A reminder for you to join us for a surprise minor social this Sunday.
Methods are Cambridge and Primrose. It’s a great opportunity to practice surprise ringing and for those who can treble bob hunt.
We are asking for a donation of £2 for each ringer so we can give some money to the church/ tower for each social ring or workshop. It would be ideal if you can bring some cash with you but we should have a card reader.
Please let us know if you are able to attend so we can provide enough refreshments!
I hesitate to say this, but hasn’t the weather been nice? Slightly worried that this might be it for summer, but I’m crossing my fingers there’s more to come. Although I can hear the gardeners wanting a drop of rain. OK, but only when I don’t want to be outside; overnight only, alright?
We need nominations for Guild officers, if you know of someone who would be good at taking on a post, get onto them and send the proposals & seconds to me in writing or by e-mail. Job descriptions can be found on the website. Posts that are falling vacant are Report Editor & Master, with no PRO having been in post for the last year. The Guild is only as good as its volunteers, we need you!
VE Day
Well done to all the towers that rang or chimed or otherwise make a noise for the 80th anniversary of VE day. So far, I think there’s over 100 towers who have rung and put their ringing on BellBoard. There will be a full list in the next newsletter.
Scouts visit to St Benedict’s West Hunsbury
Somehow, I got inveigled into giving a talk to a Scout group at West Hunsbury this week, on ringing. Thanks to Debbie Sampson’s powers of persuasion, there were a good number of helpers to get the scouts ringing call changes on handbells, tunes on bellplates, walking plain hunt and watching some ringing in the ringing room. It made for an interesting evening and hopefully they learnt something – even if it’s just that not all bells are rung by machines. I was reminded (again) how hard it is working with children – and this lot were quite well behaved. I have renewed my admiration for those who do.
Dates for the Diary
Guild AGM Saturday 14th June. 1:45 Wilby & Harrington (tbc), 2:45 Cranford St John, 3:30 Barton Seagrave for ringing, service, tea & meeting (5:45) and evening ringing.
And Branch events.
Rutland 8 Bell Practice Tuesday 20th May 7:30Oakham
Peterborough Surprise Minor Social Sunday 1stJune 2:30 Cotterstock
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 5th June 7:30 Islip
Rutland Doubles Practice Saturday 7th June 10:15North Luffenham
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 7th June 3:00 Spratton, 6:00 Cottesbrooke
Peterborough Practice Sunday 8th June 2:00Peterborough St Mary
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 19th June 2:30Wadenhoe
Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 21stJune 10:30 Woodford
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 21st June 3:30Church Stowe, 6:30 Pattishall
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 21st June 4:00Lois Weedon, 6:30 Pattishall
That’s all for now.
Helen
Helen Allton
Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
Just a reminder that there is open ringing for all branch members at St John’s Peterborough between 3.30 – 5.30pm on Sunday the 18th May.
If you have not rung at St John’s before it is an opportunity to experience heavier bells with a beautiful resounding tone. Don’t worry about the weight, it’s all in your ringing style!
2:15-3pm: Eaton Socon, St Mary, Bells: 8, Weight 13–1–11 in F
There will be a rope fee, £1 each ringer per tower please, to cover the tower donations, payable to me on the day please.
Please note – all are welcome to come to the cream tea whether you ring or not, it is a very sociable afternoon.
3:15-4pmRoxton Garden Centre
Address: Bedford Road, Roxton. Bedford, Bedfordshire MK44 3DY what3words address ///Speeds.Streak.Troubled Directions: Just off A1’s Black Cat roundabout between A1 South and Bedford turning, and the entrance is on the left about 100 metres or so along that road.
Cream Teas are £5.85, providing a lovely home-made scone, jam, clotted cream and tea or coffee (I tested this!) Scone can be fruit, plain or cheese – please specify and tea/coffee choice.
There is no full afternoon tea offered at weekends but the following Sandwiches can be pre-ordered, on brown or white bread with chips or salad:
Hope that the Bank holiday has been nice for you. I’ve lazed around and done very little, which makes for a nice change!
VE Day
I know that a number of towers are planning on ringing for the VE day commemorations – some have already rung to mark the anniversary. If you do ring, please enter it on BellBoard and we’ll be able to pick up who rang as a record of our events. It’s not important what time you ring, it’s more important to fit in with other local commemorations taking place.
We need nominations for Guild officers, if you know of someone who would be good at taking on a post, get onto them and send the proposals & seconds to me in writing or by e-mail. Job descriptions can be found on the website. Posts that are falling vacant are Report Editor & Master, with no PRO having been in post for the last year. The Guild is only as good as its volunteers, we need you!
CCCBR latest
A reminder that May sees Bell Sunday. It is being advertised on the CCCBR website.
There’s another in a series of open meeting by the CCCBR, this one looking at subscription and affiliation for University societies and others in a similar position with respect to members.
Radio BBC Northamptonshire presenter Annabel Amos has a slot called Desert Island Dishes, where an interviewee selects 2 courses and a drink for their meal. Last week focused on Badby and Geoff Pullin was interviewed Thursday. You can find his interview at 3h:40min in. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b5fr
World Record attempt
There are world records for all sorts of things, but not for the number of ringers ringing at a tower in 12 hours. Or not yet, that is. Charlton was looking to raise money for the works in the church and celebrate the 25 years since their bells were installed and came up with the idea (in the pub, where else). Ringers can book a slot of 5 minutes within the 12 hours to ring. They can also enjoy the Gloucester & Bristol open day on 10th May in the same area. Parking will be at Charlton Village Hall during this attempt, to provide facilities, there will also be the Mobile Belfry Trust ‘Touring Tower’ for people to ‘grab’. Refreshments of a Mini Beer & Cider Festival from Midday until 10pm, with hot refreshments from 8am until 8pm. For more details, see their website.
If you are a ringer who can comfortably ring plain hunt 6 and know you could improve your striking, this workshop could be for you.
We are limited to 6 ringers because of the format of the session. You will each get several rings of PH6 and depending on your repertoire that may mean you ring something else. The session is designed to allow you to concentrate on placing your bell as much as what you are ringing.
Please contact us if you would like to attend. Ringers will be accepted on a first come first served basis but we will have a reserve list.
For Easter Day Corby were able to ring for the first time after their work had been completed by O’Shea Engineering and volunteers during Holy week. Seasonally most appropriate. Well done to all concerned.
Guild News
The Guild’s Annual report for 2024 has been printed and is being distributed. Coming soon to your tower. Copies that had been requested by members will be distributed through your branches.
I have sent copies to the church authorities and both Archdeacons have responded thanking ringers for their efforts. Archdeacon Richard enjoyed hearing the bells ringing in the Spring sunshine as he headed to take the service at Courteenhall yesterday.
Young Ringers Event
On 26th April in Daventry from 10 to 12 am there’s an event for Young Ringers. That aims to encourage young people to come up the tower and have a go. They could be existing ringers who want to get involved with other ringers their own age. Or they could be young people who might be encouraged to try ringing. Justin Baker is corralling a team of volunteers; he can be contacted on ringing_master@daventry.pdg.org.uk
The Spring meeting all went off well last weekend. Even the weather played ball. Thanks to the Thrapston branch for laying on the tea and to the Dixons for the organising. Congratulations to Peterborough Cathedral on their first win of the Weaver Shield. Pattishall retained the Centenary trophy.
Let me know if you want a copy of your photos. They may be of use in an item in your parish magazine or village newsletter. Tell your community what you’ve been getting up to.
CCCBR latest
Bell Sunday is being advertised on the CCCBR website.
Alistair Donaldson is arranging an ART training day on 28th June at Rothwell. If you are interested in a place, please get in touch with him: president@pdg.org.uk
Dear all, please see the following information from the Guild.
For those considering developing their ringing teaching – either of basic bell handling or of foundation skills – the Guild has arranged an Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) all-day course entitled MODULE 1 teaching bell handling on Saturday 28th June at Rothwell.
If you aren’t familiar with ART, do have a look here: https://bellringing.org. This is a great place to discover masses of information about ringing in general, the ART organisation and how to learn or brush up your teaching skills. Details of the modules will be found here: https://bellringing.org/about-teaching/teaching-modules/
The cost of a day course is £30 including materials and you will also need to bring your lunch or buy locally. If this is prohibitive for anyone, do consider applying for a grant from the Guild Training Fund through the Master (master@pdg.org.uk).
This Course is suitable for those who already teach bell handling and want to update their skills AND for those who have never taught anyone to handle a bell, Module 1 provides you with the skills and techniques necessary to take a ringer from their first lesson to having competent bell control.
You will learn through a mixture of practical and classroom sessions:
How to teach a skill
How to break down bell handling into easy stages that the new ringer can master
About different learning types and how to adapt your teaching for them
The benefits of intensive teaching
The practical sessions will give you plenty of time to practise your new skills in a safe environment. Working in pairs you will also have opportunity to hone your observation skills and get feedback on your feedback.
Please contact Alistair Donaldson (president@pdg.org.uk) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to reserve your place on this course.
If you are interested in the follow-on MODULE 2C Elementary Change ringing courseplease also register your interest with Alistair, who may arrange a course later in the year if there is enough interest.
Peterborough Branch 