By the time I mail you next, it will be 2024 and we’ll be starting our 100th anniversary year. There’s lots going on, so I’ll just dive right in.
Guild 100th Anniversary
The Guild’s 100th anniversary featured in the Diocese’s Cross Keys communication this month. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/pdgcentenary.php
We start the year with Evensong in the Cathedral. There will be open ringing at Peterborough St Marys from 2:00 to 3:00, then the Evensong at 3:30 in the Cathedral. Bishop John, as patron, will give the address. And we have a reception in the transept afterwards, with tea & cake. To make sure we don’t run out of cake (can you imagine anything worse?!), we’d appreciate knowing if you’re intending to come, expressions of interest can be sent to centenary@pdg.org.uk Hope to see you there at the start of an eventful year. A poster for the first 3 events, January to March, is attached.
The full event listing can be found on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100
Anniversary Aims
As well as events, we have some ringing aims for the year. These split into 3 strands.
- We aim to have a piece of ringing dedicated to the anniversary in each tower across the year. Hopefully with a whole year to get organised we can, collectively, manage that. There’s a Bellboard event for you to link your performance: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=17979. Please send for publication as normal, the event is to help us keep track.
- We want to achieve 100 firsts. These could be first quarter, first inside, first, away from cover, first at a stage, first surprise, first as conductor, first treble bob, first surprise, first stedman, first date touch, first peal – you get the idea. Again, please link your performance to the Bell board event to help us keep track.
- And there’s an aim to ring 100 peals across the year.
If you need assistance to achieve one of these aims in your tower, please talk to your branch in the first instance, or get in touch with the Master, Simon Dixon, master@pdg.org.uk
Anniversary Merchandise
We still have a few calendars for 2024 available. There are also mugs with the anniversary logo, which will be available to purchase at each anniversary event. There is still plenty of time to place your order for clothing with the anniversary logo and the jigsaw puzzles are proving popular. More, in both 500 and 1000 piece sizes, are expected in January. See the website for details. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise
Guild Newsletter
The next Guild newsletter will be produced in January, meaning that any items for inclusion need to be with Jonathan Stuart by the 31st December. The last newsletter was published in September, so don’t forget what you’ve been up to since September through to December. Items of interest from across the Guild are welcome, as well as the information collated by branches. Items can be mailed to Jonathan on newsletter@pdg.org.uk. Show us your Christmas party pictures, who wears a paper crown with the most panache!
CCCBR news
The President’s latest blog can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/12/13/presidents-blog-87/
Dates for the Diary
Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 13th January 10:30 Location Kettering
Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 14th January Peterborough St Mary’s Ringing 2:00 to 3:00, Evensong 3:30, reception afterwards.
Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10th February Moulton Village Hall, Barn dance with live band & ploughman’s supper. Starts at 7 pm. Tickets are £15 in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk
It’s AGM season:
Guilsborough Branch AGM Saturday 6th January 3:00 Guilsborough. Ringing & Service in the church, AGM in the Village Hall then evening ringing
Rutland Branch practice Thursday 11th January 7:00 Great Casterton
Rutland Branch AGM Saturday 13th January 3:00 North Luffenham, Tea & AGM Edith Weston
Rutland Branch Practice Thursday 18th January, 7:30 Uppingham
Peterborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20th January, 2:00 Peterborough St Mary
Culworth Branch AGM, Saturday 20th January, 3:00 Helmdon
Wellingborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20th January, 3:00 Wellingborough
Kettering Branch AGM, Saturday 20th January, 3:00 Desborough
Daventry Branch AGM, Saturday 20th January, 3:00 Daventry Ringing; Service; Tea, AGM & Evening Ringing
Thrapston Branch AGM, Saturday 27th January, 2:30 Thrapston
Northampton Branch AGM, Saturday 27th January, 3:00 Abington (note change form original date) Ringing, Service, Tea and Meeting, then ringing
The Ringing World this week is a bumper Christmas issue. It has 2024 date touches on page 1277 and, in a seasonal piece on pages 1244 & 1245, Sue Marsden poses the question what would you wish for from a ringing genie? Hmm… let me think…
May your bells all go smoothly over the Christmas season & I will finish by wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Thanks
Helen
Peterborough Branch 