Golly isn’t January long! Finally, the end seems to be in sight. It’s been busy too, with 10 AGMs successfully completed. Thank you to all those who have taken branch office, good luck for the upcoming year. 

Guild 100^th Anniversary 

The next event is a barn dance in Moulton Community Centre on Saturday 10^th February. The dancing will be from 7 pm and will be to a live band, Kelly’s Eye. The tickets are £15 each and includes a ploughman’s supper, with a choice of meat, cheese or vegan. There will be a bar and a games room for when you need to take a breather. Tickets available from centenary@pdg.org.uk. Open to all, non-ringers can dance too, you know. Bring your friends for what should be an entertaining evening. 

CCCBR news

The President wants for one more ringer https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/01/18/presidents-blog-88/

The news that the government is considering signing the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has prompted activity to see of bellringing might be eligible. There’s one more change to join a CCCBR meeting to discuss he implications. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/01/18/what-is-intangible-cultural-heritage-and-why-does-it-matter-to-bellringing/

ART conference

The ART conference is the first weekend in March, at Hanbury. https://bellringing.org/2024/01/13/book-your-place-at-the-art-conference/ No need to be an ART member to attend either day. 

ART Training

If you want to learn to teach bell handling or already do but want some ideas and support, there’s an ART M1 training course being held at Rothwell on Saturday 30^th March, from 9:15 to 5:00. There are 12 places available, and initial booking is limited to PDG members, use code 1682. https://events.bellringing.org/en/events/module-1/teaching-course-module-1-rothwell-northamptonshire  Cost is £25 per person. 

Guild Newsletter

This was circulated in hardcopy and should be arriving in your tower soonest. It is also available to read online.  https://pdg.org.uk/newsletters/newsletter_202401.pdf
Next print deadline late March, so get your snippets of news to the branch or the newsletter editor soonest. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10^th 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

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 9^th March Nene Valley Challenge, Thrapston area. Ringing at a variety of towers in the morning followed by a light lunch.  

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 9^th March 6:30 Location Moulton (note this is an evening practice)

Not yet got all branches calendars, this is what I know of for February now. 

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3^rd February 3:00 East Haddon

Rutland Branch practice Wednesday7^th February 7:00 Cottesmore, focus Minor & Stedman. 

Kettering Branch Practice, Saturday 17^th February, 2:00 Warkton, 3:15 Grafton Underwood (tea & cake at Grafton Underwood)

Wellingborough Branch Practice, Saturday 17^th February,  2:30 Orlingbury

Daventry Branch Practice, Saturday 17^th February, 3:00 Byfield for ringing service & tea, 6:30 Woodford Halse

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 20^th February, 7:30 Oakham

Towcester Branch Practice, Saturday 24^th February, 10:30 Grafton Regis

With 29 days, we’re in for a longer than usual February as well. Hopefully it doesn’t involve being drenched, frozen or blown away. And maybe the first signs of Spring are just around the corner. 

Thanks

Helen