Dear all, with the celebrations for the Guild Centenary happening every month in 2024, there is less scope to organise Guild training events.  This is what has been scheduled in so far.  Please check with the Guild website (https://pdg.org.uk/events/second-saturday-events) for any updates.

January 13^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Kettering

An opportunity for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.

This practice is open to all – no need to register.

January 13^th 2024, 15:00 – Ringing Up and Down in Peal at Great Oxendon

With advice and practice for either one of these activities, this would suit ringers who are members of bands that regularly lower and raise their bells but do not have enough ringers who can do so in peal. 

If interested please contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk).

March 9^th 2024, 18:30 – 10-bell practice at Moulton

An opportunity for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.  Please note that this is an evening not a morning practice.

This practice is open to all – no need to register.

April 13^th 2024, 10:00 – Bell Maintenance at Great Oakley

This is aimed at those who are interested in the mechanics of the bells and would like to learn a bit more, especially about how to keep the bells and fittings in good working order.  It will be a mainly practical session held up in the belfry and would suit new recruits as well as existing ringers, it will also cover looking after ropes and stays; learning how to change a rope and stay, how to adjust the length of a tail-end, and how to splice a broken rope.

There are spaces available on this course – please contact Simon Dixon if interested (master@pdg.org.uk) .

April 13^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell quarter peal at Rothwell (tbc)

This is for some of the regular attendees at the 10-bell practices to enjoy an extended piece of ringing.

If you would like to be considered for the band, please contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk).

June 29^th 2024 (not a 2^nd Saturday), 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Towcester (tbc)

September 14^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at St Giles, Northampton (tbc)

November 9^th 2024, 10:30 – 10-bell practice at Daventry (tbc)

These are opportunities for ringers of all abilities to have a go at ringing on higher numbers.  We regularly ring a range of methods from Grandsire and Little Bob up to Surprise Royal.

These practices are open to all – no need to register.

We ask that if anyone is interested in any of these sessions or have suggestions of their own to put forward, that they contact Simon Dixon (master@pdg.org.uk)  or Cathy Dixon (pro@pdg.org.uk) to let us know and we’ll be in touch with more details.  Please note that there will be a small fee of £3 per student for the training sessions to go towards a tower donation, and a request for £1 from each ringer at each of the open practice sessions.

Seems winter has arrived. Brrrr. How many layers can you ring in? I managed 4 on Friday, I reckon there’s space for another one if needed. Hope you’re keeping warm and safe. 

A couple of branches have confirmed details for the December meetings, so check the diary of events for the additions. 

Fundraising

Benefact are running their movement for Good campaign again this Christmas. Draws for £1000 run through to the 18^th December. You can nominate the Guild on this link: 

CCCBR news

A couple if videos for advertising ringing have been available for a while now via YouTube These are now available via the CCCBR website. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/11/26/discovering-bellringing-enjoyment-films/

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 13^th January 10:30 Location Kettering

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 14^th January Peterborough Cathedral Ringing 2:00, Evensong 3:30, reception afterwards. 

Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10^th February Moulton Village Hall, Barn dance with live band & ploughman’s supper.  Starts at 7 pm. Tickets are £15 in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk

A couple of confirmations added to the branch events in December. 

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 9^th December 10:30 Wollaston

Wellingborough Branch Quiz. Saturday 9^th December 7:30 pm. Earls Barton Church Hall. Buffet £5 per person, bring your own drinks. Team entries to Jenny Ball, secretary@wellingborough.pdg.org.uk  please. 

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 16^th December 3:00 Whitfield

Daventry Branch Ringing, tea & Carol Concert Saturday 16^th December 3:30 Whilton, Concert 6:30

Kettering Branch Practice. Saturday 16^th December 2:00 pm Rothwell. 

And we start 2024! 

Guilsborough Branch AGM Saturday 6^th January 3:00 Guilsborough. Ringing & Service in the church, AGM in the Village Hall then evening ringing

Rutland Branch practice Thursday 11^th January 7:00 Great Casterton

Rutland Branch AGM Saturday 13^th January 3:00 North Luffenham, Service & AGM Edith Weston

Stay warm out there. 

Thanks

Helen

There will be no branch practice this Friday at Castor. There will be a development quarter peal instead.

If you would like an eight bell quarter peal opportunity then please let me know.

James Thorpe

Hopefully your muffles stayed put last weekend. Well done to all those steeple keepers who went up and down putting them on and off. I heard of one on the wrong stroke, which led to some inventive on the wrong stroke rounds. There’s a solution to every problem! The 10 bell practice at Higham concentrated on ringing Caters and proved to be popular even with the bells half muffled. It is an amazing sound. 

CCCBR news

The President’s blog is here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/11/15/presidents-blog-86/

And another in the series of articles looking at various aspects of the ringing 2030 project. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/11/19/27439/

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 13^th January 10:30 Location TBC

Guild 100th Anniversary event Sunday 14^th January Peterborough Cathedral Ringing 2:00, Evensong 3:30, reception afterwards. 

Guild 100th Anniversary event Saturday 10^th February Moulton Village Hall, Barn dance with live band & ploughman’s supper. Tickets in advance from centenary@pdg.org.uk

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Tuesday 21^st November 7:30 Oakham

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 2^nd December 3:00 Welford

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 9^th December 10:30 Wollaston

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 16^th December 3:00 Whitfield

Daventry Branch Ringing, tea & Carol Concert Saturday 16^th December 3:30 Whilton, Concert 6:30

Other news

A couple of items of ringing interest. Leanne Martin of Daventry appeared on NLive radio talking about ringing and did an excellent job of making ringing fun and engaging. The show is still available on catch up; https://player.autopod.xyz/452628 Leanne starts at ~ 1:34 in. She references *that* Mars Bar advert, but we may as well embrace the stereotype. You can cringe or enjoy it again here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3l832ZdeFI

In Bolton Museum there’s a display of photographs taken of a tower across 2022 & 23. If you are in Bolton, it might be worth a look in. https://www.margebradshawphotography.co.uk/why-we-ring

Branches are beginning to send out details of their AGMs in January. Branches are only as strong as their members, and they need to ensure the committee is strong and active. If you like what your branch is doing – and want to see more of it – get involved. If you want something different from your branch, again, get involved and get active. 

Thanks

Helen

The worsening weather often encourages branches to undertake some more social activity than ringing in a sometimes(!) cold church. Towcester branch held their quiz at the weekend, which a team of Interlopers (their name, not mine) from Culworth branch joining us in Cold Higham village Hall. And they’re not the only branch taking that approach, Daventry are holding a quiz on 11^th November (names to Alison by the 9^th November), while Wellingborough have their quiz on 9^th December. And a couple of branches have a dinner in the next month or so, again, Towcester start the trend at the end of November. Maybe see you in a party frock sometime before the end of the year. 

Talking of poor weather, Daventry Town Council organised a Feel-Good festival in the town. This was for the second time of asking, having originally been postponed form August due to storm Antoni. This time Storm Babet moved the location into William Parker School halls. A rota of helpers manned the ringing display and a number of names of interested potential ringers were taken. First sessions were held this week. Well done all. 

Guild Newsletter

The Guild newsletter was distributed to branches at the Summer Festival, so hopefully a copy has made it to your tower. The latest edition can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/newsletters/newsletter_202309.pdf

Next print deadline is before the end of the year. Articles can be submitted at any time to newsletter@pdg.org.uk

ART Awards

The Annual ART awards are now open for nominations. There are 6 different categories and £3,000 in prize money to be awarded. Who do you know who needs to have their trumpet blown? Nominations forms and criteria are avai;able on the website: https://bellringing.org/2023/09/29/the-2024-art-awards-are-open/

CCCBR news

A couple of articles looking at various aspects of the ringing 2030 project. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 11^th November 10:30 Higham Ferrers. This is Remembrance day and the bells will be half muffled. That being the case we’ll concentrate on Caters, Grandsire, Stedman, Erin, Double Norwich CB Caters https://www.ringing.org/method/?title=Double%20Norwich%20Court%20Bob%20Caters and Little Grandsire Caters https://www.ringing.org/method/?title=Little%20Grandsire%20Caters. These last two have two hunt bells.

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 3^rd November 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 4^th November 3:00 Yelvertoft

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 8^th November 7:30 Braunston

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 18^th November 10:30 Rushden

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 18^th November 2:30 Great Doddington

Towcester Branch Practice Saturday 18^th November 10:30 Whilton

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 18^th November 3:00 Aynho

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 18^th November 3:00 Flore, 6:30 Weedon Bec

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 18^th November 7:00 Dallington

Kettering: Evensong ringing Sunday 19^th November 2:10 Peterborough Cathedral, meet outside the West Front

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Tuesday 21^st November 7:30 Oakham

By the next update we’ll have rung for Remembrance day. May your muffles be fitted on the same side and not slip. It is one of those days when your performance will be noticed – ring well. 

Thanks

Helen

It would be good to see you all this Friday at the branch practice.

As usual plain and little bob will be available with the special method being DOUBLE NORWICH C B, including in spliced if we have the ringers to do it.

See you there,

James

Seems autumn has arrived all of a sudden. Last Saturday I went for a walk in 100 Aker wood and caught the sun; this Saturday I went for walk wearing my anniversary sweatshirt and multiple layers. Time to consider digging out the rope warmers, radiators and woolly jumpers again.

Publicity materials

At the recent GMC meeting, it was suggested that it would help towers to have a range of publicity materials and case studies available to draw on. These would aim to provide ideas and approaches to different scenarios, be they a local group tower visit, an open day, recruitment drive, advertising ringing and so on. If you have something that you have used in your tower, please get in touch, we’d love to be able to share it.

Volunteers

Also at the recent GMC we discussed the output of the branch re-organisation committee. One of the actions arising was to form two committees, one to review how the Guild manages membership, the second how we manage banking and finance. We’re looking for volunteers for both of these committees, if you have something to offer, please get in touch.

Movement for Good

Benefact (formerly Ecclesiastical) are running their Movement for Good draw again in December, so there’s plenty of time to nominate the Guild for a change to win £1000. Which would make our treasurer happy. Link here for you to fill in. Previously we’ve put these grants into the Training fund. https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=258271&ct=heritage_arts

PDG100

This week, the first order of our anniversary jigsaw puzzles arrived – and many of them are already making their way out to purchasers. You can order your puzzle via centenary@pdg.org.uk. 500 pieces are £15 while the 1000 piece versions are £20. All details can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise We’ll try and arrange delivery within the Guild, through the branch & tower networks, at no additional cost. Postage is an extra £3.50.

We still have some calendars, get yours while stocks last – we’re not going to re-ordering these. The calendars, feature 14 different churches across the diocese, these are £5 each.

We’re also taking expressions of interest in the events for the 100^th anniversary, mainly so we can make sure there’s enough birthday cake to go around. Mail interest to centenary@pdg.org.uk. All the events can be found on the website https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100 and we’ll update with more details as we get closer. Posters to follow shortly.

Diocese news

In case you missed it, the next Bishop of Peterborough was announced as Bishop Debbie Sellin. She is currently Bishop of Southampton and has been acting Bishop of Winchester for the last few years. Enthronement in early 2024, we’ll keep you posted on dates. It will be a good opportunity for ringing across the diocese to welcome her. She started her ministry in children & youth work.

CCCBR news

The president’s latest blog is here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/10/13/presidents-blog-85/

From 2016 there were a significant number of performances rung of method using methods named for Julie McDonnell. After the recent newspaper article and report in the Ringing World there have been those calling for the CCCBR to change the names of these methods. Tina Stoecklin wants to canvass opinions on the topic, including from those who rang in these performances. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/10/10/when-is-the-right-time-to-rename-a-method/ Get in touch with her if you have an opinion to share.

Last update I told you about the promotional videos produced by the CCCBR. One of them had a revision, and the link changed. They are both available here:

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 bell Practice Saturday 11^th November 10:30 Higham Ferrers. This is Remembrance day and the bells will be half muffled.

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Thursday 19^th October 7:30 Uppingham

Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 21^st October 10:30 Yardley Hastings

Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:00 Irchester

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 21^st October 3:00 Litchborough

Kettering: Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 3:30 Barton Seagrave

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:00 Church Brampton

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 21^st October 7:30 Evenley

Towcester Branch Quiz night with fish & chip supper. Saturday 28^th October 5:45 Ringing, 7:00 meeting followed by Quiz. Cold Higham.

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 3^rd November 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 4^th November 3:00 Yelvertoft

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 8^th November 7:30 Braunston

See you at an event soon.

Thanks

Helen

The branch 8 bell practice is on Friday 6th October 7-30pm at Castor.

Plain and/or little bob will be on offer for those making progress from 6 to 8 bells.

Cambridge and Yorkshire are usually on offer and I have had a request to ring LONDON surprise major so if you ring this please have a look at it beforehand ready.

See you there,

James

Dear all, Helen writes that it has been announced that the new Bishop of Peterborough will be Bishop Debbie Sellin. She is currently the Bishop of Southampton and has been acting Bishop of Winchester. 

As the Bishop is patron of the Guild, Helen suggests we might like to consider a footnote dedicating a piece of ringing to welcome Bishop Debbie. She is due to be enthroned in early 2024. 

Thanks

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

I am still short of two ringers. Please let me know if you can help. Meet for 12:45pm ringing this Saturday.

Nick