Acknowledgements

Siân, thank-you for all your support during the making of this book. You have been the unwavering tenor keeping the ringing sounding out whilst Toby and bump have been happy distractions throughout.

To my wider family, enjoy!

To all those that I have rung with, it has been a pleasure; from Thurcaston to Portsmouth Cathedral to Reading to Kidderminster and now Alvechurch. What a wonderful hobby it is. My life seems to have revolved around campanology; from friends, to my dissertation, to outings, to this novel. We’re still raising money for the ‘new and refurbished’ peal at Alvechurch, so for more information please visit www.alvechurchbells.org.uk

To my ringing mentors over the years, Eric Atkinson and Richard Pawley, Stuart Heath and Richard Harrison, Helen Priest and David Struckett and to David Macey, thanks for the encouragement and some good striking, may you never clash!

To my parents who decided to follow me into the art, there have been some treasured moments ringing with you – keep it up. To my brothers – one day you will succumb!

To the La Plagne Ski Beat crowd from the 2003/2004 season – the location was my inspiration for the Alpine adventure – what a great time we had.

To many of my university colleagues and ski crowd – yes, your names were taken in vain but this is a work of fiction and, apart from the names, there really is no connection.

Lastly but by no means least to the Troubador team for making the dream of producing this book a reality.

Happy reading!