And suddenly it feels like spring might be around the corner. Several ringing outings in the last few weeks have had an array of snowdrops carpeting the floor. And now the crocus and daffs are sticking their heads above ground. Must be almost Spring Meeting time – see more below!

Last weekend the Cathedral held a service in celebration of Rutland and the Rutland branch had arranged a number of ringers to go to the Cathedral and ring before the service. I headed along to join them. Alan Ellis marshalled his resources well, with support from the Cathedral band, and there was ringing on 8, 10 and 12. For a majority it was a first occasion ringing on 10 and 12. I hope they enjoyed the experience.

I particularly enjoyed the Cathedral staff trying out the Rutland flag upside down and being put right by ringers from Rutland who had were gathering before going upstairs. With the Lord Lieutenant present, that could have been a little embarrassing. See, ringers are useful people to have about. 

Spring Meeting

The Spring Meeting is the 6 bell striking contest. As last year, there are 2 trophies up for grabs, one for method ringing bands, the other for call change bands. 

The contest will take place on Saturday 12^th April at Great Addington, with Twywell if needed due to number of entries. 

Tea will be at Islip village hall from 4 pm, with the results and a brief business meeting at 6 pm. There will be evening ringing at Islip.

The draw will be performed in advance and teams need get their entries to Simon Dixon by 2^nd Aprilmaster@pdg.org.uk. Remember that Simon’s not very psychic, so if your band needs to ring early or late due to needing to ring for a wedding or some other commitment, he needs to know that with your entry please! 

We had 21 teams in a bumper entry last year. I hope that we’ll see many of those teams again, and maybe some new ones. A great day was had by all, see you there! You can see all the fun and games in the website report of last year. https://pdg.org.uk/history/2024-centenary-events/centenary-spring-meeting-april

10 bell practice

This weekend we had the Guild’s 10 bell practice, at Kettering. This time we rang call changes, plain hunt, Grandsire, Little Bob, Yorkshire, London & Bristol. If you’re confident ringing on 8 this is the opportunity to try ringing on higher numbers. It’s also a chance to stretch your repertoire on 10 bells. Having dealt with 10 ropes makes 8 seem easier! The next practice is Saturday 10^th May at Moulton, starting at 10:30. 

100 Club

Due to the increased number of members in the 100 club, at the GMC last weekend we agreed to change the prize structure, increasing the number of winners to 4 each month. That increases the chances of an entry being drawn. You can, of course, increase your chances of winning further by taking an additional number.  For details contact 100_club@pdg.org.uk. 

CCCBR latest

The President’s latest blog is available. https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/02/28/presidents-blog-98/

There is a DAC Bell Advisor’s conference in Leeds on Thursday 3^rd April. You don’t have to be a DAC to attend. There’s some confusion as to the year, as 2024, 2025 and 2026 all get a mention in the paperwork! We have asked for clarification. https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/03/07/dac-bell-advsiors-conference-2025/

Dates for the Diary

Spring Meeting Saturday 12^th April Contest at Great Addington/Twywell. Tea 4:00 Islip Village Hall. Results and meeting 6:00. Evening Ringing at Islip. 

Guild 10 bell  Saturday 10^th May Moulton 10:30 – 12:30. 

And Branch events. 

Peterborough 8 bell practice Friday 14^th March 7:30Castor

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 10:30 Orlingbury

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 7:00 Finedon

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th March 3:00Kislingbury 6:30 Northampton Holy Sepulchre

Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 20^th March 2:30 Thrapston

Rutland 8 bell practice Thursday 20^th March 7:30Uppingham

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22^nd March 10:00 Calverton, 11:15 Cosgrove

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday  5^th April 3:00  Scaldwell, 6:00 Brixworth

Peterborough Grandsire/Stedman Practice Sunday 6^th April 2:30 Glinton

Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 10^th April 2:30Wadenhoe

Kettering Branch Practice “on the way” to the Spring Meeting Saturday 12^th April 1:30 Geddington

Peterborough 8 bell practice Sunday 13^th April 2:00Peterborough St Mary. 

For International Women’s Day yesterday I was happy to share the picture of the peal board in Isham (a not very good photo attached). It’s an unassuming little peal board that says that it is the first peal by a band of ladies in the county, what it does not mention is that this was the first peal by an all female band where the tenor was turned in. While the PDG did not exist until 2 years after this peal, we should be proud that our area played a part in history.

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

Sunday 3 August, 2.30-4pm

Surprise Minor Social

Suggested methods to be announced nearer the time. If there any methods you’d like to ring please let us know so we can share and aim to have good support available.

Perhaps come a bit earlier and bring a picnic and enjoy the setting?

My apologies that this was missed off the original list of dates.

Jane

Sunday 6 July, 2.30 to 4pm at Nassington

Please note that this is not a surprise ringing event.

General ringing from rounds and call changes to surprise minor (please let us know if there is anything you would like to ring in advance so that we can aim to have the right support).

Please share with your towers and anyone who is not signed up to PetNet.

Jane

Sunday 2 March – Major Surprise Social, St Mary’s, Peterborough 3.30-5pm

Friday 14 March – Branch 8 Bell Practice, Castor 7.30-9pm

Sunday 6 April – Stedman and Grandsire, Glinton 2.30-4pm

Sunday 13 April – Branch 8 Bell Practice, St Mary’s, Peterborough 2-3.30pm

Friday 9 May – Branch 8 Bell Practice, Castor 7.30-9pm

Sunday 11 May – Striking Workshop, Wadenhoe 2-4pm (email to follow)

Sunday 18 May – General Ringing, St John’s, Peterborough 3.30-5.30pm (Peterborough Arts Society will have a display in church for us to enjoy)

Sunday 1 June – Surprise Minor Social, Cotterstock 2.30-4pm

Sunday 8 June – Branch 8 Bell Practice – St Mary’s, Peterborough 2-3.30pm

Sunday 6 July – Surprise Minor Social, Nassington 2.30-4pm

Friday 11 July – Branch 8 Bell Practice – Castor 7.30-9pm

Sunday 10 August – Branch 8 Bell Practice, St Mary’s, Peterborough 2-3.30pm

Sunday TBC September – Ring for your Tea – TBC TBC

Friday 12 September – Branch 8 Bell Practice, Castor 7.30-9pm

Sunday 5 October – Surprise Minor Social, Wansford 2.30-4pm

Sunday 12 October – Branch 8 Bell Practice, St Mary’s, Peterborough 2-3.30pm

Sunday TBC November – we are hoping to arrange a cathedral evensong ring 2-3.30pm

Friday 14 November – Branch 8 Bell Practice, Castor 7.30-9pm

No branch events in December

A reminder will be sent out before each event but please put these dates in your diaries! We have decided to ask for a £2 donation for each event to go to the host tower for their bell funds so please bring cash with you and we may also be able to provide a card payment option. Please share with any ringers that are not on PetNet, thank you.

See you all in a ringing room soon.

Elaine and Jane

Hello, just a reminder that there is a Surprise Major Practice at St Mary’s next Sunday 3. 30pm.

The donation suggested for the practice is £2 per person and we will have a card reader for those cash free (like me).

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Elaine

February has arrived and, along with the snowdrops I saw at Harrington yesterday, it has come equipped with something that my phone has taken to describing as “wintery mix”. Which is a lot less fun than it sounds. March is very nearly upon us and Spring must be around the corner. Also the Guild’s General Management Committee on the 1^st March, when your secretary again gets to see, once more, how unreadable her writing can be. As a very wise man once said, the minutes should reflect what should have been said, not necessarily what was actually said… 

Guild Report
One last reminder that if you want a copy of the Guild’s Annual Report, you need to let me know by the end of the month. For the Centenary we’re ringing the changes and having a full colour printed cover. It will certainly stand out from the usual report. Mail me with your requests, if you haven’t already. Otherwise requests will be charged at £5, as for non-members. 

Fundraising

The Treasurer has written a piece on how to take advantage of your online shopping habit to raise money for the Guild, using EasyFundraising or Give as you Live. In either case, you go through the site to your usually shopping website and the retailer gives either an amount or a percentage of your spend to the Guild. The details are on thew website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/online-shoppers-a-call-to-arms

First Peal

On Saturday Pattishall rang the first peal on the augmented 8. They went to 8 from 6 bells just prior to Christmas 2023 and were helped with a grant from the Guild’s Bell Repair Fund. The band was a mostly local band with a first on 8 and a first of Grandsire as conductor. Congratulations to all concerned. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1823627

Books for sale

Charlotte Eley is downsizing her substantial book collection. The list of what is available, and prices can be found on the website. Please contact Charlotte direct to discuss further. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/books-available

More books for sale

At the Kettering branch AGM, Jim & Sarah Bence held their first popup shop of the CCCBR books that they are managing. You may have seen a smiley picture of then in a recent Ringing World, advertising the fact that they have taken this on. They have a large range of books for sale and regularly have bundle offers, so keep your eyes on the shop https://shop.cccbr.org.uk/ and their social media profile. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569273783797

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell  Saturday 8^th March Kettering 10:30 – 12:30. 

And Branch events. 

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22nd February 10:00 Blakesley, 11:15 Church Stowe 

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 22^ndFebruary 2:30 Cogenhoe

Rutland Plain Hunt Workshop Saturday 1^st March 10:15 Preston

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^st March 3:00 Cold Ashby

Kettering Branch Practice Saturday 8^th March 2:00Arthingworth 3:15 Kelmarsh

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 10:30 Orlingbury

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15^thMarch 7:00 Finedon

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^th March 3:00Kislingbury 6:30 Northampton Holy Sepulchre

Rutland 8 bell practice Thursday 20^th March 7:30Uppingham

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22^nd March 10:00 Calverton, 11:15 Cosgrove

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

Dear all, thank you to those who have already paid their subscriptions for 2025. For those that haven’t yet, subs are £10 for adults and £5 for students.

The easiest way for most people to pay is to make an online payment as follows:

Account Name: Peterborough Branch of Bellringers (name may be truncated due to character limitation by your Bank)

Sort Code: 77 72 37

Account #: 11096468

Any queries please get in touch with the Treasurer, Steve Brown mailto:treasurer@peterborough.pdg.org.uk

Best wishes,

Hilary

Thank you Jane for reminding us about the social. It would be lovely to see as many people as possible there and it has been timed at 3. 30pm to allow anyone from the Cathedral to join us after ringing.

Any methods are up for grabs if there is an appetite!

See you there for ringing and cake.

Elaine

St Mary’s, Peterborough on Sunday 2nd March, 3.30-5.30pm

Surprise Major ringers are invited to join us for this social event for some good ringing and cake! The chosen methods are Cambridge, London and Lessness. It would be great to see you and please come having done some homework if you don’t ring surprise methods very often!

Please let me know if you are planning to attend so we can ensure that there is enough cake!

Jane

That’s January almost done. 10 AGMs took place successfully, despite weather and cold almost getting in the way. There have been some changes in the committees, with new people taking office and other stepping back. It’s important that we thank those who have served their time and welcome those who have decided to contribute and have taken on those roles. Welcome all. 

Guild Newsletter
The January newsletter is being distributed in hardcopy, expect to see one arriving at your tower shortly. It is also available electronically here: https://pdg.org.uk/newsletters/newsletter_202501.pdf

Do share with friends and your church. We can send out additional copies if there’s a location that would be a good place to put a copy for general information for non-ringers or interested parties. Have a think about where one could go in your locality. 

CCCBR News

Just advance notice of the CCCBR meeting in September. To be held in Sheffield. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Saturday 8^th MarchKettering 10:30 – 12:30.

And Branch events.

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 1^st February 3:00 East Haddon

Kettering Branch Practice Saturday 15^thFebruary 2:00 Ashley, 3:15 Wilbarston

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 15th February 2:30 Wilby

Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 15^thFebruary 3:00 Flore, 6:30 Nether Heyford (joint with Culworth)

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 15^thFebruary 3:00 Whitfield, 6:30 Nether Heyford (joint with Daventry)

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 22nd February 10:00 Blakesley, 11:15Church Stowe

In the middle of singing “Lifted Gently to the Steeple” for the 2nd time this month I was struck by the last line of the first verse “Midway ‘twixt the earth and sky”. Isn’t that a lovely image? I leave you with that to ponder. 

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