Come along and ring Bourne and/ or Cambridge with fellow ringers from the Peterborough branch and enjoy the wonderful views from the church in Cotterstock.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Elaine and Jane
Thanks again
Jane
Category Archives: PetNet
Wedding ring at St Peter’s, Oundle
Saturday 31 August 2024, from 12.40pm
Sue Marsden is arranging a ring for a wedding on Saturday 31 August from 12.40pm and is short of a couple of ringers. Rope fee paid £25..
Please either reply to this post or contact Sue if you have her contact details if you are available and willing to ring.
Jane
Ring for your Cream Tea – Sunday 29th September 2024
Dear all, Diana has now confirmed the details of the popular “Ring For Your Cream Tea” outing on Sunday 29 September.
12:30 -1:15pm Great Casterton PE9 4AN Bells: 6 Tenor: 5-1-18 in A♭ Ground Floor toilet
1:30 – 2:15pm Ryhall PE9 4HR Bells: 6 Tenor: 11-1-5 in F toilet
2:30 – 3:15pm Greatford PE9 4PX Bells: 6 Tenor 6–1–4 in B♭ Ground Floor toilet
3:30pm Waterside Garden Centre, just off the A15 at King St, Baston PE6 9NY
I usually give a donation to each tower, so I would appreciate a rope fee of £1.50 per tower, or £4 for all towers, to cover this, please.
Ringers are welcome to join us at any or all of the Towers, even if they cannot come to the Cream Tea.
Also families and friends are welcome to join in the Cream Tea, whether coming to the Towers or not; we will be pleased to see everyone. It is a good opportunity to get to know others better, as chatting is not always possible inside towers. Many people come for the company, and to catch up with friends’ news since last year!! Not all of the conversations are about bell ringing, so please feel free to join us.
Details of the Cream Tea Menu choices below. Please let me have your choices – food and drink – and any allergies, by Thursday 19th September, so I can make a timely order for The Waterside Garden Centre.
I look forward to receiving your tea order and to seeing you, at some point, on the afternoon of Sunday 29th September 2024, if not before.
Please email me if there is anything I have missed and/or anything you need to know.
Take care,
Diana diana_cherryfields@yahoo.co.uk
The cream teas are £7.99 for one or £12 for two. They consist of a coffee or pot of tea and a fruit scone with jam (I asked for raspberry not strawberry jam ) and clotted cream. If anyone would rather a cheese scone please say, as that is fine.
The full afternoon teas are £19.99 for one or £35 for two, see below or follow this link https://www.watersidegardencentre.co.uk/pub/media/wysiwyg/oasis/Oasis_Restaurant_Afternoon_Tea24.pdf

Update from Guild Secretary – 8 July 2024
Congratulations
I am very happy to start with congratulations to the young ringers from the Guild that went to London on Saturday to take part in the RWNYC. They rang call changes on 6 bells and came in 4th. Well done!
It was the first time the Guild’s entered a team in this competition. They were one of 30 teams and over 300 young ringers running around London on Saturday. We hope they had a great time and look forward to hearing all about it.
Results are on the Bellboard front page at the moment. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/
Guild day out at Stanwick Lakes
Saturday 13th July sees our next PDG100 event. This is at Stanwick Lakes. We have a location near the visitor centre where we will have the Maplestead mini ring available and the Guild training bell set up. These will be available for ringers to try and for the general public to introduce them to bellringing. We’ll also have some ringing themed activities and crafts for the youngsters. Branches have been asked to provide some people to assist, but we’ll be pleased to see you at any time of the day.
This is one of the busiest days of the year at Stanwick Lakes, so there should be plenty of people to talk to and raise awareness of ringing and what goes on upstairs.
The visitor centre is open from 10 am to 5 pm. We hope to see you there at some point.
CCCBR News
At the CCCBR meeting in September, there will be an election of an Ordinary Trustee. Nominations are being sought and more details can be found here. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/07/07/nominations-for-cccbr-trustee/
You may also like to look at the Charity Commission definition of the duties and requirements of a trustee. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
Guild 10 bell
This was held on Saturday 29th June at Towcester and there were ~ 20 people up the tower. We rang lots of Grandsire & Little bob for those with less experience on 10 bells. For others it was a chance to be stretched, with Cambridge, Yorkshire & Stedman also featuring. We finished with rounds & call changes on all 12 and some Stedman Cinques.
The next 10 bell is at Daventry on Saturday 14thSeptember.
Guild Outing and Picnic
The August event is a ringing outing and picnic. Towers and timings are as follows:
1:00-2:00
Ashwell
LE15 7LP
6
2:10-2:55
Cottesmore
LE15 7BW
6
3:10-3:50
Hambleton
LE15 8TH
5
4:05-4:35
Lyndon
LE15 8TU
4
4:40-5:20
Edith Weston
LE15 8EY
6
Afterwards we’ll move to Rutland Water Beach Car Park, Sykes Lane LE15 8QL. For this part of the occasion, please bring your own sandwiches etc. There is a play area, take-away café (which may be closed soon after we get there), and toilets. Parking costs £2 per hour, and the car park stays open until 8pm.
As a large group, we need to let the site know how many are coming, so if you think you might like to join us, please let us know on centenary@pdg.org.uk.
PDG100 ringing
In my last update I mentioned that the Guild wanted to achieve a piece of ringing in every tower across the diocese and that we were still a few short! Well a couple of towers have risen to the occasion. Duston dedicated a practice night to the anniversary, with 14 ringers participating. Meanwhile at Pytchley, the band rang a touch of 100 Bob Doubles, an appropriate length. Thank you to all involved for marking our anniversary in this way. Let’s hope that you’ve given other towers an idea to run with.
Dates for the Diary
Guild Day Out Saturday 13th July all day Stanwick Lakes
Guild Outing and Picnic Saturday 10th August 1:00 ringing at towers round Rutland Water, Picnic, 5:30 Rutland Water Beach Car Park, Sykes Lane LE15 8QL.
And Branch events.
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 16th July 7:30 Oakham
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 18th July 2:30Thrapston
Wellingborough Surprise Practice, Saturday 20thJuly, 10:30 Wilby
Wellingborough Branch Practice, Saturday 20thJuly 2:30 Stanwick
Kettering Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July, 2:00Wadenhoe, 3:30 Stoke Doyle
Daventry: Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July 3:00Whilton, 6:30 Great Brington
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20th July, 7:30Charwelton
Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 2nd August 7:30Islip
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3rd August 3:00 West Haddon, 6:00 Long Buckby
Peterborough Minor Social Sunday 4th August 2:00Cotterstock
See you on Saturday!
Helen
Guild Outing at Stanwick Lakes 13 July
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
Message from our Guild Secretary – 24 June 2024
Some admin and some advance notices this time.
Guild day out at Stanwick Lakes
Saturday 13th July sees our next PDG100 event. This is at Stanwick Lakes. We have a location near the visitor centre where we will have the Maplestead mini ring available and the Guild training bell set up. These will be available for ringers to try and for the general public to introduce them to bellringing. We’ll also have some ringing themed activities and crafts for the youngsters. Branches have been asked to provide some people to assist, but we’ll be pleased to see you at any time of the day.
This is one of the busiest days of the year at Stanwick Lakes, so there should be plenty of people to talk to and raise awareness of ringing and what goes on upstairs.
A poster for the next two events is available for you to put up in your tower. https://pdg.org.uk/Events/2024_JulyAugust_poster.pdf
CCCBR News
At the last CCCBR annual meeting, the structure of fees was changed from a rate per representative to a flat fee per member. The flat fee was set at 20p per member. That was, for us, an increase in the amount we paid per year to be affiliated to the CCCBR from £160 to £188 in 2024.
There is now a consultation from the CCCBR to raise the flat rate per member to 40p in 2025 and progressing to £1 per member in 2023.
There is a consultation with sessions set up on 30thJune and 3rd July and a session for Treasurers in July.
There are some brief consultation media available here https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/06/21/affiliation-fee-consultations-open-now/ and here https://cccbr.org.uk/ringing-2030/ringing-finance/.Theconsultation is all at quite short notice. You can communicate your thoughts directly to the CCCBR, or to one of the Guild’s four CC reps, cc_reps@pdg.org.uk, or you can let me know what you think.
Handbell concert
Nether Heyford church have invited the Welford handbell ringers to present a concert on Thursday 11th July at 7:30 pm. Tickets are £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s and include a glass of something and nibbles. The concert will feature a range of light and classical music. The audience may also have the opportunity to try ringing off the table after the concert. Tickets can be obtained from Jane Rands, janerands@gmail.com
Guild’s centenary Dinner
Tickets are on sale for the Guild’s Centenary dinner. To be held at Ketting Park Spa Hotel on Saturday 12th October, 6:30 for 7:15pm. Tickets are £45 per person. We have a fine array of speaker lined up, and are delighted that Bishop Debbie has accepted our invitation to speak. To register interest and get details of how to pay, contact centenary@pdg.org.uk. Formal dress, so a chance to break out that posh togs and long frocks for a change. Who will you not recognise when not in their usual polo shirt & jeans!
PDG100 ringing
At the AGM you’ll have seen the board of firsts that have been achieved across the Guild this year. It can be seen here https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/shout-out-for-success. If you think you have a first that’s not here, check it is entered on bellboard and linked to the PDG100 event. That can be done after the event. Alternatively, you still have 6 months to get that first of something.
So far the range of firsts is from first Sunday Service ringing to first peal of Horton’s 4 spliced. Which just goes to show that no matter where you are in your ringing career, there is always something to achieve.
We also aimed to achieve some ringing in each tower of the diocese. So far 82 different towers have reported a piece of ringing. With 271 towers in the diocese, that still leaves us some way to go. OK, so some are unringable, but that’s still 160 or so towers. Have you rung for the anniversary yet? If you need help to ring something specific, get in tough with your branch or neighbouring towers.
Dates for the Diary
Guild 10-bell Practice Saturday 29th June. 10:30, Towcester.
Guild Day Out Saturday 13th July all day Stanwick Lakes
And Branch events.
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 29th June 7:30Aynho.
Rutland Branch practice Thursday 4th July 7:00Great Casterton
Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 5th July 7:30 Islip
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 6th July 3:00 Great Oxendon, 6:00 Kelmarsh
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 16th July 7:30 Oakham
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 18th July 2:30Thrapston
Wellingborough Surprise Practice, Saturday 20thJuly, 10:30 Wilby
Wellingborough Branch Practice, Saturday 20thJuly 2:30 Stanwick
Kettering Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July, 2:00Wadenhoe, 3:30 Stoke Doyle
Daventry: Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July 3:00Whilton, 6:30 Great Brington
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20th July, 7:30Charwelton
And with that I will sign off and go and bask in what remains of the sun. Maybe this is summer at last…
Thanks
Helen
Update from our Guild Secretary- 16th June 2024
With a sigh of relief, I can start with the report on last weekend’s AGM. It all went rather well, with an excellent tea.
Guild AGM
It was great to see around 70 of you at the Guild AGM on Saturday last.
All the officers proposed were duly elected. Sorry, that means you’ve got me as secretary for another year. We are lacking a PRO and a Youth officer. If you feel you could assist, do get in touch.
A summary of the meeting can be found on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/2024-agm-summary
Congratulations to Ian Willgress on being elected a Life Honorary Member of the Guild for his service to the guild.
John Beresford, as Safeguarding Officer, gave a summary of the current situation with the diocese. The current recommendations are available on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/documents/20240608_PDG_Safeguarding_Guidance.pdf Any questions, please get in touch with John on safeguarding@pdg.org.uk.
Guild day out at Stanwick Lakes
Saturday 13th July sees our next PDG100 event. This is at Stanwick Lakes. We have a location near the visitor centre where we will have the Maplestead mini ring available and the Guild training bell set up. These will be available for ringers to try and for the general public to introduce them to bellringing. We’ll also have some ringing themed activities and crafts for the youngsters. Branches have been asked to provide some people to assist, but we’ll be pleased to see you at any time of the day.
This is one of the busiest days of the year at Stanwick Lakes, so there should be plenty of people to talk to and raise awareness of ringing and what goes on upstairs.
A poster for the next two events is available for you to put up in your tower. https://pdg.org.uk/Events/2024_JulyAugust_poster.pdf
Guild’s centenary Dinner
Tickets are on sale for the Guild’s Centenary dinner. To be held at Ketting Park Spa Hotel on Saturday 12th October, 6:30 for 7:15pm. Tickets are £45 per person. We have a fine array of speaker lined up, and are delighted that Bishop Debbie has accepted our invitation to speak. To register interest and get details of how to pay, contact centenary@pdg.org.uk. Formal dress, so a chance to break out that posh togs and long frocks for a change. Who will you not recognise when not in their usual polo shirt & jeans!
CCCBR News
The President’s blog is available. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/06/14/presidents-blog-93/
Dates for the Diary
Guild 10-bell Practice Saturday 29th June. 10:30, Towcester.
Guild Day Out Saturday 13th July all day Stanwick Lakes
And Branch events.
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 20th June 2:30Wadenhoe
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 20th June 7:30 Uppingham
Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22nd June 10:30 Wappenham
Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 22nd June 7:00 Brafield on the Green
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 29th June 7:30Aynho.
Rutland Branch practice Thursday 4th July 7:00Great Casterton
Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 5th July 7:30 Islip
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 6th July 3:00 Great Oxendon, 6:00 Kelmarsh
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 16th July 7:30 Oakham
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 18th July 2:30Thrapston
Wellingborough Surprise Practice, Saturday 20thJuly, 10:30 Wilby
Wellingborough Branch Practice, Saturday 20thJuly 2:30 Stanwick
Kettering Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July, 2:00Wadenhoe, 3:30 Stoke Doyle
Daventry: Branch Practice, Saturday 20th July 3:00Whilton, 6:30 Great Brington
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20th July, 7:30Charwelton
If the recent Guild Open day has whet your appetite, there is one next month in the Southern District. Details can be found on their website https://eacr.org.uk/districts/s/southern-district-open-day.html
Helen
Guild Centenary – Day Out at Stanwick Lakes – Saturday 13th July 2024
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
| Time slot | Branch/group |
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Setting up |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Trial session |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Northampton |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Towcester |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | Culworth/Daventry |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Guilsborough |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Peterborough |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Kettering |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Wellingborough |
| 17:30 – 19:00 | Taking down |
Another Surprise Minor Social!
Cotterstock, Sunday 4 August, 2-4pm
After a lovely, well attended ring at Bulwick last Sunday we have arranged another Surprise minor social.
We’re planning to go to Cotterstock this time so please put the date in the diary now. If it’s a good day Cotterstock is a lovely place for a picnic by the river or even in the churchyard if you want to bring your family. There will be cake!
A great opportunity to ring a surprise method. If there are any special requests for methods please let us know in advance so we can share and other people can do some revision if necessary.
We look forward to seeing you.
Elaine and Jane
Update from our Guild Secretary- 3 June 2024
Cracking on with the item at the top of my current to-do list, it’s the AGM on Saturday. It’s taking up a lot of my attention!
Guild AGM
Final reminder of the AGM details. To take place on Saturday 8th June in Moulton.
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.
All are welcome to the AGM, names for tea to me on secretary@pdg.org.uk by 5th June please.
The minutes of meetings in the last 12 months to be approved at the meeting can be found on the website, as can the agenda. https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/agm-2024
Nominations for officers need to be made in writing, if you want to propose anyone for any Guild role, get your nominations in soonest.
Guild’s centenary Dinner
Tickets are on sale for the Guild’s Centenary dinner. To be held at Ketting Park Spa Hotel on Saturday 12th October, 6:30 for 7:15pm. Tickets are £45 per person. We have a fine array of speaker lined up, and are delighted that Bishop Debbie has accepted our invitation to speak. To register interest and get details of how to pay, contact centenary@pdg.org.uk. Formal dress, so a chance to break out that posh togs and long frocks for a change. Who will you not recognise when not in their usual polo shirt & jeans!
CCCBR News
There’s a request to ring to mark the 80thanniversary of D-Day on 6th June, Not ringing at the time of the landings, the request is to ring at 6:30 pm, if possible.
The CCCBR AGM arrangements are being made available, This year it is in Exeter. The CCCBR is looking for nominations for trustees. All the information can be found on the website. https://cccbr.org.uk/about/annual-meetings/2024-annual-meeting/meeting-papers/
Other news
In other local news, the Ridgman Trophy is being held at Biggleswade on the 8th June. This is a 10 bell striking contest for Guilds that border the Ely DA. We hosted last year in Towcester. The Guild is not entering this year, due to the clash with the AGM. Anyone is welcome to go along to listen and there will be cake/light refreshments available in the Chapter House. The contest starts at 10 am
Dates for the Diary
Guild AGM Saturday 8th June Harlestone 2:00, Pitsford 3:00, Moulton 4:00, service 4:30 then tea. AGM 5:45 then evening ringing at Moulton.
Guild 10-bell Practice Saturday 30th June. 10:30, Towcester.
And Branch events.
Rutland Branch practice Wednesday 5th June 7:00Braunston
Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 7th June 7:30Islip
Wellingborough Striking contest, Tuesday 11th May, 6:30 Mears Ashby
Wellingborough Surprise Practice, Saturday 15thJune 10:30 Irthlingborough
Kettering Branch Practice, Saturday 15th June, 3:30Cottingham
Daventry: Branch Practice, Saturday 15th June 3:00Badby, 6:30 Eydon
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15th June, 6:30Eydon
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 20th June 2:30Wadenhoe
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 20th June 7:30 Uppingham
Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22nd June 10:30 Wappenham
Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 22nd June 7:00 Brafield on the Green
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 29th June 7:30Aynho.
See you Saturday!
Helen