On Saturday I was in London, having a day out in the big city. As I came out of the crypt at St Martin in the Fields, the 12 bells were ringing for a wedding. Lots of wedding hats in evidence; I hope they stayed put, it was a tad blustery. Also some rather irritated buskers, who had no chance of competing with a total of over 6 tons of metal swinging around!
Spring Meeting
The Spring meeting is on Saturday. As last year, there are 2 trophies up for grabs, one for method ringing bands, the other for call change bands.
The contest will take place at Great Addington for the method ringing and call change bands at Twywell. Ringing at both towers starts around 3 pm and should be concluded by 5pm. Teams will have had their start times already.
At Twywell there is a little parking on the road through the village – please don’t go down the lane to the church, there is no parking down there.
At Great Addington there is the Memorial Hall carpark. At either tower, please park with consideration for the locals.
Tea will be at Islip village hall from 4 pm, with the results and a brief business meeting at 6 pm. There will be evening ringing at Islip. The village hall is on Old Farm Lane, Islip, NN14 3LY. There is parking at the hall, but you may need to park in the village and walk up.
There will be a raffle for the BRF, so bring your lucky cash with you. Also Jim & Sarah Bence will have their CCCBR bookshop with them. Well, maybe not all of it! They’ll be able to offer a discount on list prices, but it is card only payment.
See you all there!
Young Ringers
The trip that the young ringers based around Daventry had to Nottingham recently featured in this month’s edition of CrossKeys, the diocese’s newsletter. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/aboutus/news/daventryyoungringersrepresentthepdgatregionalyouthevent.php
That makes reference to the event on 26th April in Daventry from 10 to 12 am . That aims to encourage young people to come up the tower and have a go. They could be existing ringers who want to get involved with other ringers their own age. Or they could be young people who might be encouraged to try ringing. Justin Baker is corralling a team of volunteers; he can be contacted on ringing_master@daventry.pdg.org.uk
The diocese is happy to share items of interest, but they do like them to be accompanied by pictures of happy people! Pass items of interest or notice of events open to the public to me and I can send them on.
CCCBR latest
The President’s blog makes an appearance. https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/04/06/presidents-blog-99/
Ringing Courses.
If a period of concentrated ringing learning at a ringing school sounds like something you might enjoy or benefit from, then there are 2 that have their application dates soon.
Applications are now open for the North West Ringing Course 2025 for both Students and Helpers. The Course will be based at Borwick Hall near Carnforth in Lancashire from Thursday 7th August to Sunday 10th August. All details can be found on our website at https://nwringingcourse.uk or contact us on enquiries@nwringingcourse.uk
The Southwest Bell Ringing Course is Friday 24th October – Monday 27th October 2025 at Millfield School, Street, Somerset, BA16 0YD. Application for Students and Helpers places will open on 1st May 2025. https://southwest-ringing-course.org.uk/
Dates for the Diary
Spring Meeting Saturday 12th April Contest at Great Addington/Twywell. Tea 4:00 Islip Village Hall. Results and meeting 6:00. Evening Ringing at Islip.
Guild 10 bell Saturday 10th May Moulton 10:30 – 12:30.
And Branch events.
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 10th April 2:30Wadenhoe
Kettering Branch Practice “on the way” to the Spring Meeting Saturday 12th April 1:30 Geddington
Peterborough 8 bell practice Sunday 13th April 2:00Peterborough St Mary.
Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 26thApril 2:30 Great Doddington
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 26th April 3:00Welton 6:30 Long Buckby
Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 26th April 7:00 Boughton
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 26th April 7:30Evenley
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 1st May 7:00Great Addington
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3rd May 3:00 Lilbourne, 6:00 Crick
Peterborough 8 bell Practice Friday 9th May 7:30Castor
By the time I send my next update, it will be Easter. Don’t eat all the eggs at once (or is it just me that tries to do that!)
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
Peterborough Branch 