Ring A Ding Ding...
- By Steve Rowlands
- •
- 04 Jun, 2018
- •
...and The Pompey Chimes
Is there a connection with the Chant "Ring a Ding Ding" and "The Pompey Chimes"?
The origins of the "Pompey Chimes" chant lies with Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) FC, circa 1890 who played many of their home games at the United Services Recreation Ground in Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, within easy earshot of the Portsmouth Guildhall clock bells, which inspired the chant.
The Royal Artillery held the nickname "The Gunners" because of their British Army origins and also "Pompey", adopted from the city of Portsmouth in which they were based, ergo Pompey Gunners. The Pompey Chimes date back as far as the 1890s. Referees are said to have used the chime of the nearby Guildhall clock to let them know when the match should finish at 1600. Just before 1600 the crowd would sing along with the chimes to encourage the referee to blow the full-time whistle.
The only time the bells stopped was during the war, until they were turned off by the city council in 2003 for urgent repair work.
The Victoria Bell is the biggest, weighing in at 3.9 tons.
The Royal Artillery were expelled from the FA Amateur Cup in 1898, for professionalism. Because of the scandal of their expulsion and ending the League season poorly, Royal Artillery then decided to disband.
From out of the ashes of Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) F.C., a new club was soon founded. Many of Royal Artillery's supporters then transferred their allegiance to the new club and brought the 'Pompey Chimes' chant with them from Burnaby Road to the newly created Fratton Park.
The original words to 'The Chimes', as printed in the 1900-01 Official Handbook of Portsmouth FC, were:
Play up Pompey, Just one more goal!
Make tracks! What ho!Hallo! Hallo!!
Now supporters chant:
Play Up Pompey, Pompey Play UP.
Is the Ring a Ding Ding chant a direct descendant of the Pompey Chimes? I'll leave it up to you...
Ring a Ding Ding P-O-M
Ring a Ding Dong P-E-Y
Ring a Ding POM
Ring a Ding PEY
Ring a Ding a Ding Dong POMPEY!
What's Happening...
FRIDAY 7 July 2023
Golf (All Day Event) Game & Prizes £35.
China Fleet Country Club Saltash. Book via the Shop on the Association website Meet 0900 - Group Photo 1000 - 1st Group Tee Off at 1016
Evening Get Together after Golf and arriving in town for weekend
Keyham Vaults Pub (Opposite, near, Albert Gate)
222 Albert Rd. Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 1AW
SATURDAY 8 July 2023
AGMs Pompey 1200 & Guz 1400 The New Continental Hotel, Millbay Rd., PL1 3LD followed by Tot Time with Pasties social gathering
Evening Dinner 1930 Sit Down - The New Continental Hotel
Millbay Road, Plymouth, PL1 3LD
The cost for Evening Dinner (Saturday) is £36 per person
Booking and payment for the dinner is via the shop on the Association website.
Accommodation:
Best Western Lichfield City Centre - The George Hotel, Bird St, Lichfield WS13 6PR.
When booking a room at The George, mention Portsmouth Field Gun for a discounted price.
It is proposed that we book a semi informal dinner at The Trooper on Friday the 17th March 2023, the Bar/Restaurant is 3 miles from the Gorge Hotel (10 minute cab ride)
Those wishing to attend the dinner at the Trooper on Friday 17/03/2023 please confirm by text to Sparky Coombes on 07810883565
For those wishing to visit the national Arboretum it is situated Approx. 7 miles 16 minutes from the George Hotel.
The committee have planned to visit the Field gun bench at the Arboretum after breakfast returning to Lichfield in time for the Commencement of the Six nations festivities.
Six Nations Game at The Squash Club
The 18th of March is the climax of the Six nations which sees
Scotland Host Italy at 12.30.
France Host Wales at 14.45
And finally Ireland host England at 17.00
It is proposed to set off for Sutton Coldfield at 1200 where we have booked a room in a Squash club to watch all three games.
Closer to the time when we have an idea of numbers we will arrange the requisite number of mini buses to get everyone to and from the venue.
The reasonably priced bar will be open all day.
Sunday BBQ
Numbers dependant, Nick Dymond has offered to show off his BBQ skills to any of the association that aren’t completely ditted out or have been locked up for fighting with any 15's (one in particular) that took offence during previous dit spinning sessions.
AvN 13th May 2023.
OUR ALLOCATION OF MATCH TICKETS HAVE SOLD OUT - You can still purchase your own from RFU.
Wrist Bands to allow entry to the Command Field Gunners Bar can be ordered here (in the shop). Two per member.
We have included a non-member option. If you are not a member of the association, you must email us your years at PFGC to be considered: pfga@yahoo.com
PFGA members WILL come first.
WANTED! More ex- Portsmouth Field Gun Crew Member who have not yet ordered their ''Portsmouth Field Gun Crew Lifetime Medal''
PFGA Reunion Breakfast 0830 on Friday 15 Jul in Mardin Cafe, Copnor Road PO3 5EG
Friday 15 - Field Gun Dinner
Friday 15 - Partners Run Ashore
In order for us to stay ahead of the curve organisation wise, we would like you to get on and buy your ticket, so enabling us to confirm numbers etc with the venue. Tickets are £60 and purchased via the shop www.pfga.online/shop.
I can see from the list to date that some members are already forming 'Crew Year Tables' to celebrate their own mini reunions within the grand scheme. This is a great idea. For us to be able to make all of this possible we ask for early bookings and remove the risk of latecomers 'cocking' the whole thing up.
We have removed the stipulation that you have to be a member to attend the Dinner. Obviously if you are reading this email then you are an existing member, you may however know Field Gunners who for some 30 year old political reason have no desire to be a part of the association. If you do, we ask you to reach out and invite them to come along. We hope that they will see the amount of work that the committee put in on behalf of everyone and then join up. What challenged us in the past changed us forever. We all share the same bond and every year, sadly our numbers decrease.
It has been a long time since we all attended a Dinner such as this and sadly many have now crossed the bar. Don't miss this opportunity to reunite, spin some dits, remember those who have crossed and make one or two more memories.
There is no charge to enter this part of the dockyard. Gun numbers will be asked not to scare any kids and keep their grunts to a minimum whilst Swing and Slat numbers will have to undergo a security handbag check.
Rig: As you see fit, Blazer/Tie, Polo, Sports Rig with Sweat Bag, White Fronts/Track Boots/Gaters, Nicks and Flip Flops...
Drinks in the Ship ANSON on completion.
https://www.pfga.online/Portsmouth-Field-Gun-Newsletters