Dear all,

Here is Helen’s latest update.

Helen’s text:

To: Branch Chairs, secretaries & treasurers. Please circulate to members.

Just a brief update to remind you of upcoming Guild events and some news. 

Guild AGM

Just a reminder, the AGM will be held next Saturday, on 12^th June at 6pm via Zoom. All attendees will need to register and all details can be found here: https://www.pdg.org.uk/agm-2021 Any nominations, matters arising and any other business to be sent to the Secretary in advance, secretary@pdg.org.uk

Guild News

Time to get your clicking fingers out. Ecclesiastical Insurance are running their “Movement for Good” campaign for the third year. This awards donations of £1000 to 500 charities. The Guild was successful in 2019, with your help we could be so again. All you need to do is click this link: https://www.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=258271&ct=heritage_arts%22  and the website will open. Click on the button that says Nominate a charity now and it will take you to the relevant area of the page. You should find the Peterborough DG information already populated, just select Charity type “Heritage Arts” All you need do is complete the rest of the form for us to be nominated. The more nominations, the better chance of being selected.

And congratulations to St Mary’s Peterborough who have rung a quarter on tower bells – the first in the Guild that I’m aware of in a very long time. Hoping the hands and arms held up! https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1447990

CCCBR News

The president mulls over an empty May bank holiday diary in his latest blog. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/06/01/presidents-blog-35/

Hopefully see you at the AGM next weekend. 

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 735266

Dear All,

What a gloriously sunny morning on this, the first day of June. Let’s hope the sunshine today augurs well for the rest of the month.

Without further ado, herewith Helen’s update.

Happy reading,

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

To: Branch Chair, Treasurer & Secretaries, please pass on to your members. 

What a difference a bit of sun makes, it makes everything feel much more optimistic. It’s been a lovely weekend and even the Bank Holiday turned out nice – for a change. 

Guild News

Time to get your clicking fingers out. Ecclesiastical Insurance are running their “Movement for Good” campaign for the third year. This awards donations of £1000 to 500 charities. The Guild was successful in 2019, with your help we could be so again. All you need to do is click this link: https://www.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=258271&ct=heritage_arts%22  and the website will open. Click on the button that says Nominate a charity now and it will take you to the relevant area of the page. You should find the Peterborough DG information already populated, just select Charity type “Heritage Arts” All you need do is complete the rest of the form for us to be nominated. The more nominations, the better chance of being selected.

Guild AGM

Just a reminder, the AGM will be held on 12^th June at 6pm via Zoom. All attendees will need to register and all details can be found here: https://www.pdg.org.uk/agm-2021 Any nominations, matters arising and any other business to be sent to the Secretary in advance. 

There are 2 posts where the current holder is standing down, and for which nominations are needed, PRO and Newsletter editor. Role descriptions are on the AGM page. 

There is a further post, a new one, of Safeguarding Officer, and the role description for this can be found on the AGM page. 

If you are interested in any of these, please get in touch with the secretary, secretary@pdg.org.uk

Latest Guidance from the CCCBR

The latest guidance from the CCCBR is available here. https://cccbr.org.uk/coronavirus/

They have also produced a handy table of the different precautions that are advised. This can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Guidance-at-a-glance-v-1.02.pdf

As ever, if you have any questions, we’re here to help. 

CCCBR updates:

The President’s Blog, edition 34. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/05/18/presidents-blog-34/

The Central Council advises of 2 upcoming events that ringers may wish to plan to get involved with. 

Should you have an Ellacombe apparatus, 26^th June marks the 200^th anniversary of its invention. If you have an example, you may want to be involved, by ringing it at noon (suggested) on that date. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/05/21/ellacombe-bicentenary-celebrations/

The NHS was founded on 5th July 1948. To mark its founding, the day has been assigned as NHS, Social Care & Frontline Workers’ Day. Ringers are encouraged to ring at 8pm that evening. You can ring 73 times (once per year) or ring for a few minutes.  https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/05/28/nhs-social-care-frontline-workers-day-5th-july-2021/

Photo Contest

After last year’s YouTube contest, the CCCBR is looking to form a collection of photos available for use in publicity and similar. The first subject is “Ringing through the Seasons” and the closing date is 4^th July. Details can be found here.  https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/05/23/photo-gallery-competition/

And that seems like enough to be going on with. Hoping the fine weather continues and that we move towards June in brighter sprits. 

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 735266

Dear all,

Here is Helen’s latest update.

Please note the date of the Guild AGM.

If you intend to listen to Have I Got News for You to hear/see the reference to The Salisbury Guild newsletter, it appears in the last 5 minutes of the show.

Happy reading,

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

To: Branch Chair, Treasurer & Secretaries, please pass on to your members. 

Well, team, this is it – as of tomorrow you can (local circumstances dictating) ring up to 6 bells when spaced 1 m apart and in good ventilation. I think it likely that still excludes some towers from practically being able to ring; it isn’t a the end, but it might be the beginning of the end (with all apologies to Churchill). If you need any assistance with reviewing your situation, an inspection of your installation or are interested in the use of a CO2 monitor, as described by the CCCBR, please get in touch. 

Guild News

The AGM will be held on 12^th June at 6pm via Zoom. All attendees will need to register and all details can be found here: https://www.pdg.org.uk/agm-2021 Any nominations, matters arising and any other business to be sent to the Secretary in advance. 

It was with pleasure that I was finally able to present Sue Jones with her certificate of Life Honorary Membership, which she was proposed for at the AGM last year. https://www.pdg.org.uk/latest-news/sue-jones-life-honorary-membership I’m told the certificate is now hanging proudly in the office. 

Ringing Terminology

How well do you know what some ringing terms mean?

Major: 1. The chap who donated the new treble. 2. The horse that lives in the field by the church. 3. Method ringing on eight bells.

ATW: 1. At The Window – positioning for the person on door duty. 2. All The Work – a composition of spliced where each bell rings all of each method. 3. Access The Wheel – terminology used by bell hanger.

Brain teasers

Can you guess which method ringers are describing in the shape? Some people love it, others not so much. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/299037491701648

On a Bank Holiday Monday one might expect there to be a tower outing. Well that’s not possible right now (and probably not the best idea seeing it’s blowing a gale out there!) but how about a puzzle outing. Where are we going? these are anagrams of towers and their dedications, this time in the Kettering branch. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/296776515261079

In recent years the most prolific quarter tower in the diocese has been St Mary’s Peterborough. This puzzle contains some of the methods they were ringing in 2019/2020. Can you get the words to fit, even if the lines wont. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/300850624853668

All the Saturday synonym answers contain the word bell. For example:
Call, shout, whoop, holler, wail, shriek?? Answer = Bellow

Synonyms 1) Bask, relish, wallow, gloat, indulge.

Synonyms 2) Fuss, moan, grumble, gripe, whine.

Synonyms 3) Identified, specified, defined, classified

And for something different:

A different way of ringing. Each bell is ringing at a set frequency, but each one is different. It’s interesting how at times recognisable changes emerge from the chords. Must have been really hard to ring, it runs counter to what we usually aim to achieve. https://www.facebook.com/awoodheadmusic/videos/205328914461594

This is more in line of a watch between your fingers moment. The Salisbury Guild’s newsletter featured as guest publication on HIGNFY. It maybe wasn’t the positive publicity one might have hoped for… You can watch it through iPlayer. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w19w/have-i-got-news-for-you-series-61-episode-6

Hoping you are able to get back to ringing and report back on how you find it. 

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 735266

Dear all,

Helen has forwarded details of a series of sessions about returning to ringing. The first session is tonight at 19.30, culminating in an online beer tasting on Friday 14 May at 19.30. St Martin’s Guild then holds a Training Day on Saturday 15 May. In all cases, individuals will need to register if planning to attend.

Happy reading.

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

To: Branch Chair, secretary, treasurer – please forward to members. 

There are any number of opportunities to discover ideas on how to approach a return to ringing in your tower. 

Currently running is the series run by ART and CCCBR. These can be accessed via the Ringing World’s virtual hub. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/virtual-hub.php You need to register to attend each one that interests you. The online beer tasting is hosted by a professional brewer. 

Coming up later in the month, the St Martin’s Guild is holding a series of talks on the 15^th May. The flier is attached and should be available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16N3Do9DkChgZhcCqDVlbxKT3nuDKuwah/view  Again, there is a need to register, the link is https://forms.gle/vaonGSxXa95bsFi56

You may have seen the latest advice from the Central Council with respect to ringing in towers that are less well ventilated. They suggest use of a specialist CO2 meter. These are not trivial to obtain and are not cheap, so it is not suggested that each tower invest in one. The Guild will look at supporting purchases through branches, so that there are some available to towers that wish to test their ventilation. We will be in touch with branches to discuss further. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/05/07/carbon-dioxide-monitoring/

And later this month is the closing date for the Westley award for church bell maintenance. Further information and a nomination form can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/about/workgroups/stewardship-and-management/westley-award-2021/

Just need to see what is announced this week with respect to restrictions and the 17^th May. Fingers crossed. 

Thanks

Helen

Dear all,

Greetings on a cool Bank Holiday morning. Predictably the promised rain has started – so a typical Bank Holiday weather wise!

Wherever you are, why not settle down with Helen’s update and the latest Guild news. Please note the date of the Branch AGM. Helen’s final paragraph contains news on things you might have missed that have a ringing dimension. Happy reading and listening.

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

Hopefully you’ve been able to make the most of the Spring sunshine before the Bank Holiday weather reverts to type and rains or does something equally nasty. 

Guild News

The Guild’s Annual report has been printed and is in the process of being distributed. Towers, Life members and officers should be receiving one through your branch. If any member wants a copy, they are available from the Secretary for £1.50. I have quite a few sitting in the spare room, I’m quite sure they’d like to visit you instead! It has a nice, bright, cheery red cover this year. 

Just to give your some notice, the AGM will be held on Saturday 12^th June at 6pm via Zoom. We’ll send out details of how to register shortly. 

Central Council Updates

There hasn’t been any further information relating to the guidance given about returning to ringing, as and when restrictions relax. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/21/guidance-from-17th-may-england/

There will be an update to reflect advice on Lateral Flow Tests. The Central Council is going to revise the language to indicate that these are not necessarily required before ringing. I will note that a tower could still decide to set that as a requirement themselves. The tests are not intended to give a green light to activity, they should be treated such that if they produce a positive test that should mean that you do NOT go out, but arrange to have the PCR test and self-isolate until a result is returned or you have finished the isolation period. Don’t take a negative test as freedom to run riot!

There has been guidance produced on safeguarding and virtual ringing. Anyone running virtual sessions, especially those including any young ringers, would be strongly advised to read these and follow the advice given. https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/30/safeguarding-advice-for-online-ringing/

Ringing Terminology

A series to check you still know all the jargon. Which is the correct definition of “After Bell”

1. The bell following you in the coursing order.

2. A cheeky pint after last orders is called.

3. The time to arrive to church for the service.

Puzzle corner

There appear to be few limits on what you can call a method. You can’t be actually rude and the method type and stage is needed in the name. So which of these are methods that have been rung and which are made up. Method or madness is the question! https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/295141342091263

Thought you might want to give those number crunching muscles a bit of a workout before ringing again. Can you fill in the numbers that make the sequences complete? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/292656009006463

Ringing uses a lot of terminology, but what part of common ringing parlance is being described in this word cloud. What are they on about?! https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/290891155849615

On a nice evening, what could be better than a trip out and a couple of towers? But first you’d need to unscramble the destinations. All in the Guilsborough branch, where are these towers and dedications? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/288611056077625

And you might have missed…

Available on BBC iPlayer is “Royal Wedding: A day to remember”, a programme celebrating the 10^th wedding anniversary of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. It features some of the Westminster Abbey company of ringers (briefly at the beginning and at ~ 40 minutes in).  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000vltb/royal-wedding-a-day-to-remember

And for those looking for a book, you can listen to the classic “The Nine Tailors” by Dorothy L Sayers on BBC Sounds. The first episode is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b007jzdt

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 735266

Good morning all,

As it is a cool Monday morning, maybe too cool to start working in the garden, I suggest you make a cup of tea or coffee and settle down to read Helen’s latest update. It contains much information about the prospect of getting back to ringing. You will all want to familiarise yourselves with the guidance contained in the links below.

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

A fair amount to report this week, so I’ll just get on with it!

Ringing is again on the horizon. The CCCBR has issued latest provisional guidance depending on the government’s 4 tests being met and a further relaxation of restrictions coming into force on 17^th of May. Assuming that does happen, ringing 6 bells in a well ventilated tower at 1 m spacing for up to 45 minutes for service ringing and practice will be possible It will need to be a maximum of 6 people in a space, so it is suggested that this is by arrangement, not a drop in type session. There is more here and in the various links: https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/21/guidance-from-17th-may-england/

The Guild will be reviewing and updating the risk assessment in light of this information. If you’ve got any questions, please ask. 

Taking into account the fact that many towers have not rung in over a year now, it would be sensible to inform houses and businesses within earshot that ringing is going to begin again. To that end, a flier that could be printed and posted through doors is now available. It can be customised to suit the tower’s situation. It is available from the ART website. https://ringingteachers.org/survival-and-recovery-toolbox/good-relations-local-community it was produced by the Guild Secretary, so you may recognise the tower… 

The Guild is aware that printing sufficient to mailshot a village might be beyond the scope of some bands and PCCs. The Guild will, therefore, offer to arrange printing for towers that might otherwise struggle. Get in touch with Helen (secretary@pdg.org.uk) to discuss your needs. 

In preparation for a return to ringing, ART and the CCCBR have arranged a series of sessions that you can register for. To take place starting Saturday 8^th May and will be made available as a recording afterwards. These cover a range of topics relating to recovery and can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/20/recovery-convention/

The latest Survival and Recovery newsletter also includes the sessions, along with some other items of interest. It can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Survival-Recovery-Newsheet-Issue-5.pdf

The President’s latest blog (https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/20/presidents-blog-32) notes the number of towers that have registered on Bellboard as having tolled for the death or funeral of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. I’m pleased to note that the Guild total so far runs to 132 different towers, or over half the Guild’s total towers. If you’re not yet listed on the Guild website, http://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/tolling-for-the-death-of-prince-phillip please make sure that your branch knows, they will pass the information on.  

Having been asked if it would be possible, some of the presentations and training materials used for the Guild’s Easter virtual training have been shared by the presenters and is now available on the website. See http://pdg.org.uk/homepage/content-3/training-resources for details. 

The Guild also notes that Alison Byrnes has decided that she will be unable to continue as Guild Public Relations Officer. Anyone interested in the role, please get in touch. Nominations will be needed by the AGM.

Hopefully that’s enough to keep you busy until the next instalment… 

Thanks

Helen

The central council has published guidance for the proposed partial restart of ringing on 17th May

A summary can be found here with further links to the detail: https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/21/guidance-from-17th-may-england/

Your tower captains will be assessing your individual towers to decide if ringing can restart in your particular tower.

If ringing can restart in a particular tower it will be:

• Restricted to a maximum of 45 mins
• Limited to a prearranged six people
• Face masks will be required
• Hand sanitisation should take place when changing ropes
• Lateral Flow Tests should be performed twice a week – preferably on the day on ringing
• Social distancing of 2m when not ringing and 1m when ringing

You will of course come to your own opinion on your own risk and the appropriateness of returning to social activities like ringing. If you require guidance about your own personal risk assessment then the central council has proposed this advice: https://cccbr.org.uk/coronavirus/is-it-appropriate-for-an-individual-to-ring/

Whilst of course the situation can change these are the proposed guidelines

Look to Treble’s Nearly Going…

James Thorpe

Dear all,

Apologies for the delay in forwarding Helen’s update. For some reason it went into my spam box and I have only just checked it. I am afraid it means that anyone who may have been interested in a presentation by Tom Westley on bell casting is too late to register, as the deadline was Tuesday pm and the presentation is tonight. I apologise and promise to check my spam box every day from now on!

Best wishes,

Julie

Helen’s text:

Branch Chair, secretary & treasurer – please circulate. 

Firstly I’d like to thank those towers and members who have made efforts to ring, chime or toll for the death of HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh. There is a list of Guild towers on the website, http://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/tolling-for-the-death-of-prince-phillip , if you are not listed please accept my apologies and let me know. It would be good to have as complete a list of participating towers as possible. 

Guild News. 

The Spring Guild newsletter is available online. We’re unlikely to have paper copies of this edition, but hope to be back to printed and online copies by the next edition. It can be found on the Guild website. http://pdg.org.uk/newsletters/newsletter_202103.pdf 
Past newsletters are also available online. http://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/newsletters

The Guild’s recent Virtual training sessions were productive and we hope that those who attended felt they were worthwhile. If there are any topics that you’d want us to consider in further sessions, get in touch and we’ll see what we can magic up. Some of the presentations will be shared on the Guild website, for reference. 

CCCBR News

The majority of CCCBR communications have been concerning Prince Phillip, and so are no longer relevant. Those that remain of interest are as follows

The President’s Blog of 6^th April is here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/06/presidents-blog-31/

There is a presentation hosted jointly by CCCBR and St Martin’s Guild this Wednesday, 21^st April. It will be led by Tom Westley who will be discussing bell casting with us. 7pm start. If you are interested, you need to complete this form to register your interest by Tuesday evening: https://forms.gle/vfwkRbeZ6hJR7np26

Training

A second part to aid understanding Stedman https://youtu.be/JPEvUyKMyuw

It is a question with a multitude of answers – how do you learn a method? This aims to give some hints and tips that may help you. https://youtu.be/n-g0PWcnj0I

Training for ringing doesn’t just involve methods, it can involve soft skills as well. This talk by the CCCBR’s Safeguarding advisors should give most towers food for thought. https://youtu.be/HBM5tUIc2j8 You can access the CofE’s Safeguarding training portal here: https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/

Puzzle Corner

A couple of Boggle games inspired by branches. Rutland & Kettering snuggle up together in one, while Thrapston stands alone in another. What words can you make tracking between adjacent letters and not using any more than once in any one word.  https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/277751080496956 & https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/286700289602035

A set of anagrams to unravel. They are all towers in the Daventry branch, complete with their dedication. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/279599820312082

Can I have a P please Bob? This week’s wordsearch features methods beginning with P, including a couple of local places. Can you pick them out? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/275489064056491

A retrospective puzzle this week. Each of these places is somewhere I’ve learnt, been a regular ringer or visited. I don’t keep tower records so to stick in my mind there must be something really good or really “interesting” about some of these towers. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/284167613188636

Random ringing things

This is an interesting piece to watch. The 12 ropes and ringers are all in shot at once, so that you can see the progression of the bells through each other and anticipate the roll ups by watching the ropes. https://youtu.be/jrIDM6Zcr98

If you were stuck for a project in lockdown, you could follow Graham Firman’s example and build some robots to ring with you. They look as scared of ringing handbells as I am! https://youtu.be/xUUR2iNTXRs

It’s always interesting to see how ringing can be used in different forms of music. Try this piece, using bells and ringers juxtaposed with brass and inspired by a Betjeman poem. https://www.facebook.com/awoodheadmusic/videos/115649693828871

Might not be to everyone’s taste, but that could easily be a definition of music itself.

This was posted by Memories of Duston Past. I’m always amazed at old photographs of ringers at what they’re wearing. I’ve tried ringing in a waistcoat, it was a little tight and got a little warm.https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=278761850448308&id=114050323586129

Hopefully the weather will continue to improve, sunshine makes everything feel better. 

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 735266

Dear all,

I am sending you without delay the following information from Helen.

Best wishes,

Julie

Begin text:

All, please communicate to towers asap. 

I’m sure you will have seen the news of the death of Prince Philip, as announced today by Buckingham Palace. The appropriate way to mark this will no doubt be a question being asked. As yet there has been no guidance from the CCCBR, although it is expected today. I will forward that when it is issued. The following is based on the information being communicated by the diocese.  The advice from the diocese is available on the website, see this page for links to the different guidance documents. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/bishop-of-peterborough/bishops-bulletin

The key document for ringers is the Guidance to Parishes. 

Each parish will have received the same advice from the diocese and it is expected that each parish will have its own plan for services that follow the general guidance but take into account local variation. Not all parishes will be holding the same service at the same time and ringers should expect to fit in with local arrangements. 

It is expected that tolling a bell on the day of the announcement, or during the day following, will be the initial means to mark the passing. In the absence of any local request of specific time period, tolling of 99 strokes, the Duke’s age, would seem appropriate. 

Tolling of a bell for an hour prior to the funeral service is the next specific mention of bells within the guidance to parishes. That will need to await and date and time of the service to be able to plan. 

I will provide additional information as it becomes available.

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 735266

End text

https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/04/09/prince-philip-duke-of-edinburgh/