February seems to have brought a lot of rain so far. It may be worth viewing your tower for water ingress (form above or below looking at the rover levels!). Hopefully, apart from the odd detour to avoid deep puddles, you’ve not been too badly inconvenienced. 

 

Guild 100^th Anniversary 

February’s event – a barn dance at Moulton Community Centre – went off successfully on Saturday night. There were lots of enthusiastic dancers, some with two left feet. Some took the opportunity to dress differently from their usual ringing garb, with skirts, a fab hat and some brilliant silver boots in evidence. The band kept us all in some sort of order and a good time was had by all. There was a Ploughman’s supper, and the promised birthday cake was cut by the Secretary (again – I might get the hang of it by December). I’m told that the last Guild barn dance was in 1998. Maybe we won’t wait 25 odd years for the next! 

 

Talking about what comes next, the next event is the Nene Valley Challenge on 9^th March. Look out for more details soon. 

 

Open Day

The Guild is holding a Tower Open Day on Saturday May 11^th. The tower list and details of timings are now available from the website. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/open-day. There is a charge of £2 per tower or a day ticket for £20. These are available in advance by mailing centenary@pdg.org.uk for details of how to pay. 

 

CCCBR news

The President’s blog is available https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/02/02/presidents-blog-89/

And there’s a desire to have bells rung for the 80^thanniversary of D Day, on 6^th June. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/02/03/ringing-out-for-peace/

 

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. I believe that there are still places available, and this is now open for general booking.  https://events.bellringing.org/en/events/module-1/teaching-course-module-1-rothwell-northamptonshire  Cost is £25 per person. 

 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 9^th MarchNene 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 6:30Location Moulton (note this is an evening practice)

Guild Spring Meeting Saturday 13^th April. 6 bell contest at Cold Ashby from 3 pm. Teams to the Master (master@pdg.org.uk) by the 6^th April. 

 

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

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Thursday 15^thFebruary, 7:30 Uppingham

Wellingborough Surprise Practice, Saturday 17^thFebruary,  10:30 Earls Barton

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

Wellingborough Branch Practice, Saturday 17^thFebruary,  2:30 Orlingbury

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

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

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 2^nd March 3:00 Cold Ashby

Rutland Branch practice Wednesday 6^th February 7:30 Braunston, focus Surprise 

 

That seems to be enough to keep you busy until next time. 

 

Thanks

Helen