Dear friends, there will be a branch ringing social event on 28th June 1930h at Bulwick.

This will be a social surprise minor event. Anyone who can ring a surprise minor method is welcome. It isn’t a training event as such but if you don’t get an opportunity to bring your Cambridge out very often and would like a go with a strong band around you then you will be in the right place.

Equally if you would like a go at some spliced, I would hope we will be strong enough.

Equally if you would just like some nice simple surprise minor with old friends and the opportunity to catch up in the pub afterwards then please come!

Please let me know if this is of interest

James

Well, what a lovely couple of weekends we’ve had! Last weekend had rather too much ringing, I went on an outing and was involved in a tower tour at my home tower. We have far too many stairs to be running up & down them that many times in a morning.

Then this weekend I’ve been to Peterborough where the branch rang for Evensong at the Cathedral. Great to see so many people being stretched outside their comfort zone, ringing on different bells and higher numbers. Superb enthusiasm and some excellent successes. There are even more stairs there, at least I only had to go up them the once – I begin to see how ringing can keep you fit.

Guild AGM

One final reminder that the next Guild event is the AGM on the 10th June. Names to tea to me by the Thursday 7^th please. secretary@pdg.org.uk

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.

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. Of interest is a nomination for Honorary Life Membership to be voted upon.

All the details can be found on the Guild website: https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/agm-2023

CCCBR news

The first Bell Sunday received some interest from some churches across the diocese. Interest was possibly muted by the efforts for the Coronation the week before. The CCCBR has announced that next year Bell Sunday will be 12^th May, thus avoiding Pentecost. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/06/03/bell-sunday-2024-12th-may/

Diocese reports Coronation Ringing

The efforts for the Coronation feature in the Diocese’s monthly mailing, and the item is also available on the website. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/coronation-ringers-make-memories-.php Makes a nice change for there to be pictures of smiling ringers – we seem to be a pretty camera shy bunch as a whole! Final tally of performances to appear in the next newsletter.

Ridgman Trophy

The draw for the Ridgman trophy was made at Towcester on Friday and I can’t tell you what the ringing order is. What I can say is that ringing will be between about 10:00am & 2:00pm on Saturday 17^th June at Towcester. The Ridgman Trophy 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/ Let’s hope the run of good weekend weather continues!

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 from 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

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

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Thursday 15^th June 7:30 Uppingham

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

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

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^st July 3:00 Great Oxendon, 6:00 East Farndon

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 5^th July 7:30 Braunston Focus Surprise

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

Hope to see lots of you next weekend. You know, someone else could always volunteer to be secretary, then you wouldn’t have to hear from me so often…

Thanks

Helen

Looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow for evensong service ringing. We are meeting at 2pm outside to West door.

The code for the barrier is now needed to gain access to the precinct by car. You will need it on arrival if driving. The current code is: 0605

See you there,

James 07763876883

It is the branch practice this Friday, and I hope to see many of you.

The practice will suit those who would like to move on to Bob Major after becoming confident at Bob Minor. If you have managed Bob Major previously, think about looking at Little Bob as a next step.

The special surprise method will be Glasgow in support of the small Glasgow project we have had locally recently!

If Glasgow seems a bit much, why not come along having looked at Double Norwich, a perennial classic.

See you all there!

James

Dear friends, the branch has the opportunity to ring for Cathedral evensong on 4th June.

Come and ring your cathedral bells!

This is an event that is inclusive of all levels, abilities and ambitions. The intention will be to have enough experienced support to allow those less experienced on higher numbers, to ring.

Meet at 2pm outside the west door.

Please let me know that you are planning to come.

James

Dear friends, the branch practice is this Friday, 1930hrs, at Castor.

On this busy weekend of ringing, please could you email me to let me know that you are intending to attend and support this practice.

Many thanks,

James jfthorpe@gmail.com

Happy Easter one and all. A little less busy this week. That’s what happens when there’s a reduction in ringing in Holy Week. Still no timing for the Coronation service, although those in the know are expecting 11:00 or 11:15.

Movement for Good

Benefact group are again running their “Movement for Good” campaign. There are 3 draws, to be made in June, September and December, with up to 420 charities being drawn to be awarded £1000. The Guild has been successful twice before, all it needs is you to nominate us. The more nominations, the greater our chance of success. A nomination now enters us into all 3 draws.

More details on what to do can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/movement-for-good-2023-nominations-open

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

One change to report this week, Wellingborough’s practice on 15^th April has had to be changed to Grendon, due to clapper issues at Bozeat.

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 Grendon (change from 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

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.

Guild Website

The webmaster & I took advantage of the nice weekend and got out to take some pictures of churches that didn’t yet have an image on the website. If you have an image of a church with no picture, please send it on. Or even you have a better image than the one we’re using; we’d be happy to receive those too.

And finally…

Tinwell, in Rutland, are returning a crucifix rescued from a French town in WW1. Read more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-65201597

That will do for today.

Helen

Dear friends, there will not be a branch 8 bell practice on the first Friday in April as it is Good Friday.

See you very soon,

James

Second Saturday Sessions

Here are the sessions for the next few months.

April 8th 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 8th 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 8th 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 13th 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 13th 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 10th 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 8th 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 8th 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 8th 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.

This Friday 3rd March the branch practice will be at St John’s Peterborough, at 1930hrs. Please note the CHANGE OF USUAL VENUE. This is not a permanent change of venue just a different opportunity for this month.

Please come for a taster of 8 bell ringing on the heavier St John’s bells.

There will be Bob Major available and the special method will be Lessness. If you have been practising Cambridge we will plan to ring this too.

See you on Friday

James