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

A gentle reminder that on Sunday 26 March at 4pm (BST) the branch is holding a social event to ring minor methods at St John’s Church in Stanground. There are going to be some experienced ringers on hand to help those less experienced. Graham has kindly arranged for drinks to be available and there will be cake!

Please bring some cash with you to make donations to the tower fund and for drinks.

I look forward to seeing you.

Jane

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.

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

We are planning a social afternoon ringing minor methods on 26 March, 4pm (BST). Venue to be confirmed but hopefully St John the Baptist, Stanground. We will ring for an hour and a half and there will be tea and cake! The tower has a ground floor ring and plenty of room for socialising. I have arranged for some experienced ringers to come to support those with less experience. 50p donation towards the tower.

It would be a good idea to know how many people are planning to attend so we can have enough cake and if you would like to come and have a specific method you would like to ring please let me know so I can warn potential conductors.

Email contact: jrcalamity@icloud.com

We look forward to seeing you.

Jane

Assistant Ringing Master

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

Dear all, Diana Street has again organised a ringing event for the afternoon of Sunday 17 September, with the added bonus of a Cream Tea at the Johnson Farm in Old Hurst.

All are welcome. She has provided the following information:

12:15 (as bells down) – 1pm    Hemingford Abbots 6  14 cwt in G#      (toilet in kitchen area)

1:15 to 2pm                              Hemingford Grey    8  11-2-12 in G#     (toilet in kitchen area)

 2:15 to 3pm  await confirm     St. Ives                     8  12-0-4 in G    (Portaloo inside South Porch)

3:30pm  Johnson’s Farm Old Hurst (off A141) Church St, Huntingdon PE28 3AF

We will leave a donation at each tower, so £3 each should cover this, please give it on the day.|

Details of how to pre-order from the cream tea menu will be available a bit nearer the time. Diana did have to check their home-made scones (scone and tea = cream tea) out before she made the booking!!

Both ringing and non-ringing family members and friends are welcome to join us for afternoon tea at Johnson’s Farm at Old Hurst – we may have a function room to ourselves.

For non-ringers there is the added bonus of the Farm, with its animals, birds and ‘safe distance’ crocodiles to look round for a £3 adult entry fee, including a children’s play park (please have sensible footwear, for the fields part, if there has been any rain), while the rest of us ring!

This Fridayweek is the first Friday of the month so I will look forward to seeing you at the branch practice.

1930hrs at Castor as usual.

If you are a surprise ringer please look at Superlative. If you need Bob major you will be most welcome.

See you there

James