Dear all, Guild Subscriptions for 2026 are now due. Subscriptions remain at £10 for adults and £5 for students.

A number of people paid at yesterday’s AGM and some have already paid online. Paying online is the easiest way, details below.

Account Name: Peterborough Branch of Bellringers (Confirmation of Payee maybe truncated due to character limitation by your Bank)

Sort Code: 77 72 37

Account #: 11096468

Any queries please get in touch.

Hilary

Dear Members

Please find a copy of the 2025 accounts in the downloads.

best regards

debs

Dear Members,

A gentler reminder we have the branch AGM in just over a weeks time. Please advise if you are able to attend asap to ensure we can cater accordingly. If you have any food allergies or intolerances please let me know in advance.

Email me on secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Please find links in the downloads to the 2026 Agenda and 2025 minutes.

Confirmed Programme

14:00 Ringing

14:45 Service

15:30 AGM followed by Tea (held in the village hall)

16:30 Ringing until 17:30

Best Regards

Debs

There will be no 8 bell practice this coming Friday at St Kyneburgha.

best regards

Deborah

I hope you were able to ring for the various Christmas services held across the diocese. It was good to see footnotes for Christmas and carol services on some quarters rung. And if you rang in the new year, you were up later than I was! Happy new year to you. 

It being January makes it branch AGM season, and you can see the details that I have in the events section. 

Guild Quiz and Chippy Tea

After the success of the social events, it was decided to hold more Guild events, not necessarily involving ringing. We now have full details of the Guild Quiz, to be held on Saturday 14th February starting at 7 pmin Nether Heyford Village Hall. Tickets are £15, in advance, and will include a chippy tea. There’s a choice of meals: 

• Fish and Chip supper (gluten-free batter available)
• Sausage and Chip supper
• Cheese & Vegetable Cake and Chip supper
• Fishcake and Chip supper

If you wish to have mushy peas or curry sauce, there is a surcharge of £2.00 for each.

Teams of up to 6, come with a team or we can find you a team on the night. 

See the website for full details. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/quiz-and-supper-night-14th-february-2026

Tickets from secretary@pdg.org.uk

Logo

If you scroll down to the bottom of this e-mail you will see that the Guild has a new logo. The aim is to introduce some colour, simplify the design and yet retain a link to the past logo in the design cues. You will be seeing more if it and there’s an item in the next newsletter about what we’ve tried to achieve. 

CCCBR

The CCCBR updates on the last month have revolved around recruitment, in all forms. 

Firstly, they are looking at setting up a recruitment network, to share ideas and best practices. More information can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/12/22/would-you-like-to-join-a-recruitment-network/

Then there was an update from the Ringing 2030, recruitment and Youth ringing workgroups. They have been making progress on various fronts and are always looking for volunteers to support this activity, a variety of skill sets are required. https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/12/24/ringing-2030-recruitment-and-youth-ringing-updates/

And finally an open meeting on social media and local marketing campaigns is to be held on 18^thJanuary. To sign up, follow the link. https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/12/30/marketing-ringing-in-your-area-open-meeting-on-18th-january-2026/

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 10^th January. 10:30 – 12:30 Rothwell. Jim wants to introduce a special method and this starts with Swindon Surprise Royal, it’s a sort of Yorkshire/Lincolnshire mashup. 

Guild Social Event Saturday 14^th February Quiz and chippy tea 7:00 pm Nether Heyford Village Hall

And Branch events for December, it’s a short list this time. 

Kettering Branch AGM Saturday 10^th January, 3:00Corby

Rutland Branch AGM Saturday 10^th January, 3:00Whissendine, 4:00 Ashwell

Thrapston Branch AGM Thursday 15^th January, 2:30 Thrapston

Peterborough Branch AGM Saturday 17^th January 2:00 Fotheringhay

Culworth Branch AGM Saturday 17^th January 3:00Eydon

Wellingbrough Branch AGM Saturday 17^th January 3:00 Moulton

Daventry Branch AGM Saturday 17^th January 3:00Daventry

Towcester Branch AGM Saturday 24^th January 3:00Potterspury

Northampton Branch AGM Saturday 24^th January 3:00 West Hunsbury

The Exec try and get to each AGM, so you should see one of us in the next few weeks. Stay warm and safe out there, snow looks pretty, but the ice underneath is a lot less friendly! 

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 Members,

The 2026 Peterborough Branch AGM will be held on the 17th of January at St Marys’s and All Saints Church, Fotheringhay. Agenda and previous AGM minutes to follow.

Confirmed Programme

14:00 Ringing

14:45 Service

15:30 AGM followed by Tea

16:30 Ringing until 17:30

In order to ensure we have adequate food, refreshments and CAKE please advise if you are able to attend. Email me on secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Best Regards
Debs

Hello all,

Helena Thorpe has asked whether there are any ringers who would like to ring for the following services:

14th December, 5pm meet.

Christmas Eve, 7pm meet.

To attend you will need to have previously rung on the Cathedral bells at one of our branch practices or are established at rounds and call changes on 8 bells.

If you are able to help please let me know at ewilkins 307 at hotmail.com and I will pass you name to Helena or let me know via WhatsApp or phone.

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Elaine Wilkinson

Branch Ringing Master

I was at the Towcester branch dinner on Saturday. The first of more Christmas dinners than is probably good for me. It is lovely to see ringers all dressed up – rather than the usual jeans & jumpers. It is also really lovely to spend time with the long-suffering non-ringing other halves. Excellent evening was had. 

ART Awards

You can nominate for the ART awards. Information on how to celebrate people towers or groups is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/11/14/nominate-someone-for-an-art-award-3/

EasyFundraising

Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers is registered on #easyfundraising which means you can raise free funds for them as you shop online for Christmas, at no extra cost!
All the big names like John Lewis & Partners, Argos, eBay and more are ready to donate. Every donation makes a difference.
Please sign up before midnight 7th December and they could win a £100 donation:
https://join.easyfundraising.org.uk/peterborough-diocesan-guild-of-church-bellringers/7AV533/s2s/Yif2bDAa/SE866/facebook/

Newsletter

Just a reminder that the newsletter print deadline is 31^st December. Any submissions of items of interest (with or without party hats) to Jonathan Stuart on newsletter@pdg.org.uk

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 10^th January. 10:30 – 12:30 Rothwell

And Branch events for December, it’s a short list this time. 

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday  6^thDecember 3:00 Welford

Kettering Branch Practice Saturday 13^th December 2:00 Rothwell (mulled wine and nibbles afterwards)

Daventry Branch Practice & Carol Concert Saturday 13^th December 3:30 Whilton

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 20^th December 3:00 Helmdon

The next update will include the AGM information for branches. Secretaries. Please check the website is complete and accurate before I send out next mail in a couple of weeks. 

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

Come and ring your Cathedral bells!

Dear Branch Members,

We have the opportunity to ring for the Cathedral evensong on Sunday the 23rd November.

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 can you email me secretary@peterborough.pdg.org.uk if you are planning to attend. 

Best regards

Debs

Sorry for the short notice.

The Branch Committee are preparing the events for next year so if you have a specific request please do contact a committee member.

With thanks

Elaine