Dear all, please see Helen’s latest update.
Well, that was a bit cold! Hopefully it didn’t cause any harm to anyone, limiting damage to some rather cold hands in the tower. Maybe you were able to take a snowy picture of your tower for seasonal use.
Bells on Sunday
Next Sunday, 19th March, sees Bells on Sunday featuring Stoke Albany, in the Kettering branch. The program broadcasts at 05.43 and repeats on Monday at 00.45. Assuming that might be a bit early or late for you it will also be available on the BBC Sounds App or on their website after the broadcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001k7n9
Guild news
April sees the Spring Meeting. Hoping that it looks like Spring by the time we get to 22nd April. This opportunity to ring and meet friends includes the 6 bell striking contest for the Weaver shield. If your tower or group wishes to enter a team, entries should be with Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk) by the 15th April. Should you want to read them, the rules and past winners can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/events/competitions
There will be ringing at Mears Ashby from 2pm, then the contest will start at Orlingbury at 3 pm. The tea will be in the village hall, about 5 minutes stroll from the church. The results and meeting will follow and there will be evening ringing at Orlingbury.
The GMC meeting last weekend was busy and lots of work was done by those involved (and I’ve had a lot of minutes to write!). The meeting agreed that the current Recruitment & Training committee structure was not entirely effective due to the breadth of remit and the different skills required to cover this. It was agreed that this should have 2 dedicated sub-committees with separate areas of focus.
- Recruitment and initial Training
- Training
If you or anyone else wishes to join, be involved in or support either committee, please express interest to the Master, Simon Dixon, master@pdg.org.uk. There is as much a place for those with organisational skill as those who can teach or train on these committee. There is no need to be on a branch committee or tower captain; just to be interested or have something to offer on the topic.
Ringing for the Coronation
There has been ongoing publicity for ringing in the last few weeks. Items have appeared in the Express https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1743033/Britain-bell-ringers-every-bell-in-Britain-ring-out-The-Kings-Coronation and Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11824315/Campaign-seeks-Britains-38-000-church-bells-ringing-Kings-coronation.html (surprisingly good, this one. Not sure how the pre-practice pint might translate into quality of ringing).
The latest guidance to churches from the CofE is now available here:
https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/churches
If you download the Information pack you can find a short paragraph about ringing on page 14. It says that:
Guidance for bell ringers
It is suggested that Churches and Bell Ringers may wish to consider ringing, where possible, before and/or after the Coronation service to locally gather and mark the Anointing and Crowning of the King at a practicable time (with the agreement of the Parochial Church Council). It is suggested that if you have the facility, a quarter peal would be appropriate, or whatever can be managed with the
resource available.
Bell Ringers may also wish to consider how they could offer ‘taster’ sessions and training as part of your local community gathering or Big Help Out, with the appropriate risk assessments undertaken.
The Guild would add that ringing should be organised to fit in with other local activities and that getting in touch with your church/village to see what they have planned would be advisable. There are plans for events from the 6th to the 8th and fitting in with local arrangement would always be preferred.
CCCBR news
The president’s latest blog is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/10/presidents-blog-76/
Registration for Heritage Open Days is now open. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/04/heritage-open-days-2023/
The CCCBR has published an online information source on running a tower. This can be found here: https://runningatower.cccbr.org.uk/ It can be printed, either in part or full, for in-tower reference.
Dates for the Diary
Guild Spring Meeting Saturday 22nd April. 14:00 Open Ringing at Mears Ashby, 15:00 Contest at Orlingbury.
Guild 10 bell practice Saturday 13th May 10:30 Towcester
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Thursday 16th March 7:30 Uppingham
Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 18th March 10:30 Wilby
Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 18th March 7:00 Earls Barton
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 18th March 3:00 Braunston including service and tea, Welton 6:30
Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 18th March 7:00 West Hunsbury
Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 25th March 10:30 Cosgrove
Rutland Branch Progress event Saturday 25th February 1:30 Preston. Focus Rounds & Call changes
Kettering Joint practice with Thrapston Saturday 25th March 2:00 pm Cranford St John, 3:15 Islip
Peterborough Afternoon Social – ringing with tea and cake 4:00 Stanground (tbc)
Rutland Branch Progress event Saturday 1st April 1:30 Edith Weston. Focus Rounds & Call changes
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1st April 3:00 Scaldwell 6:00 Walgrave
Peterborough 8 bell practice Friday 7th April 7:30 Castor
Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 12th April 7:30 Braunston. Focus Surprise
Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15th April 10:30 Ecton
Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15th April 7:00 Bozeat
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15th April 3:00 Weedon Bec including service, tea & meeting
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15th April 7:30 Chipping Warden
Hopefully Spring will have sprung by the time you hear from me next.
Thanks
Helen
Helen Allton
Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PDGCBR
Website: www.pdg.org.uk
e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk
Telephone: 01832 735 266
Peterborough Branch 