Dear all, a reminder that the next major event in the Guild Centenary calendar is the day out at Stanwick Lakes next Saturday, 13 July. This will be an interesting day, with lots to do in addition to bell ringing, so I hope you will be able to join the Guild. The detailed information about the event is on a previous post

I am still short of volunteers to join the Branch for our slot on the mini ring from 2.30-3.30pm, Please let me know if you are available. https://petbells.org.uk/contact/chairman/

Hilary

Dear all, the next major event in the Guild Centenary calendar is the day out at Stanwick Lakes on Saturday 13 July. This will be an interesting day, with lots to do in addition to bell ringing, so I hope you will be able to join the Guild. The detailed information about the event is below.

As you will see from the schedule, Peterborough Branch has a slot to ring from 2.30-3.30pm, and I am asking for volunteers to come to join us to ring. Please let me know if you are available. https://petbells.org.uk/contact/chairman/

Objectives

This is going to be a superb public relations exercise where we can all experience something slightly different in the art of bellringing, but share our passion with members of the public.  It takes place on what is usually one of the busiest weekends of the year at Stanwick Lakes. (https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/)

Overview

We will have a prominent location, where we will set up the Wombell and the Maplestead Mini Ring.  In addition to this we hope to have handbells and bellplates for making a noise on.  There will be some display materials, merchandise for sale, quizzes, and craft activities, so plenty to attract visitors.

Branches have been assigned a time slot for manning the site and using the equipment but as these are all open ringing sessions, feel free to come at any time to join in.  As necessary, a group of confident users will come to ring for a short time on the Mini Ring each hour. 

There is plenty to do at Stanwick Lakes – play areas, an assault course, a visitor centre with a café and heritage centre, a myriad of paths for walks – making it an opportunity for a great family day out.

Parking rates are currently £3.40 for up to 2 hours, £4.90 for up to 4 hours and £6.40 for the whole day per vehicle, so people may want to arrange to share lifts.  For anyone planning to come for two separate time periods, we can organise a discount.

A team of members is being arranged for the assembly and dismantling of the equipment – if you are willing and able to help with this, please contact centenray@pdg.org.uk

Schedule

Visitor Centre open 9:30-17:00

Dear all, Diana has now made the arrangements for this popular event. Please see below:

12:30 -1:15pm Great Casterton PE9 4AN Bells: 6 Tenor: 5-1-18 in A♭ Ground Floor(GF)  no toilet

1:30 – 2:15pm  Ryhall              PE9 4HR  Bells: 6 Tenor: 11-1-5 in F    toilet available

2:30 – 3:15pm  Greatford         PE9 4PX  Bells: 6 Tenor 6–1–4 in B♭  Ground Floor (GF) no toilet?

3:30pm  Waterside Garden Centre just off the A15 ie  King St, Baston PE6 9NY

Waterside Garden Centre has just reopened after severe flooding; I have personally checked out their fruit scones and confirmed they are really yummy!! I am just waiting for them to update the menu, which I think only affects the full Afternoon Tea, as the fruit/cherry/Cheese scones are on their menu, but I will circulate that as soon as I have it.

I did have jam (choice of raspberry or strawberry) and clotted cream on my scone, which are extra at present and drinks separate, but as they have reopened earlier than the expected July, the online menus have not yet been updated. 

Anyway the ringing details are confirmed, and I will provide more news as soon as I have some.

Thank you

Diana Street

Any queries please email me on diana_cherryfields@yahoo.co.uk 

Dear all, the Guild AGM is next Saturday (details below) and the Guild would like to take the opportunity to take photos of members to form part of a visual record of the Guild in its centenary year.

So dig out your centenary clothing if you have got some, book your teas with Helen (secretary@pdg.org.uk) by Wednesday, and turn up with smiles on your faces.  The forecast looks good so hopefully we can get some great group shots.

AGM details

Open Ringing at Harlestone at 2 pm and Pitsford at 3 pm.

Ringing at Moulton at 4 pm, for the service at 4:30 pm.

This will be followed by tea in the church hall and the AGM at 5:45 pm. There will be evening ringing afterwards.

Dear all, at the AGM in January, it was suggested that we should bring together young ringers across the branch.  A successful first event was held in February and 5 young ringers plus two learners joined us at St Mary’s in Peterborough on a Sunday afternoon.  It was a good opportunity for these ringers to get to know one another both through ringing and through chatting.  Thank you to the teachers and ringing parents for supporting it.  As always with a ringing event there was cake. 

A second event is planned for Sunday 21 April, 4pm at Nassington, and we expect it to then continue every 6 weeks or so. 

If you are interested in joining this group, please get in touch with me https://petbells.org.uk/contact/chairman/

Hilary Hardie

Dear all, the ever popular event Ring for your Cream Tea is in planning, so please make a note of the date of 29 September in your diary.

More details to follow.

Best wishes,

Hilary

Dear all, with the celebrations for the Guild Centenary happening every month in 2024, there is less scope to organise Guild training events.  This is what has been scheduled in so far.  Please check with the Guild website (https://pdg.org.uk/events/second-saturday-events) for any updates.

January 13^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Kettering

An opportunity for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.

This practice is open to all – no need to register.

January 13^th 2024, 15:00 – Ringing Up and Down in Peal at Great Oxendon

With advice and practice for either one of these activities, this would suit ringers who are members of bands that regularly lower and raise their bells but do not have enough ringers who can do so in peal. 

If interested please contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk).

March 9^th 2024, 18:30 – 10-bell practice at Moulton

An opportunity for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.  Please note that this is an evening not a morning practice.

This practice is open to all – no need to register.

April 13^th 2024, 10:00 – Bell Maintenance at Great Oakley

This is aimed at those who are interested in the mechanics of the bells and would like to learn a bit more, especially about how to keep the bells and fittings in good working order.  It will be a mainly practical session held up in the belfry and would suit new recruits as well as existing ringers, it will also cover looking after ropes and stays; learning how to change a rope and stay, how to adjust the length of a tail-end, and how to splice a broken rope.

There are spaces available on this course – please contact Simon Dixon if interested (master@pdg.org.uk) .

April 13^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell quarter peal at Rothwell (tbc)

This is for some of the regular attendees at the 10-bell practices to enjoy an extended piece of ringing.

If you would like to be considered for the band, please contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk).

June 29^th 2024 (not a 2^nd Saturday), 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Towcester (tbc)

September 14^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at St Giles, Northampton (tbc)

November 9^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Daventry (tbc)

These are opportunities for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.

These practices are open to all – no need to register.

We ask that if anyone is interested in any of these sessions or have suggestions of their own to put forward, that they contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk)  or Cathy Dixon (pro@pdg.org.uk) to let us know and we’ll be in touch with more details.  Please note that there will be a small fee of £3 per student for the training sessions to go towards a tower donation, and a request for £1 from each ringer at each of the open practice sessions.

Dear all, Helen writes that it has been announced that the new Bishop of Peterborough will be Bishop Debbie Sellin. She is currently the Bishop of Southampton and has been acting Bishop of Winchester. 

As the Bishop is patron of the Guild, Helen suggests we might like to consider a footnote dedicating a piece of ringing to welcome Bishop Debbie. She is due to be enthroned in early 2024. 

Thanks

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Dear all, Helen’s latest update below:

It was great to see so many people at the Summer Festival last weekend. Over 70 people attended part of the day. It was, I admit, maybe a bit warm for ringing, but it was perfect for sitting in the Chantry House garden listening to someone else ring. Well done to all the teams that entered, the judges were most complimentary about the standard achieved. And congratulations to Towcester on both winning the trophy and hosting an excellent tea. Clearly a branch of many talents! 

Full write up available on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/a-sunny-summer-festival

PDG100

With the last of the Guild’s event in 2023, our thoughts turn to 2024 and our 100^th anniversary. 

You may have seen the merchandise available to celebrate at the Summer Festival and at various branch events. There are calendars, featuring 14 different churches across the diocese, these are £5 each. There are mugs (also £5) and clothing with the anniversary logo (prices from £11. And there is a jigsaw puzzle of a painting the Guild has commissioned from talented Thrapston artist, Sarah Pendred. It’s a fabulously busy image and will be available in 500 (£15) and 1000 pieces (£20). All details can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise and orders can be placed through centenary@pdg.org.uk

We’re also taking expressions of interest in the events for the 100^th anniversary, mainly so we can make sure there’s enough birthday cake to go around. Mail interest to centenary@pdg.org.uk. The first event is at Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday 14^thJanuary. Ringing at the Cathedral from 2pm, then choral evensong in the Cathedral at 3:30. The Biship of Brixworth, as patron of the Guild, will give an address. And there will be a reception in one of the transepts afterwards. With cutting of a birthday cake, but maybe not 100 candles! 

All the events can be found on the website https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100 and we’ll update with more details as we get closer. 

We’re also aiming to have a piece of ringing dedicated to the anniversary in each tower in the diocese. More on that later on.  

Young Ringers Practice & Pizza

One to get to your young ringers. On 23^rd September, Daventry branch are hosting an event for young ringers (from 10 to 25 ish). It’s an opportunity for younger ringers to meet and ring with other young ringers outside of their tower/branch. While organised by the Daventry branch, all young ringers are welcome. This is at Daventry tower and will start at 3:00. Donations are invited towards the costs of refreshments & pizza. Please spread the word to your younger ringers. Ringing will be run by Miles Baker, with support from DBS checked adults in the branch. The previous event was a success, and this should be just as good. I’m tempted to lie about my age and sneak in…

Parents are welcome to stay or to leave their offspring, whichever they feel more comfortable with. 

Any queries to Justin Baker ringing_master@pdg.org.uk

CCCBR news

The CCCBR annual meeting was held the first weekend in September. That saw a change in President, with Tina Stocklin taking over. Her first blog is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/09/15/presidents-blog-84/

The meeting discussed the change in number of representatives (which was rejected), and a survey for Ringing 2030 initiative. It may take some time to be distributed, but please fill it in when you see it. It’s important to know where ringers are and what they are ringing in order to know how to progress. 

Finally there have been some promotional videos produced. They are available to share, so please consider using them in your next open day or recruitment opportunity. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/09/05/recruitment-and-promotional-videos-go-live/

While we are sharing ringing PR, this piece from the National Churches Trust might be worth bookmarking and sending to those wanting a general introduction to ringing. https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore/story/ringing-changes

Ringing for a charity walk

Between the 22^nd September & 8^th October a group are walking from Staffordshire to Kent to raise awareness of Papyrus, a charity that works to prevent youth suicide and support the bereaved. They are passing through our area between 26^th & 28^th September, the route takes them between Yelvertoft, West Haddon, Long Buckby, Great Brington, Duston, Hunsbury and Collingtree. If you are able to ring around this time, or place information in a pewsheet the group would appreciate that support.

Dates for the Diary

Guild Plain Bob Practice Saturday 14^th October. 6:30 Desborough

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Tuesday 19^th August 7:30 Oakham

Young Ringers Practice & Pizza Saturday 23^rd September 3:00 Daventry 

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 30^th September 7:30 King’s Sutton

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 4^th October 7:30 Cottesmore

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 6^th October 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 7^th October 3:00 Brixworth, 6:00 Maidwell

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Thursday 19^th October 7:30 Uppingham

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 21^st October 10:30 Yardley Hastings

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:00 Irchester

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 21^st October 3:00 Litchborough

Kettering: Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 3:30 Barton Seagrave

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:00 Church Brampton

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:30 Evenley

Seems the Summer Festival was a last hurrah of the summer weather. Ho hum. Looking on the bright side, I might finally get some wear out of my anniversary fleece!

See you at a ringing event soon. 

Thanks

Helen

Dear all, there is a second menu for this event, attached