Dear all, Helen’s latest update below:

It was great to see so many people at the Summer Festival last weekend. Over 70 people attended part of the day. It was, I admit, maybe a bit warm for ringing, but it was perfect for sitting in the Chantry House garden listening to someone else ring. Well done to all the teams that entered, the judges were most complimentary about the standard achieved. And congratulations to Towcester on both winning the trophy and hosting an excellent tea. Clearly a branch of many talents! 

Full write up available on the website. https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/a-sunny-summer-festival

PDG100

With the last of the Guild’s event in 2023, our thoughts turn to 2024 and our 100^th anniversary. 

You may have seen the merchandise available to celebrate at the Summer Festival and at various branch events. There are calendars, featuring 14 different churches across the diocese, these are £5 each. There are mugs (also £5) and clothing with the anniversary logo (prices from £11. And there is a jigsaw puzzle of a painting the Guild has commissioned from talented Thrapston artist, Sarah Pendred. It’s a fabulously busy image and will be available in 500 (£15) and 1000 pieces (£20). All details can be found here: https://pdg.org.uk/pdg-100/centenary-year-merchandise and orders can be placed through centenary@pdg.org.uk

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. The first event is at Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday 14^thJanuary. Ringing at the Cathedral from 2pm, then choral evensong in the Cathedral at 3:30. The Biship of Brixworth, as patron of the Guild, will give an address. And there will be a reception in one of the transepts afterwards. With cutting of a birthday cake, but maybe not 100 candles! 

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. 

We’re also aiming to have a piece of ringing dedicated to the anniversary in each tower in the diocese. More on that later on.  

Young Ringers Practice & Pizza

One to get to your young ringers. On 23^rd September, Daventry branch are hosting an event for young ringers (from 10 to 25 ish). It’s an opportunity for younger ringers to meet and ring with other young ringers outside of their tower/branch. While organised by the Daventry branch, all young ringers are welcome. This is at Daventry tower and will start at 3:00. Donations are invited towards the costs of refreshments & pizza. Please spread the word to your younger ringers. Ringing will be run by Miles Baker, with support from DBS checked adults in the branch. The previous event was a success, and this should be just as good. I’m tempted to lie about my age and sneak in…

Parents are welcome to stay or to leave their offspring, whichever they feel more comfortable with. 

Any queries to Justin Baker ringing_master@pdg.org.uk

CCCBR news

The CCCBR annual meeting was held the first weekend in September. That saw a change in President, with Tina Stocklin taking over. Her first blog is available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/09/15/presidents-blog-84/

The meeting discussed the change in number of representatives (which was rejected), and a survey for Ringing 2030 initiative. It may take some time to be distributed, but please fill it in when you see it. It’s important to know where ringers are and what they are ringing in order to know how to progress. 

Finally there have been some promotional videos produced. They are available to share, so please consider using them in your next open day or recruitment opportunity. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/09/05/recruitment-and-promotional-videos-go-live/

While we are sharing ringing PR, this piece from the National Churches Trust might be worth bookmarking and sending to those wanting a general introduction to ringing. https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore/story/ringing-changes

Ringing for a charity walk

Between the 22^nd September & 8^th October a group are walking from Staffordshire to Kent to raise awareness of Papyrus, a charity that works to prevent youth suicide and support the bereaved. They are passing through our area between 26^th & 28^th September, the route takes them between Yelvertoft, West Haddon, Long Buckby, Great Brington, Duston, Hunsbury and Collingtree. If you are able to ring around this time, or place information in a pewsheet the group would appreciate that support.

Dates for the Diary

Guild Plain Bob Practice Saturday 14^th October. 6:30 Desborough

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Tuesday 19^th August 7:30 Oakham

Young Ringers Practice & Pizza Saturday 23^rd September 3:00 Daventry 

Culworth Branch 8 bell Practice Saturday 30^th September 7:30 King’s Sutton

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Wednesday 4^th October 7:30 Cottesmore

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 6^th October 7:30 Castor

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 7^th October 3:00 Brixworth, 6:00 Maidwell

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

Seems the Summer Festival was a last hurrah of the summer weather. Ho hum. Looking on the bright side, I might finally get some wear out of my anniversary fleece!

See you at a ringing event soon. 

Thanks

Helen

Dear all,

I am three short for a full band to ring for a wedding at Oundle next Saturday. Wedding is due to start at 1:00pm. We need to meet to ring at 12:45pm, and then again after the service is finished. £25 per rope. Please let me know if you can help.

Nick Elks nick.elks@gmail.com tel :07961 916819

Dear all, there is a second menu for this event, attached

Dear all, a final reminder that Diana Street has organised a ringing event for the afternoon of Sunday 17 September, with the added bonus of a Cream Tea at The Johnson Farm in Old Hurst. All are welcome. 

Diana needs to know your tea order by Tuesday 12 September, please.

She has provided the following information (all now confirmed):

12:15pm (bells down) to 1pm Hemingford Abbots PE28 9AL 6 14 cwt in G# (toilet in kitchen area)

1:15pm to 2pm Hemingford Grey PE28 9DF 8 11-2-12 in G# (toilet in kitchen area)

2:15pm to 3pm St. Ives PE27 6DG 8 12-0-4 in G (Portaloo inside South Porch)

3:30pm Tea at Johnson’s Farm Old Hurst (off A141) Church St, Huntingdon PE28 3AF

I will leave a donation at each tower, so £3 each should cover this, please give it to me on the day.

The standard Cream Tea (scone with jam & cream plus tea/coffee) offered by the Tearoom is priced at £7.25, but if you want something more substantial, the whole Steakhouse Afternoon Tea offer is £27 per person, see menu below for other choices. They can cater for special requests and for nut allergy as long as it is stated with order, please. I did have to check out their home-made scones (scone and tea = cream tea) before I made the booking!!

PLEASE NOTE the order the will need to be placed, with Diana, by Tuesday 12^th September so she can collate and forward to them in one go please. (please include price to ensure I order correct items for you). Thank you.

Both ringing and non-ringing family members and friends are welcome to join us for afternoon tea at Johnson’s Farm at Old Hurst – we may have a function room to ourselves. 

For non-ringers there is the added bonus of the Farm, with its animals, birds and ‘safe distance’ crocodiles to look round for a £3 adult entry fee, including a children’s play park (please have sensible footwear, for the fields part, if there has been any rain), while the rest of us ring!

It should be a lovely afternoon for us all to enjoy together, with the added bonus of food after the ringing workout.  I look forward to seeing you all and there is the chance we will get to know each other better.  

Thank you and see you then if not before.

Take care, Diana diana_cherryfields@yahoo.co.uk

This is a reminder that this Friday 1st September will be our monthly branch practice at Castor, 1930h

Please come for a chance to ring on eight bells. Novices, experts and all of us in between are welcome.

For surprise ringers lets focus on the core favourites of Cambridge, Yorkshire, Superlative.

I hope you all had a good summer break, time to get back at it!!

James

I need a few more ringers to make up a band to ring for a wedding at Oundle on Saturday 9th September – the wedding service starts at 1:30pm. £25 per rope. Please let me know if you can help.

Nick Elks – nick.elks@gmail.com

We are one ringer short for a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples tomorrow Saturday 19th August 5:30pm at Peterborough St Johns. This is to celebrate the life of James Dyer so it is important that we can ring. If you are able to help then please let me know. Please do contact me if you want to help but feel you might not have enough experience – I really don’t want to have to cancel this important quarter peal.

Some sad news – I have just learnt that James Dyer has recently died after having a brain tumour, aged just 36 years old. James was a Lay Clerk at the Cathedral, singing in the Cathedral Choir and a sometimes bellringer. He lived and worked in Peterborough from 2010 until 2020, and was renowned for driving his Morris Minor in international rallies – usually breaking down in somewhere like Mongolia and having to get the car shipped home. James was always an upbeat character, a very positive person, and a gentleman. He previously dated local radio presenter Thordis Friedricson, and more recently married his girlfriend Keely last year. His funeral is today – 17th August, and his family are asking that donations be made in James name to the Brain Tumour Charity

https://james-dyer.muchloved.com/

Dear all, Helen has realised she has put a wrong date in her update, see below.

The Guild’s Summer Festival and 8 bell striking contest takes place on Saturday 9^th August September (Secretary having a diary madness moment) in the Towcester branch. 

Dear all, please find below Helen’s latest update.

I’m not sure how we manage to be half-way through August, but that sees us looking forward to the Summer Festival in September. 

Guild Summer Festival

The Guild’s Summer Festival and 8 bell striking contest takes place on Saturday 9^th August in the Towcester branch. Ringing to take place at Weedon (tbc) from 2 pm, Cold Higham from 3 pm and then the contest and tea at Towcester from 4 pm. A short meeting will be followed by evening ringing, also at Towcester. 

Branches wanting to enter should get in touch with Simon Dixon by Saturday 2^nd September, mailing master@pdg.org.uk

More information and a poster is available on the guild website: https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/guild-summer-festival-2023

See you there – even if you’re not ringing, it’s an opportunity to try some different bells and socialise with ringers from across the Guild. 

Central Council items

President’s Blog looks forward to the meeting in early September. https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/08/04/presidents-blog-82/

The papers for this year’s Central Council meeting are now available. https://cccbr.org.uk/about/annual-meetings/2023-annual-meeting/

Motions to reduce the size of the council and the elections are the most notable items. 

Dates for the Diary

Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 9^th September. 10:30 Daventry

Guild Summer Festival Saturday 9^th September Contest 4:00 pm Towcester, for competition, tea, meeting and Evening ringing. Ringing at Weedon Bec from 2pm & Cold Higham from 3 pm. 

One change, Northampton have changed their practice location. 

Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 17^th August 2:30 Wadenhoe

Rutland Branch 8 bell practice Thursday 17^th August 7:30 Uppingham 

Daventry Branch Meeting Saturday 19^th August 3:00 Everdon 6:30 Dodford (tbc)

Northampton Branch Practice Saturday 19^th August 7:00 Coggenhoe

Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 19^th August 7:30 Woodford Halse

Peterborough Branch 8 bell Practice Friday 1^st September 7:30 Castor

Thrapston Branch Practice Friday 1^st September 7:30 Islip

Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 2^nd September 3:00 Sibbertoft, 6:00 Welford

Rutland Branch 6 bell practice Thursday 7^th September 7:00 Great Casterton

See you all at some of these in the near future. 

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 735 266