In addition there are teas and coffees in the Village Hall with cakes. All are welcome.

Dear all, here are the sessions for the next few months:

July 8^th 2023, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Rothwell

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

July 8^th 2023, 14:30 – 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)

July 8^th 2023, 18:30 – Intermediate 8-bell practice at Weedon Bec

This is for the in-between methods on 7&8 i.e., not Plain Bob or Grandsire, or Surprise Major, but methods such as Little Bob, Kent Treble Bob, Single Oxford Bob Triples.

This practice is open to all – no need to register in advance, just turn up with a £1 fee towards tower donations

August 12^th, 15:00 – Running a good practice at Spratton

This will be run as a workshop that encourages sharing from the participants.  It will be suitable for anyone who currently (or aspires to) run ringing sessions at tower or branch level and wants to make them as successful as possible.  Individual ringing ability is not an issue, although there will be an opportunity to try out new ideas.  It is hoped that some people who have many years of experience will also come to share ideas.

There is no limit to the number of places available but an idea of numbers will be useful for planning purposes – please contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk) if you want to come to participate.

August 12^th, 18:30 – Stedman practice at Irthlingborough

This session is for all those who want to practice ringing either Stedman Triples or Stedman Doubles – plain courses or touches.

This practice is open to all – no need to register in advance, just turn up with a £1 fee towards tower donations

September 9^th, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Daventry

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

October 14^th, 10:30 – Grandsire – location tbd

This will cover the structure of the plain course of Grandsire (Doubles, Triples and above).  It will also look at how bobs and singles affect the working bells with hints on how to ring touches in the method.  The practical session will focus on ringing touches of doubles and triples and will take place at a location that is most convenient for those who sign up.  The course will be suitable for any ringer who can either ring plain bob or treble to different plain methods competently.

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

October 14^th, 18:30 – Plain Bob Practice at Desborough

This session is for all those who want to practice Plain Bob from Doubles up to Major – plain courses or touches.

This practice is open to all – no need to register in advance, just turn up with a £1 fee towards tower donations

November 11^th, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Higham Ferrers

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.  We will be ringing half-muffled and there will be a period of silence around 11am.

This practice is open to all – no need to register

November 11^th, 15:00 – Leading Up and Down in Peal at Grafton Underwood

This will cover the additional skills needed to allow a band to raise and lower the bells safely and tunefully.  It should be of particular interest to those who get called upon to carry out this task but are uncertain about how to make it work.

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

December 9^th, 15:00 – Ringing Up and Down in Peal at Isham

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)

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 one of the open practice sessions.

Dear all, we are having an additional bell cast and installed at Yarwell Church to augment the existing 4 bells to 5.   Yarwell PCC has decided it will be called the Starsmore Jubilee Bell in recognition of the Jubilee in 2022 and in acknowledgement of the contribution made by Jack and Grace Starsmore to the life of the village and the church in particular.

We have raised nearly all the money needed, with significant donations from local bell ringers and the village, plus the Guild Bell Fund has kindly offered a grant towards the work.

We are planning two events to raise further funds, to which you are invited:

Sunday Teas      Sunday 2nd July      3pm – 5pm Yarwell Village Hall 

Flower Festival Saturday 22nd July    11am – 4pm   Yarwell Church and Yarwell Village Hall

I hope you will be able to join us at one of these events and contribute to raising the final funds required.

Best wishes,

Hilary

Dear all, please see the latest update from Helen.

Seems that summer might be on the way, it’s been a beautiful weekend. 

Guild AGM

The next Guild event is the AGM on the 10th June. The timetable for the day is as follows:

2:00 Ringing at Greatworth

3:30 ringing at Marston St Lawrence for Service at 4:00

Tea in Marston St Lawrence village hall followed by AGM at 5:30 pm.

Evening ringing at Moreton Pinkney.

Names to tea to me by the Thursday 7^th please. secretary@pdg.org.uk

The AGM is open to ALL members, it is your chance to elect the Guild’s officers and have your say on what is going on. If you have any items to raise, or just have a question, please get in touch. 

All the details are available on the website . https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/agm-2023

CCCBR news

The President’s latest blog is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/05/18/presidents-blog-79/

There is a new page available aiming to provide guidance on belfry projects. Produced by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Stewardship & Management Workgroup, offers advice to anyone who is considering a project to install bells or undertake restoration work on a bell installation. It will evolve with new information as it becomes available. https://belfryprojects.cccbr.org.uk/

Ridgman Trophy

On Saturday 17^th June, the Guild is hosting the Ridgman Trophy at Towcester. This is a regional striking contest held on 10 bells and is open to Guilds and associations that border the Ely Association. Quite a large trophy is on offer. Should be a good opportunity to listen to some good ringing. https://ridgmantrophy.elyda.org.uk/

Coronation Ringing

A fortnight later, there have been no new entries to Bellboard from our area in the last few days, so I’m hoping that means that everyone has added their ringing. We now have ringing at 199 towers and featuring over 900 people. That’s almost three quarters of the towers in the diocese. Excellent effort by all concerned. 

The ringers at St Mary’s Peterborough, Great Oxenden & Rothwell each rang and named a new method to mark the occasion. In the 13 peals and 27 quarters there were a number of notable achievements. At Nassington and Great Oakley the first peals since augmentation were rung and at Aynho the first peal in the tower since 1955 was rung. 

First Peal: Hilary Hardie (Nassington) & Deborah Bray (Castor) 

First Quarter: Josh White (Earls Barton), Garth Ratcliffe (Bozeat), Andrew Green (Bozeat), Paul Szyszka (Ryhall), Howard Murphy (Cold Ashby)

First Quarter away from Cover: Rachael Szyszka (Ryhall)

First Quarter Inside: Helena-Katie H Scholes (Ryhall) & Ethan Szyszka (Ryhall)

First Quarter of Minor: Lynda Jaycocks (Lubenham

First Quarter of Triples: Sue Webster (Uppingham) & Ian Bell (Uppingham)

First Quarter of Major: Jane Robinson (Cathedral)

First Quarter of Surprise: Janet Donaldson (Saddington)

First Quarter as Conductor: Thomas Saunders (Uppingham)

Dates for the Diary

Guild AGM Saturday 10^th June. Culworth branch. Open Ringing at Greatworth from 2pm. Ringing and Service at Marston St Lawrence at 15:30. Tea and Meeting (at 17:30) in Marston St Lawrence Village Hall. Evening ringing at Moreton Pinkney.  

Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 8^th July. 10:30 Rothwell. 

Guild Intermediate Practice Saturday 8^th July 7:30 Weedon Bec

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 2^nd June 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3^rd June 3:00 Spratton, 6:00 Cottesbrooke

Peterborough Branch Cathedral Ringing Sunday 4^th June Meet outside the West Door at 2:00

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 7^th June 7:30 Cottesmore Focus Plain Bob Minor & Stedman 

Wellingborough Striking contest Wilby Tuesday 13^th June 7:30 Wilby

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 17^th June 10:30 Orlingbury

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 17^th June 3:00 Whilton 6:30 Norton

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 17^th June 7:30 King’s Sutton

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Wednesday 21^st June 7:30 Oakham

Towcester Branch Practice Thursday 22^nd June 7:30 Greens Norton

Hoping that the Bank Holiday weekend turns out nice, which would be a bit of a surprise. 

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

Telephone: 01832 735 266

Dear all, please see the latest Guild update, below from Helen.

As promised in the last update, this time the news mainly revolves around the Coronation ringing and advance notice of the Guild’s AGM. 

Coronation Ringing

With entries taken from Bellboard a week after the event, there has been ringing at 170 different towers in the diocese, involving over 900 different people. That’s an excellent effort. Many firsts were scored – first open ringing, first 1/8th peal, first quarter, first peal by ringers and on the bells. Well done all! You’ll remember that for some time to come. David Loake, Doug Holloway & Paul Hutton were ringing for their second Coronation. 

If you’ve not posted to Bellboard, please do so and let me know, so that I can include your ringing in the letter to the Palace. 

There is a certificate available from your Bellboard entry (the gold pdf option), or, if you prefer, there is a Guild one available. Let Cathy Dixon know and she can arrange to get that to you. pro@pdg.org.uk

You can see some of the band pictures, and a tower list, on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/coronation-ringing-summary

You might also like to have a look at this piece, featuring ringers from Rutland & Peterborough Cathedral: https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/england/experiences/news/inside-the-bell-ringing-community-of-the-uk  There are some great images, well done to all involved.

Guild AGM

The next Guild event is the AGM on the 10th June. The timetable for the day is as follows:

2:00 Ringing at Greatworth

3:30 ringing at Marston St Lawrence for Service at 4:00

Tea in Marston St Lawrence village hall followed by AGM at 5:30 pm.

Evening ringing at Moreton Pinkney.

Names to tea to me by the Thursday 7^th please. secretary@pdg.org.uk

The AGM is open to ALL members, it is your chance to elect the Guild’s officers and have your say on what is going on. If you have any items to raise, or just have a question, please get in touch. 

Parking in Marston St Lawrence is limited, and so parking has been arranged in the field south of the church. See the website for a map. https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/agm-2023

The meeting will include a proposed change to Guild rules, the details of which can also be found on the website. The minutes of the meetings for approval are in the same location. 

An agenda will be posted once I’ve written it! 

Dates for the Diary

Guild AGM Saturday 10^th June. Culworth branch. Open Ringing at Greatworth from 2pm. Ringing and Service at Marston St Lawrence at 15:30. Tea and Meeting (at 17:30) in Marston St Lawrence Village Hall. Evening ringing at Moreton Pinkney.  

Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 11^th July. 10:30 Rothwell. 

One cancellation to report, Rutland’s 8 bell practice at Uppingham on Thursday has been cancelled due to an Accession day service. 

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 20^th May 10:30 Mears Ashby. 

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 20^th May 2:30 Bozeat

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20^th May 7:30 Sulgrave

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 2^nd June 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3^rd June 3:00 Spratton, 6:00 Cottesbrooke

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 7^th June 7:30 Cottesmore Focus Plain Bob Minor & Stedman 

Wellingborough Striking contest Wilby Tuesday 13^th June 7:30 Wilby

If your church incorporated bells into their service for Bell Sunday, do let us know. https://bellsunday.org/ It will be interesting to know what the uptake might be. 

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

Telephone: 01832 735 266

Dear all, please see below Helen’s latest update. I meant to send this out earlier in the week!

Lovely to see everyone at the Guild’s Spring Meeting at the weekend. I’d seen a weather forecast earlier in the week that predicted it would be awful, so it was quite nice to see a pleasant, if slightly blustery, spring day. The clouds scudded along overhead and decided not to rain properly. Thanks to Wellingborough branch for laying on a great event and an excellent tea. Thank you to all those towers that did enter. It takes courage to put yourself forward for that sort of scrutiny. The Judges reported that they listened to nothing but good ringing all afternoon and you should all be proud of yourselves. Congratulations to Towcester, who disturbed the judges’ pencils the least in their piece and won the trophy. Thanks to Sue & Garry Mason for judging. 

At the meeting the 100 club draw was made, the raffle raised £94 for the BRF and a BRF grant was awarded to Harrington to rehang their 6 bells and repair their frame. 

The day concluded with a busy evening ringing at Orlingbury before a sizeable contingent finished up in a local hostelry. 

CCCBR news

The President’s latest blog https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/04/21/presidents-blog-78/

While we are in contest mode, there is a National Call Change competition, to be held on 3^rd June. This is in the style of a Devon Call Change contest, with raise, ring 60 on thirds and lower all being part of the test piece. This is not in Devon, but on the front six at St Mary’s Mosley, with other ringing in the area planned for the day. More details can be found here: https://nccc.cccbr.org.uk/

Guild News

The Guild’s 2022 Annual report is now available, with a fetching sunshine yellow cover. These are being distributed to branches for sending to officers and towers. If you want one, they are available from me at £2, including postage.

The Guild newsletter is also available in hardcopy. These will be distributed to towers. If there is a location in your town/village that would appreciate a copy, as positive publicity and outreach, please let me know and we can factor that into the print numbers. It has been added to the Guild website, and is available to read here: https://pdg.org.uk/newsletters/newsletter_202304.pdf

Coronation Ringing

Towers should have received a pack of promotional materials. There are 2 posters, one a general information poster and one to advertise any specific ringing at each tower. There are some additional posters available, or you can print one from here: https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/coronation-ringing-posters

We’ve received a message from Northamptonshire’s Lord Lieutenant’s office asking if there is ringing planned across the County. I have responded in the affirmative! If you know when you are ringing, please let me know, so that I can pass on some specific details. I have already said that we will let them know of what ringing was performed after the event. In which case PLEASE make sure that you add your ringing to Bellboard and that you link it to the Guild event. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=16512 That way we’ll be able to find them all to save for posterity. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell practice Saturday 13^th May 10:30 Towcester

Guild AGM Saturday 10^th June. Culworth branch. Open Ringing at towers in the afternoon to be confirmed very shortly. Ringing and Service at Marston St Lawrence at 15:30. Tea and Meeting (at 17:30) in Marston St Lawrence Village Hall. Evening ringing at Greatworth. 

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 29^th April 7:30 Brackley

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 5^th May 7:30 Castor

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Monday 8^th May 7:30 Ryhall Focus Plain bob & Grandsire. 

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Thursday 18^th May 7:30 Uppingham

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 20^th May 10:30 Mears Ashby. 

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 20^th May 2:30 Bozeat

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20^th May 7:30 Sulgrave

The next update will be after the Coronation, so I hope that all goes well on this event that, for a majority of us, is the first in a lifetime. 

Thanks

Helen

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Dear all, Helen’s update below:

It’s as if everyone’s been waiting to release ringing related news in one week! There’s lots to read and digest  – let’s crack on!

Bell Sunday

This month’s diocesan mailing included information about “Bell Sunday”. This is an initiative from the CCCBR, working with the CofE, to encourage churches to recognise their bells and bellringers. Planned to be an annual event on the Sunday nearest St Dunstan’s day, this year it is Sunday 14^th May. There’s a webpage with ideas for hymns, readings and other elements that could be incorporated into a service. https://bellsunday.org/ Please support your incumbent if they propose incorporating such elements into a service. 

The diocese is keen to put out a news item to support this, for which I need your help! In order to bring some examples and human interest to an item, it would be good to have the perspective of a church that has increased worship as a result of bellringing, or a bellringer for whom bellringing has made a big difference in their lives – perhaps bringing them to faith. With photographs, if possible (which, I am well aware, may well be a stumbling block!) Please get in touch to discuss further. 

CCCBR news

The President’s latest blog. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/30/presidents-blog-77/

The SWM Group is looking for a new leader. The initials stand for Stewardship & Management (not sure that makes the remit much clearer). If that’s your thing, more details can be found here https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/29/stewardship-and-management-workgroup-workgroup-leader/

What do you give someone who has everything? I’d say that Ferrero Rocher never disappoint (hint hint), but not everyone agrees. A ringing experience voucher might be what you are looking for. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/29/give-the-gift-of-experience/

Old Black Lion

There has ben progress on the Old Black Lion, with the ground being broken at the site (and a celebratory beer being drunk). Items on the BBC and the CCT websites as well as other local press and interested parties. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-65092776

https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/what-we-do/news/building-works-begin-at-historic-northampton-pub.html

Coronation Ringing

I’m sure that branches and towers are planning their ringing for the Coronation – or will be once there’s a confirmed time for the ceremony. 

Once the ringing has taken place, please enter the details on BellBoard – if you are unsure of how to do this, you can join the training session on Saturday 8^th April. As well as the global coronation link, please also link to the PDG specific event https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=16512 that has been set up. We will use this to collate ringing across the Guild for the event to record for posterity. 

Guild Spring Meeting

A reminder that teams for the 6 bell striking contest at the Spring Meeting need to be with Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk) by the 15^th April. This opportunity to ring and meet friends includes the 6 bell striking contest for the Weaver shield. If your tower or group wishes to enter a team, the rules and past winners can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/events/competitions

Dates for the Diary

Guild Spring Meeting Saturday 22^nd April. 14:00 Open Ringing at Mears Ashby, 15:00 Contest at Orlingbury.

Guild 10 bell practice Saturday 13^th May 10:30 Towcester

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 12^th April 7:30 Braunston. Focus Surprise

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^th April 10:30 Ecton Special Methods Annable’s London, Allendale & Alnwick. 

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 2:30 Bozeat (Correction: time wrong in last mail)

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 3:00 Weedon Bec including service, tea & meeting

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 7:30 Chipping Warden

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 18^th April 7:30 Oakham

Kettering Tower open for the Spring Meeting Saturday 22^nd April 2:00 Cransley

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 29^th April 7:30 Brackley

And finally…

The Peregrine Falcons nesting in Higham Ferrers tower have laid their 4^th egg and the chicks are expected to hatch in late April You can see what they are doing through the webcam. https://ashgrovehealth.co.uk/falcons/

That will do for today. 

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

Telephone: 01832 735 266

Dear all, Helen’s update below.

Seems like Spring might just have sprung, the daffs are out and being blown about merrily. The clocks have gone forward, and the days are getting longer. The clocks thing made getting up for ringing this morning rather more painful than usual! 

Guild Spring Meeting

A reminder that teams for the 6 bell striking contest at the Spring Meeting need to be with Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk) by the 15^th April. This opportunity to ring and meet friends includes the 6 bell striking contest for the Weaver shield. If your tower or group wishes to enter a team, the rules and past winners can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/events/competitions

Guild Newsletter

Just a reminder that the Guild newsletter print deadline is the end of March, with a view to distributing at the Spring Meeting. The aim is to move to a newsletter 3 times a year, aiming to make news more quickly and readily available, Any items or articles, and photographs are always welcome, can be sent to Jonathan Stuart on newsletter@pdg.org.uk

The Ringing World

The Ringing World has a survey that it would like ringers to complete. It is about both the magazine and their wider activities – they don’t just publish the only weekly magazine about ringing but also do book publishing and run BellBoard and the RWNYC. They are trying to find out what people want to read, what they value about what the activities, whether the printed magazine has a future, and where else they might direct their efforts to serve ringers through news and communication.

This applies if you subscribe to the magazine or not, if you use BellBoard or not. What can the Ringing World do for you? More information can be found here:  https://www.ringingworld.co.uk/images/pdf/RW5836SurveyEyesOn2030.pdfand the survey is here: https://www.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=hrFTpPwYTdQECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D

Survey is open to the end of the month. It will take 15 minutes or so to complete. 

Dates for the Diary

One cancellation to report. Peterborough’s 8 bell practice on the first Friday of the month will not be taking place on Friday 7^thApril as it is Good Friday. 

Guild Spring Meeting Saturday 22^nd April. 14:00 Open Ringing at Mears Ashby, 15:00 Contest at Orlingbury.

Guild 10 bell practice Saturday 13^th May 10:30 Towcester

Rutland Branch Progress event Saturday 1^st April 1:30 Edith Weston. Focus Rounds & Call changes

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^stt April 3:00 Scaldwell 6:00 Walgrave

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 12^th April 7:30 Braunston. Focus Surprise

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^th April 10:30 Ecton Special Methods Annable’s London, Allendale & Alnwick. 

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 7:00 Bozeat

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 3:00 Weedon Bec including service, tea & meeting

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 7:30 Chipping Warden

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 18^th April 7:30 Oakham

Kettering Tower open for the Spring Meeting Saturday 22^nd April 2:00 Cransley

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 29^th April 7:30 Brackley

Other Ringing News

Saturday saw the National 12 bell striking contest eliminators, held at Cheltenham, Hursley and Melbourne. Towcester entered a team and were drawn at Cheltenham. A tight contest saw them placed 5^th. The top 3 teams go through to the final, this year in Sheffield. In time the test piece (half a course of Cambridge Maximus) will be available on the 12 bell striking contest website. http://www.12bell.org.uk/ We might not all be able to ring higher numbers, or take part in such a contest, but good striking is something we can all aim for. Have a listen to the recordings and be inspired. Well done team. 

Nearly Easter. Which for some means a week off ringing in Holy Week and for others means ringing half or fully muffled for the same reason. And some towers greet the sunrise on Easter day. That would be a really early (really unpopular) alarm call. 

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

Telephone: 01832 735 266

Dear all, please see the list of Guild Training below:

Second Saturday Sessions

Here are the sessions for the next few months.

April 8^th 2023 (Holy Saturday), 10:30 – Beyond Plain Bob at Abington

For those ringers who have been confidently ringing Plain Bob (Doubles or Minor) and want to find out how to learn and ring other methods, such as St Simon’s Doubles, St Clements and Single Oxford Bob Minor.  It will be a practical session with theory covered in a Zoom meeting in advance.

This course currently has a couple of spaces – contact Simon Dixon if interested (master@pdg.org.uk)

April 8^th 2023, 14:30 – Ringing Up and Down in Peal at Ashley

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. 

This course is oversubscribed but will be run again later

April 8^th 2023, 18:30 – Submitting on BellBoard via Zoom

This will be a short session run via Zoom and will show how to enter details of sessions of general ringing for special occasions on BellBoard e.g., for the coronation of King Charles III.  BellBoard submissions not only allow the Guild (or Branches) to collate data more easily but also allows all ringers’ efforts to be published in The Ringing World.  This session can be attended by any member of any band but to keep things manageable, it is requested that only one person per tower puts their name forward.

This course is open to as many who are interested – contact Cathy Dixon if interested (pro@pdg.org.uk)

May 13^th 2023, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Towcester

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

May 13^th 2023, 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)

June 10^th 2023, 10:30 – Leading Up and Down in Peal at Evenley

This will cover the additional skills needed to allow a band to raise and lower the bells safely and tunefully.  It should be of particular interest to those who get called upon to carry out this task but are uncertain about how to make it work.

This course currently has a couple of spaces – contact Simon Dixon if interested (master@pdg.org.uk)

July 8^th 2023, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Rothwell

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

July 8^th 2023, 14:30 – 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 – contact Simon Dixon if interested (master@pdg.org.uk)

July 8^th 2023, 18:30 – Intermediate 8-bell practice at Weedon Bec

This is for the in-between methods on 7 &8 i.e., not Plain Bob or Grandsire or Surprise Major but methods such as Little Bob, Kent Treble Bob, Single Oxford Bob Triples.

This practice is 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 one of the open practice sessions.

Dear all, please see Helen’s latest update.

Well, that was a bit cold! Hopefully it didn’t cause any harm to anyone, limiting damage to some rather cold hands in the tower. Maybe you were able to take a snowy picture of your tower for seasonal use. 

Bells on Sunday

Next Sunday, 19^th March, sees Bells on Sunday featuring Stoke Albany, in the Kettering branch. The program broadcasts at 05.43 and repeats on Monday at 00.45. Assuming that might be a bit early or late for you it will also be available on the BBC Sounds App or on their website after the broadcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001k7n9

Guild news

April sees the Spring Meeting. Hoping that it looks like Spring by the time we get to 22^nd April. This opportunity to ring and meet friends includes the 6 bell striking contest for the Weaver shield. If your tower or group wishes to enter a team, entries should be with Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk) by the 15^th April. Should you want to read them, the rules and past winners can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/events/competitions

There will be ringing at Mears Ashby from 2pm, then the contest will start at Orlingbury at 3 pm. The tea will be in the village hall, about 5 minutes stroll from the church. The results and meeting will follow and there will be evening ringing at Orlingbury. 

The GMC meeting last weekend was busy and lots of work was done by those involved (and I’ve had a lot of minutes to write!). The meeting agreed that the current Recruitment & Training committee structure was not entirely effective due to the breadth of remit and the different skills required to cover this. It was agreed that this should have 2 dedicated sub-committees with separate areas of focus. 

1. Recruitment and initial Training
2. Training

If you or anyone else wishes to join, be involved in or support either committee, please express interest to the Master, Simon Dixon, master@pdg.org.uk. There is as much a place for those with organisational skill as those who can teach or train on these committee. There is no need to be on a branch committee or tower captain; just to be interested or have something to offer on the topic. 

Ringing for the Coronation

There has been ongoing publicity for ringing in the last few weeks. Items have appeared in the Express https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1743033/Britain-bell-ringers-every-bell-in-Britain-ring-out-The-Kings-Coronation and Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11824315/Campaign-seeks-Britains-38-000-church-bells-ringing-Kings-coronation.html  (surprisingly good, this one. Not sure how the pre-practice pint might translate into quality of ringing). 

The latest guidance to churches from the CofE is now available here:

https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/churches

If you download the Information pack you can find a short paragraph about ringing on page 14. It says that: 

Guidance for bell ringers
It is suggested that Churches and Bell Ringers may wish to consider ringing, where possible, before and/or after the Coronation service to locally gather and mark the Anointing and Crowning of the King at a practicable time (with the agreement of the Parochial Church Council). It is suggested that if you have the facility, a quarter peal would be appropriate, or whatever can be managed with the
resource available.
Bell Ringers may also wish to consider how they could offer ‘taster’ sessions and training as part of your local community gathering or Big Help Out, with the appropriate risk assessments undertaken.

The Guild would add that ringing should be organised to fit in with other local activities and that getting in touch with your church/village to see what they have planned would be advisable. There are plans for events from the 6^th to the 8^th and fitting in with local arrangement would always be preferred. 

CCCBR news

The president’s latest blog is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/10/presidents-blog-76/

Registration for Heritage Open Days is now open. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/03/04/heritage-open-days-2023/

The CCCBR has published an online information source on running a tower. This can be found here: https://runningatower.cccbr.org.uk/ It can be printed, either in part or full, for in-tower reference. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild Spring Meeting Saturday 22^nd April. 14:00 Open Ringing at Mears Ashby, 15:00 Contest at Orlingbury.

Guild 10 bell practice Saturday 13^th May 10:30 Towcester

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Thursday 16^th March 7:30 Uppingham

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 18^th March 10:30 Wilby

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 18^th March 7:00 Earls Barton

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 18^th March 3:00 Braunston including service and tea, Welton 6:30

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 18^th March 7:00 West Hunsbury

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 25^th March 10:30 Cosgrove

Rutland Branch Progress event Saturday 25^th February 1:30 Preston. Focus Rounds & Call changes

Kettering Joint practice with Thrapston Saturday 25^th March 2:00 pm Cranford St John, 3:15 Islip

Peterborough Afternoon Social – ringing with tea and cake 4:00 Stanground (tbc)

Rutland Branch Progress event Saturday 1^st April 1:30 Edith Weston. Focus Rounds & Call changes

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^st April 3:00 Scaldwell 6:00 Walgrave

Peterborough 8 bell practice Friday 7^th April 7:30 Castor

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 12^th April 7:30 Braunston. Focus Surprise

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^th April 10:30 Ecton

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 7:00 Bozeat

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 3:00 Weedon Bec including service, tea & meeting

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15^th April 7:30 Chipping Warden

Hopefully Spring will have sprung by the time you hear from me next. 

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

Telephone: 01832 735 266