Dear Members,

Please find links in the downloads to the 2025 Agenda and 2024 minutes for the upcoming AGM to be held at the St Kyneburgha, Castor, Peterborough. PE5 7AX.

Confirmed Programme

14:00 Ringing

14:45 Service

15:30 AGM followed by Tea (held in the Cedar Centre next to the church)

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

Please see below for parking information.

Happy new year one and all. I see from Bellboard that Badby rang the old year out and the new year in, with an interested audience. Castor rang a date touch to welcome the new year, as is traditional (well they’ve done it twice now). I found myself invited. With that and a quarter in one day, I’m ready for a rest! If you also rang the year out or in, add it to Bellboard and get those stories out. 

Guild Centenary

The last event of the year was a Carol Service, held at Towcester on Saturday 28^th December. It was good to see people came out in that odd lull between Christmas & New Year. There were carols, readings and lots of cake, provided by the Towcester branch. Thanks for coming. 

In terms of merchandise, we still have mugs with the Guild’s logo, available for a whole £5, it’s now a limited-edition item, no more will be produced! 

Membership

Just to remind you that your subscriptions are now due. As voted at the AGM, subscription is now £10 for adult members and £5 for juniors and those in full time education. Your branch treasurers will want to hear from you, I’m sure.

Similarly, January is branch AGM season. If you resolution is to get more involved, you can consider taking on a specific role or joining your branch committee. They’ll be delighted to hear from you. 

And while the Guild AGM isn’t until June, there are Guild posts that are vacant or where the incumbent is stepping down. PRO and Youth leader are both vacant roles. This could give the holder a chance to shape that role to their strengths. Simon Dixon will be standing down as Master, and Jim & Gwynneth White, as Report Editors, will do the 2024 report but need a replacement for the 2025 one. 

Role descriptions for all Guild roles can be found on the website: https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/officers. You can talk to the current holder, or to me if you want more information. 

CCCBR News

Apart from a Christmas message that was in the Ringing World, there’s been no news from the CCCBR to report in December. 

Executive notes from November & December meetings are available. 

November https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CCCBR-Executive-Meeting-Notes-November-2024.pdf

December. https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CCCBR-Executive-Meeting-Notes-December-2024.pdf

I have received the Central Council’s request for payment for our affiliation. This has increased from 20 pence per member last year to 40 pence per member this year, with a proposal to increase to £1 per member in 2026. Make sure you get value from the Central Council; they are spending your money. 

CCCBR Publications

Sarah & Jim Bence took over the Central Council publications in the second half of last year. It’s taken a while to get everything handed over but they’re now up and running. There is an online shop https://shop.cccbr.org.uk/ and they are increasing their visibility with a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569273783797where offers are shown. They’ll also be at the Kettering branch AGM, if you wanted to have a look at the wide range of items, just in case Santa didn’t come with a bell ringing book for you. They can be contacted with any questions. publications@cccbr.org.uk

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell  Saturday 11^th January Peterborough Cathedral 10:30 – 12:30. 

And Branch events.

Guilsborough Branch AGM Saturday 4^th January 3:00 Guilsborough for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Rutland Branch AGM Saturday 11^th January 3:00Preston 4:00 Uppingham for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Thrapston Branch AGM Thursday 16^th January 2:30Thrapston for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Wellingborough Branch AGM Saturday 18^thJanuary 3:00 Irthlingborough (please note change of venue)

Peterborough Branch AGM Saturday 18^th JanuaryCastor time tbc. 

Daventry Branch AGM Saturday 18^th January 3:00Daventry for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Kettering Branch AGM Saturday 18^th January 3:45Isham for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Northampton Branch AGM Saturday 25^th January 3:00 Harpole for ringing, service, tea & meeting (Names for tea to Bridget Paul by Thursday preceding)

Towcester Branch AGM Saturday 25^th January 3:00Greens Norton for ringing, service, tea & meeting

Culworth Branch AGM Saturday 25^th January 3:00Aynho for ringing, service, tea & meeting

I’ll no doubt see you at one or other of the AGMs, as the Executive try and make sure someone goes to each AGM to represent the Guild. It’s a lottery as to who you’ll see. See you around. 

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

Pamela Pohling-Brown’s funeral will be at 2:30pm on Tuesday 7 January at St Andrew’s Church, Witham on the Hill.   Arrangements have been suggested for the funeral to be live streamed, but this is not yet confirmed.  This will be updated on the website once the information is available.

website  https://ldgcb.org.uk/southern/

So that arrangements can be made please email Rebecca WatkinsRebeccaWatkins@roythornes.co.uk if you wish to attend.  (Roythornes Solicitors are executors of Pamela’s will)

Please note that a quarter peal will be rung before the service and there will be general ringing after the service.

Dear all, the Peterborough Branch AGM will be held on Saturday 18th of January 2025, at St Kyneburgha Church, Castor. Further details and agenda to follow.

Regards

Deborah

I’m sure you’ve noticed – weather has been terrible. We managed to pick Saturday for a ringing outing, which was exactly as cold as might be imagined. Fortunately, Bert held off and it was just persistently drizzly, rather than monsoon like. Hoping Bert hasn’t caused any damage beyond short, stiff ropes and damp sallies yielding no grip. Urgh. 

Guild Carol Service

The last event of the year is a Carol Service, to be held at Towcester on Saturday 28^th December. Ringing from 1:30 service at 3 pm, with refreshments to follow. There will be a selection of bell themed carols and readings to entertain. One last chance for Guild birthday cake… All welcome. 

Movement for Good

Benefact are running their 12 days of Christmas draws again, where nominated charities have a chance of being drawn for one of 120 prizes of £1000 each. You can nominate the Guild using the link here, the main fields are filled in for you. 

In the past we have put this to the Training Fund, to fund training courses and activities for members as well as recruitment activity. 

CCCBR News

Next May marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. The CCCBR has been asked to organised ringing for this. Not having learnt from experience, they are asking for ringing at 6:30pm on 8^th May 2025. I suggest that fitting in with local arrangements and ringing when you can is more sensible. There is some information available. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/11/15/ring-out-in-celebration-ve-day-6-30pm-8th-may-2025/

One of the CCCBR strands for Ringing 2030 is to provide lesson plans that cover several areas of the curriculum by using ringing as well as encouraging practical lessons and new learners. There are a series of plans for primary school and a small set has been developed for Secondary school. This is being expanded and there is work to make these robust and useable for schools. There is more information here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/11/24/young-ringers-for-ringing-2030-ringing-in-schools/

Andrea Haynes is co-ordinating and can be contacted by e-mail andrea.haynes@cccbr.org.uk

Dates for the Diary

Guild Carol Service Saturday 28^th December Towcester Ringing 1:30, Service 3:00 followed by refreshments and one last birthday cake. 

And Branch events.

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 30^th November 3:00 Brackley

Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 6^th December 7:30 Islip

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 7^th December 3:00 Welford

Wellingborough Branch Quiz Saturday 14^th December 7:30 Earls Barton (Names for tea to Jenny Ball by the 11^th December)  

Kettering Branch Practice & Mulled Wine, Saturday 14^th December 2:00 Rothwell

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 21^st December 3:00 Chipping Warden

Daventry Branch Meeting & Carol Concert Saturday 21^st December 3:00 Weedon Bec

I don’t yet have details of all branch AGMs, can branches get these out asap. Check the Events page of the website to see if we have your details right.  

Just a month to go to Christmas. Sorry. No, I’m not ready either. 

Thanks

Helen

I am very sorry to inform you that Pamela Pohling-Brown of Witham-on-the-Hill has died.  She was found unexpectedly by her gardener.   I do not have any further details, but once funeral arrangements are known I will send them to branch members.

Pamela learned to ring at Thurlby some years ago, taught by Terry Maddison.   She was an active ringer at Thurlby and Witham-on-the-Hill, and subsequently in Stamford (both at All Saints and St Martin’s) and Peterborough (at the Cathedral, St Mary’s and St John’s).  In addition she became very interested in ringing and ringers and as result became Editor of Campanophile – now defunct, but a forerunner to Bellboard.  She spent a lot of time ringing in North America – especially at Miami (where she and her American husband had an apartment, which they visited for several months at a time) and in Toronto.   She has continued as a current member of the Southern Branch and an active supporter of the Branch BRF, despite being restricted by illness for the last 4-5 years.

 Judith Rogers

Chairman, LDGCBR Southern Branch

Pamela was a real good sport, gregarious and a very engaging lady with many strings to her bow. Although she lived at Witham she was a regular ringer in Peterborough, especially on a Sunday morning for ringing at the 3 city centre towers and at St Mary’s practice nights.

Many of us will have fond memories visiting Pamela and enjoying tea in her beautiful garden after ringing at her neighbouring towers.

Although she was modest with her talents she was an asset to ringing on both sides of the pond. The following link denotes achievements recorded on BellBoard: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/search.php?ringer=Pamela+Pohling-Brown

Andrew Christie

RM at St Mary’s Peterborough

Just a quick one, a couple of branches have had to make last minute changes to their Saturday meetings. So I’ll be quick. 

Guild Quiz

This was held on Saturday at Syresham. The questions had been prepared by Cathy & Simon Dixon and were a right mixture. The chippy tea was provided by a chip van (once its parking space had been cleared). The winners were a motley crew going by name HawHaw (no traitors present). They were presented with a tea hamper to share and much kudos. An excellent evening was had. Just one more event and we’ll wrap up on 2024. 

CCCBR News

The CCCBR shop now has the new logo t shirts available. In grey, grey or grey, by the looks of things. I like the back, that’s clever. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/11/08/bellringing-t-shirts-and-pull-up-banners-for-sale/ Less keen on the logo across the whole front, that’s not my style preference. 

Notes of the October Executive are available. https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CCCBR-Executive-Meeting-Notes-October-2024.pdf

Dates for the Diary

Guild Carol Service Saturday 28^th DecemberTowcester Ringing 1:30, Service 3:00 followed by refreshments and one last birthday cake. 

And Branch events.

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 16^thNovember 10:30 Burton Latimer Irthlingborough – note change of venue

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 16^thNovember 2:30 Grendon

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 16^th November 3:00 Willoughby (Warks) for Service, tea & meeting, 6:30 Braunston

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 16^th November 7:30 Woodford Halse Moreton Pinkney – note change of venue

Peterborough Brach training session Sunday 17^thNovember 2:00 Peterborough St Mary

Kettering Branch ringing at the Cathedral Sunday 17^th November 2:10 Cathedral 

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 19^thNovember 7:30 Oakham

Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 21^stNovember 2:30 Thrapston

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 30^thNovember 3:00 Brackley

Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 6^th December 7:30 Islip

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 7^thDecember 3:00 Welford

Hoping your muffles didn’t slip if you rang for Remembrance Sunday and that they were all on the right side (or all on the same side, at least). It’s interesting how often half muffled ringing is noticed for being different. Thanks to all those people going up to put the muffles on and take them off again. 

Thanks

Helen

On Saturday, we held the F&GP meeting to finalise the Guild calendar for 2025 and start arranging dates in 2026. While it is tempting to sit back and reflect on the success of our 100^th anniversary year, now is the time to move forward into our next century. 

The Spring meeting, which includes the 6 bell striking contests (for method and call change bands) will be 12^th April at towers in the Thrapston branch. 

The AGM will be on 14^th June in the Kettering branch, based at Barton Seagrave

The Summer Festival will be on 13^th September in the Peterborough branch, based at Castor. 

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Event at Hambleton

Friday 8^th November sees the steward of the bellringers Rolls of Honour, Alan Regin, speaking at Hambleton St Andrews at 7pm. There will be a chance to view the rolls and hear Alan talking about both the rolls and the ring of bells that were put into the English church in Ypres as a lasting memorial to the fallen. Alan’s an engaging speaker and the bells at Ypres are lovely. It should be an informative evening.  No entrance fee, donations requested. 

CCCBR News

The ART award nominations are open. If you know of someone who has made a difference, you can nominate them for one of the five different categories.  https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/10/30/nominate-someone-for-an-art-award-2/

The President’s latest blog can be found here. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/10/25/presidents-blog-96/

There’s also what is described as “An informal peek into the activities of the Executive” https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/10/30/the-executive-download-1/

Guild Quizzes

The Guild’s annual paper Quiz available. Can be bought from your branch or from the Secretary. Sheets are £1 each. Send your answers in by the end of February (assuming you’ve not lost it by then) for the chance to win £25, £10 or £5 for the most correct answers. Not a ringing question in sight. 

Guild news

As we’re now approaching 2025 it’s as well to remind members that, as of 1^st January, the membership subscription increases to £10 for adults and £5 for juniors and student members. This was agreed at the AGM in June by a majority of those present. Please assist your branch treasurers by paying your subscription promptly. Or make them happy by paying for 2024 if you haven’t already. 

At the Dinner, I compared subscriptions in 1924 and now. In 1924, subs were 1 shilling & 6 pence. As a post decimal child, that means nothing, so I converted that into how many pints it would buy. At 1924 prices, that was about 5 pints. These days we’re at a little over 2 pints for a year of ringing entertainment & fellowship. That seems a reasonable deal to me. But we’re always interested to know what else you would want from your Guild. 

Second Saturday Sessions

After a year of mostly social activities in 2024, the Second Saturday training sessions are making a return for 2025. Sessions in the first half of the year are:

Guild 10 bell practices on 11^th January, 8^th March & 10^th May. These sessions are open to anyone. 

Teaching sessions are Ringing up & down in peal on 8^th February

Bell maintenance on 8^th March

Leading up & down in peal on 12^th April

Calling touches on 10^th May

Stedman on 14^th June

To register interest in the session, contact Simon Dixon on master@pdg.org.uk

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Saturday 9^th November10:30 am. Daventry

Quiz & Chippy tea Saturday 9^th November  7:00Syresham Village Hall. Tickets £15 per person, including chippy tea. Tickets & meal order through centenary@pdg.org.uk

Guild Carol Service Saturday 28^th DecemberTowcester Ringing 1:30, Service 3:00 followed by refreshments and one last birthday cake. 

And Branch events.

Rutland Branch Practice Thursday 7^th November 7:00 Great Casterton

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 16^thNovember 10:30 Burton Latimer

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 16^thNovember 2:30 Grendon

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 16^th November 3:00 Willoughby (Warks) for Service, tea & meeting, 6:30 Braunston

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 16^th November 7:30 Woodford Halse

Peterborough Brach training session Sunday 17^thNovember 2:00 Peterborough St Mary

Kettering Branch ringing at the Cathedral Sunday 17^th November 2:10 Cathedral 

Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 19^thNovember 7:30 Oakham

Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 21^stNovember 2:30 Thrapston

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 30^thNovember 3:00 Brackley

Since I last wrote, I’ve been dragged round Scotland while himself and friends were on a peal ringing tour. It’s great that you get the chance to go and visit so many different places and the people opening up are almost always pleased to tell you something of the bells and the church and let you have a poke around. Specialist information such as which tea room does the best cake is always welcome. I had plenty of good cake in my week away, so we both came home happy. 

Thanks

Helen

Sunday 3 November 2024, 2-3.50pm

Requested methods for the major social are:

• Plain Hunt 8
• Plain Bob major
• St Clements major
• Double Oxford major
• Little Bob major
• Bristol Surprise major

Please come prepared to ring any of the above depending on your level of ringing (all are welcome).

We are finishing slightly early due to an All Souls service being held in the church. Therefore the last ring will be for the service.

If you can please let us know if you are attending as there will be cake and I’d like to make sure there is enough!

Jane