February has arrived and, along with the snowdrops I saw at Harrington yesterday, it has come equipped with something that my phone has taken to describing as “wintery mix”. Which is a lot less fun than it sounds. March is very nearly upon us and Spring must be around the corner. Also the Guild’s General Management Committee on the 1^st March, when your secretary again gets to see, once more, how unreadable her writing can be. As a very wise man once said, the minutes should reflect what should have been said, not necessarily what was actually said… 

Guild Report
One last reminder that if you want a copy of the Guild’s Annual Report, you need to let me know by the end of the month. For the Centenary we’re ringing the changes and having a full colour printed cover. It will certainly stand out from the usual report. Mail me with your requests, if you haven’t already. Otherwise requests will be charged at £5, as for non-members. 

Fundraising

The Treasurer has written a piece on how to take advantage of your online shopping habit to raise money for the Guild, using EasyFundraising or Give as you Live. In either case, you go through the site to your usually shopping website and the retailer gives either an amount or a percentage of your spend to the Guild. The details are on thew website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/online-shoppers-a-call-to-arms

First Peal

On Saturday Pattishall rang the first peal on the augmented 8. They went to 8 from 6 bells just prior to Christmas 2023 and were helped with a grant from the Guild’s Bell Repair Fund. The band was a mostly local band with a first on 8 and a first of Grandsire as conductor. Congratulations to all concerned. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1823627

Books for sale

Charlotte Eley is downsizing her substantial book collection. The list of what is available, and prices can be found on the website. Please contact Charlotte direct to discuss further. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/books-available

More books for sale

At the Kettering branch AGM, Jim & Sarah Bence held their first popup shop of the CCCBR books that they are managing. You may have seen a smiley picture of then in a recent Ringing World, advertising the fact that they have taken this on. They have a large range of books for sale and regularly have bundle offers, so keep your eyes on the shop https://shop.cccbr.org.uk/ and their social media profile. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569273783797

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell  Saturday 8^th March Kettering 10:30 – 12:30. 

And Branch events. 

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22nd February 10:00 Blakesley, 11:15 Church Stowe 

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 22^ndFebruary 2:30 Cogenhoe

Rutland Plain Hunt Workshop Saturday 1^st March 10:15 Preston

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^st March 3:00 Cold Ashby

Kettering Branch Practice Saturday 8^th March 2:00Arthingworth 3:15 Kelmarsh

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 10:30 Orlingbury

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 7:00 Finedon

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th March 3:00Kislingbury 6:30 Northampton Holy Sepulchre

Rutland 8 bell practice Thursday 20^th March 7:30Uppingham

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22^nd March 10:00 Calverton, 11:15 Cosgrove

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