at every single stroke so the ringing turned into more of a firing session, with the UL bravely leading the way. And so, finally, we found the station, waited in a pub for the train to arrive, and made it back to London, not victorious, but having had a very good weekend. Roll on Southampton next year!

By Nick Hartley

…taken from ecg.devonringers.org.uk/java/pasthapsold.htm#SUA

…Armed with back-packs and only the most basic of details, the master and his treasurer [cheeky!] left Exeter St David’s late on the afternoon of Friday 13th November. Having realised that trying to write his essay on the train was a bad idea, Michael thought it would really impress the rest of the SUA if we both knew our standard 8 (not that it was any use). Well, that idea didn’t last too long, so enter stage left a random woman who used that classic chat up line (on Michael) “I think your hair looks lovely, I think you’re very brave!”. Hmm.

Eventually we arrived in London and soon found the first tower (a “nice” 3cwt 8). The rest of the evening was spent in the first pub we could find, where another classic quote was made, again directed at Michael. This time, a drunk old bloke put his arm around the aforementioned and declared “Oh sorry mate, I thought you were a bird!”. Drinking time soon ran out, and we headed back to the church hall.

Saturday morning, everyone woke up bright-eyed and bushy tailed and set out for the East End. The draws for the 6 and 8 bell competition were made, and to our horror, we realised that this left us with about five hours in between our test pieces. So we drank. And drank. And then drank some more! By the time it actually came to the ringing, we simply couldn’t care. In our three minutes practice time, we rang hunting on 6, the front and back 5, and hunting on 4. The test piece was (kind of) Plain Bob Doubles (on the back five), which confused the judges and Michael. Then, back to the pub for the results; it was a miracle – WE DIDN’T LOSE! In the 6 bell we actually beat London by over 100 faults, though they were considerably more drunk then us! The rest of the evening was filled with eating curry and (yup! You’ve got it) more drinking. The majority of us arrived back at the hall at midnight, emphasis on the majority though, as Michael and Cardiff staggered in just after two.

Sunday morning consisted of three more towers and the afternoon included two more pubs. A brilliant time was had by all, and for once, the balance of drinking and ringing on a weekend tour was severely weighted the right way:

Towers – 6
Pubs – 7!

By Stephen Chambers