Dear all, the Guild AGM is next Saturday (details below) and the Guild would like to take the opportunity to take photos of members to form part of a visual record of the Guild in its centenary year.
So dig out your centenary clothing if you have got some, book your teas with Helen (secretary@pdg.org.uk) by Wednesday, and turn up with smiles on your faces. The forecast looks good so hopefully we can get some great group shots.
AGM details
Open Ringing at Harlestone at 2 pm and Pitsford at 3 pm.
Ringing at Moulton at 4 pm, for the service at 4:30 pm.
This will be followed by tea in the church hall and the AGM at 5:45 pm. There will be evening ringing afterwards.
Just a reminder that there’s a minor surprise social this Sunday, 1pm at Bulwick. Cambridge will be on offer for those just getting to grips with that and we’ve had a request for Norwich so for those that are happy with Cambridge please come prepared to ring that. Treble bobbing opportunities will also be available.
I must start by thanking everyone who helped out in any way at last week’s Open day. It seems to have gone very well. Even the weather played ball. There were approaching 100 people visiting towers across our area over the course of the day and all the feedback has been most complimentary on the bells, the organisation and the people helping out. Thank you all.
Guild AGM
Just a reminder of the AGM details. To take place on Saturday 8th June in Moulton.
Open Ringing at Harlestone at 2 pm and Pitsford at 3 pm.
Ringing at Moulton at 4 pm, for the service at 4:30 pm.
This will be followed by tea in the church hall and the AGM at 5:45 pm. There will be evening ringing afterwards.
All are welcome to the AGM, names for tea to me on secretary@pdg.org.uk by 5th June please.
Also to remind you, all Guild officers are elected each year at the AGM. While almost all officers are willing to stand again, that should not prevent someone coming forward who wants to take on a role. All the officers’ job descriptions are available on the website, alongside the current position holder. https://pdg.org.uk/homepage/officers
One role where the current holder is standing down is PRO. If you know of someone who has a talent for communicating ringing to the wider world, do get in touch. We’re more than happy to talk about what is involved.
CCCBR News
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers is actively supporting the National Volunteers Week (3-9 June 2024) and would like some examples of people who volunteer their time through ringing. There are more details on their website. https://cccbr.org.uk/2024/05/18/volunteers-week/.
There’s a request to ring to mark the 80thanniversary of D-Day on 6th June, Not ringing at the time of the landings, the request is to ring at 6:30 pm, if possible.
Old Black Lion project
The project at the Old Black Lion has taken a turn since the new year. The CCCBR has decided that the change in scope of the building use means that they are no longer able to support the use of the stable as a National Ringing Centre. The money that has been allocated has been re-directed to the ringing 2030 project. That means that the money to support the set up of the ringing centre is no longer available. The Guild is not in a position to move this forward itself, but would consider supporting if someone felt able to come forward and manage the project, apply for grants, liaise with the CCT and OBL etc. This will be on the agenda at the AGM. If someone has the time, skills and enthusiasm to try and move this forward, please get in touch with Chris FitzGerald, who has been the Guild’s main contact on the subject. He can be e-mailed at treasurer@pdg.org.uk.
This does not affect the sound control at St Peter’s which is managed and funded separately.
Dates for the Diary
Guild AGM Saturday 8th June Harlestone 2:00, Pitsford 3:00, Moulton 4:00, service 4:30 then tea. AGM 5:45 then evening ringing at Moulton.
Guild 10-bell Practice Saturday 30th June. 10:30, Towcester.
And Branch events.
Rutland Branch 8 bell Practice Tuesday 21st May 7:30 Oakham
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 23rd May 2:30Wadenhoe
Culworth Theory Session Saturday 25th May 10:15Brackley church hall.
Guilsborough Branch PracticeSaturday 1st June 3:00 Spratton, 6:00 Cottesbrooke
Rutland Branch practice Wednesday 5th June 7:00Braunston
Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 7th June 7:30Islip
Wellingborough Striking contest, Tuesday 11th May, 6:30 Mears Ashby
Daventry:Branch Practice, Saturday 15th June 3:00Badby, 6:30 Eydon
CulworthBranch Practice Saturday 15th June, 6:30Eydon
If you are short of reading material, I seem to have taken over The Ringing World again this week, with an article on the Spring meeting and the new Centenary Trophy. It could be interesting – or a cure for insomnia, I leave that one up to you.
Unfortunately the branch outing has not received the interest for us to be able to make the most of ringing on 10 bells and so Elaine and I have come to the decision to cancel.
The next event is the Surprise (minor) Social on Sunday 2 June at Bulwick 1-3pm. Hopefully being more local and not the majority of day will mean more of you are able to attend.
If you plan to attend please can you let us know. Thank you.
Please can you let us know if you are planning to attend the branch outing next Saturday by Sunday (12 May) at 4pm. Thank you. We are needing to let one tower know how many people are coming as they have external contractors setting up for an event in the evening and they want to know if it is possible for them to carry out their work whilst we are there.
We are also currently quite low on people who have said they are able to attend and don’t want to turn up at 10 bell towers and not be able to ring all 10 bells! It’s a great opportunity for people to ring on higher numbers of bells who don’t get much opportunity to do so.
10 am St Faith’s, Gaywood, King’s Lynn. PE30 4DZ ///cookies.thread.converged 6 bells, tenor 12–0–16 in G https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/14029 Toilet available
11.30am St Nicholas’, King’s Lynn. PE30 1DZ ///active.porch.tricks 8 bells, tenor 18–3–12 in F https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/10477 Toilet available
Lunch – do your own thing. A picnic in the park or enjoy some of the pubs and eateries of King’s Lynn. Lots of places to find in and around the town square
2pm Minster Chapel of St Margaret, King’s Lynn. PE30 5DU ///calm.lonely.blitz 10 bells, tenor 28–1–4 in C https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/15688 Toilet available
£2 per tower for a donation. We look forward to seeing you at any or all of the towers.
Please let us know if you are planning to attend (jrcalamity@icloud.com). Thank you. We have been asked to advice St Nicholas’ how many people are coming as they have an event on in the evening and need to know about any issues for them to set up if there are a lot of people there.
We seem to have had a reasonable bank holiday so far, although the weather’s not looking quite so good for tomorrow – but that’s just typical! Hope you’ve been able to make the most of it. Having got the Spring Meeting done, we’re moving on to the next few Guild events.
Guild Open day
Saturday sees the Guild’s Open day. 30 towers across the Guild are open according to a timetable, towers from A (Aynho) to Y (Yarwell) and across all 10 branches of the Guild. There are a range of interesting, unusual and rare towers or recent augmentations to tempt you out. £2 per tower or £20 for a day ticket. These are available in advance by e-mailing centenary@pdg.org.uk or at the first 6 towers. Cash on the day please.
The Guild’s AGM is planned for Saturday 8th June. It was planned to be in Northampton town centre, visiting the 4 town centre churches. Unfortunately, Northampton town took no account of this and have decided to hold the town carnival that day. That closes roads across the centre, making the plan unworkable. There has been a rearrangement and the plan for the day is now as follows:
Open Ringing at Harlestone at 2 pm and Pitsfors at 3 pm.
Ringing at Moulton at 4 pm, for the service at 4:30 pm.
This will be followed by tea in the church hall and the AGM at 5:45 pm. There will be evening ringing afterwards.
All are welcome to the AGM, names for tea to me on secretary@pdg.org.uk by 5th June please.
Bell Sunday is the 12th May this year. You can link your ringing to the event, if you do any special ringing. https://bellsunday.org/
There’s a request to ring to mark the 80thanniversary of D-Day on 6th June, Not ringing at the time of the landings, the request is to ring at 6:30 pm, if possible.
We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to extend our gratitude to everyone who joined us for the minor bell ringing social last Wednesday and to extend our apologies for any inconvenience caused by the lighting issue. However, it provided us with a good opportunity to ring our blue line and showcase our adaptability!
A big thank you to the members of the South Lincs and Rutland branch who joined us, as well as a special acknowledgment to hosts Sue, John, and Jerry from Easton on the Hill.
Branch outing
Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce our next event on Saturday the 18th of May. We’ll be visiting three towers around Kings Lynn, including the Kings Lynn Minster and Wisbech, both with 10 bells. We’ll kick off the day at 10 am in Gaywood. Lunch arrangements will be left to individuals, with plenty of options available in the town center, including numerous pubs and cafes. Alternatively, The Walks park offers a lovely spot for a spring picnic – weather permitting!
Further details about the event will be shared closer to the date. We’re eagerly anticipating another memorable day of ringing and fellowship!
Please can you let me know if you are planning to attend the Minor Social event this Wednesday so that I can make sure there is enough cake! Thank you. This is event is aimed at people that ring or have rung minor methods already. There will be opportunity for people to treble as well as ring inside.
Please email: jrcalamity@icloud.com
Please also let me know if you would like to ring a particular method so that I can make sure there are people to call methods, especially if it is for touches.
I am proposing Plain Bob, Little Bob, St Clements, Double and Single Oxford but other methods possibly available on request.
Monday update, with lots of news from the weekend.
Guild Spring Meeting
Saturday was an excellent day. Guilsborough branch did a superb job of hosting, laying on the most spectacular tea I think I’ve ever seen and even organising some spring-like weather. The 21 teams that entered is the most we’ve ever had, 12 teams rang call changes at Guilsborough and 9 teams rang methods at Cold Ashby.
There was a packed church at Cold Ashby for the results, with Towcester taking the Weaver Shield for the method ringing contest while Pattishall were the first winners of the Centenary Trophy for call changes.
A full report will follow. We have photos of each band, drop me a mail and I can send yours over to you. If there was a prize for most original pose, Cransley would have taken that by a country mile!
There’s lots of different items, including a welcome from Bishop Debbie.
The next edition will be for the September Summer Festival, print deadline is end of August. Items can be sent in at any time to newsletter@pdg,org.uk
Annual Report
This is also being distributed, one copy for each tower. This year’s is a lively green cover. If any members want a copy, they are available for £2 to members (including postage). Get in touch and I’ll get one out to you.
The CCCBR is looking for a new adviser on bell complaints. Robert Wood has dealt with such enquiries for some years and has decided to stand down. They are looking for someone with relevant experience and knowledge of UK Environmental Legislation. Anyone wanting more information should contact Alison Hodge alison.hodge@cccbr.org.uk
Bell Sunday is 12th May this year, see what your incumbent has planned and let them see the resources available on the CCCBR website for ideas on how to include ringing in your service. https://bellsunday.org/
100th Anniversary
It was excellent to see PDG 100 clothing out in force at the weekend. There’s still a chance to get yours before the year is out… Also mugs and puzzles still available https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise
The next 100th anniversary is the Open day. A chance to ring at towers across the Guild from A (Aynho) to Y (Yarwell). Towers are open for 1 hour, with start times from 09:00 to 18:50. Cost £2 per tower or £20 for a day ticket, available in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk All details on the website: https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/open-day
Bells on Sunday
Starting their 900th anniversary, the bells of St Kyneburgha’s church, Castor features on Sunday 14th April at 5:43 am. You can listen again via BBC sounds using the link below.
