Happy New Year! 2024 is here. Let’s hope it is a good one. I’m sure that the treasurer would like me to remind you that as it is January, subscriptions are due, to be paid to your branch treasurer. 

Guild 100^th Anniversary 

The Guild’s anniversary is off to a rousing start already. We featured on the front page of the 5^th January edition of The Ringing World. Simon Pearce’s picture of Desborough was suitably wintry and cold. The weather did not need to follow suit. The edition can be bought as a one off if you don’t have a subscription. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/issues/5880.pdf

The Guild’s first anniversary event was held on Sunday. Evensong at the Cathedral was preceded by a quarter at the Cathedral and open ringing at St Mary’s. The music had been selected to have ringing relevance, I hope the organist enjoyed playing the voluntary; it certainly sounded like they did, it was played with gusto! Bishop John gave the address, then cut our birthday cake with us (before we turned tail and handed the knife to a professional). And after the service we enjoyed tea and cake (lots of lovely cake – thank you Peterborough branch for a job well done). There are too many people to thank, it was a really good way to kick off the year. 

The next event is a barn dance in Moulton Community Centre on Saturday 10^th February. The dancing will be from 7 pm and will be to a live band, Kelly’s Eye. The tickets are £15 each and includes a ploughman’s supper. Tickets available from centenary@pdg.org.uk. Open to all, non-ringers can dance too, you know. Bring your friends for what should be an entertaining evening. 

Centenary touches

We’d like you to dedicate a piece of ringing at each tower for the anniversary. It’s been great to see some bands getting into that nice & early in the year. I’m not going to be able to mention all of them. If you have ringers who might not be able to ring a quarter or longer length, you might like to consider ringing a touch 100 changes long. There are some ideas available on the website. The webmaster would be able to help with any requests. 

https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-touches

We tried the Bastow Royal at the 10-bell practice at the weekend. It’s an interesting method to ring, a good stepping stone in the method learning ladder. 

The St Mary’s band also rang a quarter of Century Little Bob Triples, which has an appropriate name for the year. https://rsw.me.uk/blueline/methods/view/Century_Little_Bob_Triples I’m sure there are other appropriately named methods out there for the slightly adventurous band. 

Centenary News

The band that rang a peal at Wellingborough featured in the BBC news last week as well. The trouble with taking a picture after the peal is that some of the band look shattered! https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-67913208

Martin Heath has had one of our puzzles, seems he’s finished his. More puzzles were delivered this week and were selling well at the Evensong. There are a few calendars left and the anniversary merchandise will be available during the year. Additional clothing orders will be made during the year, so there’s still plenty of time to get your order in. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise

CCCBR news

The President wishes you a happy Christmas. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/12/22/merry-christmas-and-other-holiday-bliss/

The dates and general location for the CCCBR annual meeting has been announced. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/12/31/save-the-date-6-8-september-2024/

There is an opportunity to be involved in the update to the rolls of honour for those ringers who died in WW2. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/01/05/rolls-of-honour/

ART conference

The ART conference is the first weekend in March, at Hanbury. https://bellringing.org/2024/01/13/book-your-place-at-the-art-conference/ No need to be an ART member to attend either day. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10^th February Moulton Village Hall, Barn dance with live band & ploughman’s supper.  Starts at 7 pm. Tickets are £15 in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 9^th March Nene Valley Challenge, Thrapston area. Ringing at a variety of towers in the morning followed by a light lunch.  

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 9^th March 6:30 Location Moulton (note this is an evening practice)

It’s AGM season:

Rutland Branch Practice Tuesday 16^th January, 7:30 Oakham

Peterborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 2:00 Peterborough St Mary

Culworth Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Helmdon

Wellingborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Wellingborough

Kettering Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Desborough

Daventry Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Daventry Ringing; Service; Tea, AGM & Evening Ringing

Thrapston Branch AGM, Saturday 27^th January, 2:30 Thrapston

Northampton Branch AGM, Saturday 27^th January, 3:00 Abington (note change form original date) Ringing, Service, Tea and Meeting, then ringing

Towcester Branch AGM, Saturday 27^th January, 3:00 Blisworth, Ringing; Service; Tea, AGM & Evening Ringing

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 3^rd February 3:00 East Haddon

Rutland Branch practice Wednesday7^th February 7:00 Cottesmore, focus Minor & Stedman. 

Here’s to a good start to the year and onwards through January. 

Thanks

Helen

Hello Everyone,

This is a gentle reminder to let us know if you are able to attend the AGM this year, and a thank you to those who have already responded.

Please email secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Many thanks

Deborah

In order to ensure we have enough food, beverages and CAKES, please can you let me know via email below if you are planning to attend the branch AGM at St Marys church, Peterborough.

secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Many Thanks

Deborah

https://petbells.org.uk/2023/01/04/2024-subs-payments/
(opens in a new tab)

I’ve replicated details in the above link on how you can pay online or pay at the AGM.

Happy New Year

Andrew Christie

Branch Treasurer

The accounts have been examined and signed off by Julian Burton .

These will be discussed and formally approved at the Branch AGM on 20th Jan.

If you have any questions meantime please get in touch.

Andrew Christie

Please find links in the downloads to the 2024 Agenda and 2023 minutes for the upcoming AGM to be held at St Marys Church, New Road, Peterborough. PE1 1TT.

Confirmed programme

14:00 Ringing

I am sure I don’t have to remind you that we are hosting the evensong at the Cathedral as part of the PDG 100 year anniversary celebrations on the 14th of January next year (we are nearly there).

This is a request to all you fabulous cake bakers – would you be able to bake a cake for this event? We also require 4 additional volunteers to help us serve the drinks and cakes. If you are able to help with either of these, please let me know via the email below.

secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Many thanks

Deborah

Dear all, the Peterborough Branch AGM will be held on Saturday 20th of January 2024, at St Mary’s Church, Peterborough. The proposed programme is as follows:

• 14.00 Ringing

• 14.45 Service

• 15.30 AGM followed by Tea

• 16.30 Ringing until 17.30

Further details and agenda to follow.

Regards
Deborah

By the time I mail you next, it will be 2024 and we’ll be starting our 100^th anniversary year. There’s lots going on, so I’ll just dive right in. 

Guild 100^th Anniversary 

The Guild’s 100th anniversary featured in the Diocese’s Cross Keys communication this month. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/pdgcentenary.php

We start the year with Evensong in the Cathedral. There will be open ringing at Peterborough St Marys from 2:00 to 3:00, then the Evensong at 3:30 in the Cathedral. Bishop John, as patron, will give the address. And we have a reception in the transept afterwards, with tea & cake. To make sure we don’t run out of cake (can you imagine anything worse?!), we’d appreciate knowing if you’re intending to come, expressions of interest can be sent to centenary@pdg.org.uk Hope to see you there at the start of an eventful year. A poster for the first 3 events, January to March, is attached. 

The full event listing can be found on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100

Anniversary Aims

As well as events, we have some ringing aims for the year. These split into 3 strands.

1. We aim to have a piece of ringing dedicated to the anniversary in each tower across the year. Hopefully with a whole year to get organised we can, collectively, manage that. There’s a Bellboard event for you to link your performance: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=17979. Please send for publication as normal, the event is to help us keep track. 
2. We want to achieve 100 firsts. These could be first quarter, first inside, first, away from cover, first at a stage, first surprise, first as conductor, first treble bob, first surprise, first stedman, first date touch, first peal – you get the idea. Again, please link your performance to the Bell board event to help us keep track. 
3. And there’s an aim to ring 100 peals across the year. 

If you need assistance to achieve one of these aims in your tower, please talk to your branch in the first instance, or get in touch with the Master, Simon Dixon, master@pdg.org.uk

Anniversary Merchandise

We still have a few calendars for 2024 available. There are also mugs with the anniversary logo, which will be available to purchase at each anniversary event. There is still plenty of time to place your order for clothing with the anniversary logo and the jigsaw puzzles are proving popular. More, in both 500 and 1000 piece sizes, are expected in January.  See the website for details. https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise

Guild Newsletter

The next Guild newsletter will be produced in January, meaning that any items for inclusion need to be with Jonathan Stuart by the 31^st December. The last newsletter was published in September, so don’t forget what you’ve been up to since September through to December. Items of interest from across the Guild are welcome, as well as the information collated by branches. Items can be mailed to Jonathan on newsletter@pdg.org.uk. Show us your Christmas party pictures, who wears a paper crown with the most panache!

CCCBR news

The President’s latest blog can be found here:  https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/12/13/presidents-blog-87/

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 13^th January 10:30 Location Kettering

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 14^th January Peterborough St Mary’s Ringing 2:00 to 3:00, Evensong 3:30, reception afterwards. 

Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10^th February Moulton Village Hall, Barn dance with live band & ploughman’s supper.  Starts at 7 pm. Tickets are £15 in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk

It’s AGM season:

Guilsborough Branch AGM Saturday 6^th January 3:00 Guilsborough. Ringing & Service in the church, AGM in the Village Hall then evening ringing

Rutland Branch practice Thursday 11^th January 7:00 Great Casterton

Rutland Branch AGM Saturday 13^th January 3:00 North Luffenham, Tea & AGM Edith Weston

Rutland Branch Practice Thursday 18^th January, 7:30 Uppingham

Peterborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 2:00 Peterborough St Mary

Culworth Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Helmdon

Wellingborough Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Wellingborough

Kettering Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Desborough

Daventry Branch AGM, Saturday 20^th January, 3:00 Daventry Ringing; Service; Tea, AGM & Evening Ringing

Thrapston Branch AGM, Saturday 27^th January, 2:30 Thrapston

Northampton Branch AGM, Saturday 27^th January, 3:00 Abington (note change form original date) Ringing, Service, Tea and Meeting, then ringing

The Ringing World this week is a bumper Christmas issue. It has 2024 date touches on page 1277 and, in a seasonal piece on pages 1244 & 1245, Sue Marsden poses the question what would you wish for from a ringing genie? Hmm… let me think… 

May your bells all go smoothly over the Christmas season & I will finish by wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. 

Thanks

Helen

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.