Firstly, let me wish you a happy new year and hope that 2021 is an improvement on 2020. I’m not sure it could be worse, but that strikes me as tempting fate, so I won’t be saying that, clearly! Hopefully we’ll be able to keep in touch and keep our spirits up through the darker months of the year. 

Guild Updates

We’re aware that there are Ringing Room sessions going on in towers and some branches, as well as across the wider ringing community. If there is anyone who would like to move on to surprise minor or major methods (for example) or to try quarters, the Guild can work to put like-minded people in touch and arrange sessions. If you’re looking to move on and need some support to do so, get in touch with the Master or Secretary to express your interest. E-mail sjdixon07@btinternet.com or secretary@pdg.org.uk

The PDG 12 days of Christmas

Over the holiday’s the Guild Secretary has been rather generous and sent everyone a full 12 days of ringing related presents. Enjoy!

. On the First day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … A Ringing World bumper copy. 

This year’s Christmas edition of The Ringing World is a three week bumper sized copy, featuring a number of seasonal puzzles. If you’re a Guild member, or follow the Guild’s Facebook page you can send in your completed nonogram. Right answers received by the end of January will go into the hat for a prize. 

Available online you can buy one issue : https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/issues.php

Or you can subscribe here: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/subscribe

·         On the Second day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Two ringing Robots

https://youtu.be/7XbW8z3lqW8  And a pair of Firman helpers to keep Rosie & Richie on the straight & narrow. 

·         On the Third day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Three bells on Bob’s Tail ring.

https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/211509463787785 OK, someone may have got their carols crossed at this point.

·         On the Fourth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Four running ringers. 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1690816540928646 or https://www.classicfm.com/composers/handel/music/handbell-hallelujah-chorus/

The Halleleujah chorus for 4 handbell ringers – it is worth a watch. And a nice sit down after all that exertion!

·         On the Fifth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Five old bells.

I am saying nothing whatsoever about the age of the ringers. 

·         On the Sixth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… …Six-ty on thirds

Rung at Plympton St Maurice, Plymouth, Devon

·         On the Seventh day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Seven mini sallies 

Avon Ropes make ropes of all sizes, from full size tower bells to mini rings. They also make light pulls that make excellent talking points in the guests’ bathroom. https://www.facebook.com/AvonRopes/posts/4632811623426634

https://www.avonropes.co.uk/

·         On the Eighth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Eight standard methods

In this case a touch of spliced surprise major.

·         On the Ninth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Nine Tailors tolling

It’s the quintessential ringing novel. And available on YouTube in 4 episodes. Episode 1: https://youtu.be/_rMnsy8fp5I

·         On the Tenth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Ten different branches

·         On the Eleventh day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Eleven colours twining

An especially composed touch of Stedman Cinques used as a pattern for a baby blanket square. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/211565580448840

·         On the Twelfth day of Christmas, my Guild Secretary gave to me… … Twelve bells a-ringing

The glorious bells of Towcester being given a thorough workout by the Birmingham band.

Central Council Updates

The Central Council issued an update on its reform consultation. Changes will be afoot, it remains to be seen  what changes there will be and what impact they will have on ringing and its organisation.  https://cccbr.org.uk/about/reforms/

The Christmas Eve edition of PM featured experiences during Covid of two ringers. It can be played through this link:  https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/12/24/covid-chronicles-on-bbc-radio-4s-pm-programme/

The YouTube contest to promote and find good ringing on the platform reached a conclusion. The winners of the people’s vote was announced and can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/12/21/youtube-competition-overall-winner/

President’s Christmas blog was published just prior to Christmas. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/12/18/presidents-yule-blog/

And an article on ringing appeared in “People’s Friend”. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/12/29/it-becomes-this-amazing-team-effort/

Thanks

Helen

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Dear Peterborough Branch members

This year we have to hold the AGM via Zoom since we are unable to meet in person. The AGM will be held on January 16 th at 2 pm and is kindly being hosted for us by Nassington tower who hold a Zoom account.

If you would like to attend the AGM please register with Hilary who will then send you a link to the meeting. You can contact her on

hilary.hardie@btinternet.com

We will keep the meeting brief this year but wish to include a discussion of possible future events and the return to ringing as possibly some “refresher” sessions may be needed.

I will post the agenda, the accounts and the annual report prior to the meeting in

petbells.org.uk/downloads

I will be standing down from the secretary role and Angela from the treasurer role so we are hoping for people to step up and join the committee.

So I am signing off now from my final message to you as secretary. It’s been a challenging year for us all but thank you to all the lovely people who have kept in touch and my best wishes to everyone for a very much happier time in 2021.

Sylvia

So Christmas is nearly here, but it’s going to be somewhat different from usual and what we had hoped.

Ringing for Christmas
Unfortunately we are not necessarily going to be able to ring as much as we may have hoped over the holidays. Saturday’s announcement of Tier 4 and the reduced relaxation for Christmas in other Tiers will necessarily have an impact.

·         No ringing at all in Tier 4, even if there were services.

·         In areas that are still in Tier 2, ringing will remain permitted as per Tier 1, but only on Christmas day.
This is also as communicated to clergy in the Bishop’s latest bulletin. Not yet available online, will be posted here:  https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/bishop-of-peterborough/bishops-bulletin
Like many, this may be my first Christmas not ringing in a very long time.

And to the more fun stuff to keep you entertained over the break.

Christmas themed puzzles
Festive Song Twister. Something a little bit seasonal to get the brain warm under your Santa hat. The numbers are the number of letters in words of the title or first lines of Christmas carols or other seasonal songs.
Get humming… https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/212038043734927
The Christmas Karaoke machine seems to be broken, it is only showing the first letters of the words. Can you work out the carol or seasonal song, all featuring bells, that it is trying to play?  https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/212041203734611

Carols
Have you tried ringing carols on handbells? If not in person (it’s turning cold out there!) you can use Ringing Room.
To get you started, 4 carols that all use up to 10 bells.
https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/211501240455274

Puzzle time
A selection of ringers were asked to provide the first words that came to mind when presented with some ringing terms. What ringing related item are they thinking of from this cloud of words? https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/211418037130261
Seeing everyone else has broken into the chocolate advent calendar, we have a chocolate topped letter M to introduce this week’s wordsearch. All mmmm methods, which takes your fancy? https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/208818590723539
Another set of answer smash questions. The two answers overlap, letters at the end of the first answer are the start of the second. What’s the smashed answer to each pair of clues? https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/194353488836716
Some times we all need a little love. This puzzle features those towers that might be a little less loved. They’re all towers with 3 or 4 bells or greater numbers but unringable. Show you care and get them to fit in the grid.  https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/204047091200689

With bells on
There are any number of songs and carols featuring bells in the title or text. A short selection here.
Seeing half the world seems to have their Christmas lights up, I thought we’d follow suit, starting with the Carol of the Bells. Sung by St George’s Chapel Choir https://youtu.be/FydDhuAYcOI
Another ringing related Christmas Carol, this time it’s Ding Dong Merrily on High by Ensemble Corund. Don’t forget to take a deep breath for the Glooooooooorias! https://youtu.be/Dzc2TUNPA4I
A Christmassy song this time, it’s Jingle bells – although you’ve probably not seen it done quite like this before. Courtesy of Hey Duggee. Ah-Woof! https://youtu.be/TCQ-IV6l3ns

Training
Leading can be a tricky skill to perfect, this article may help. http://www.cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/…/200303.pdf
What is ropesight? https://youtu.be/4Rd8ZgNp1Tw

Preparation activity
With the news that we could ring over Christmas, and at closer spacing than previously, now might be the time to write or update your Covid risk assessment. Helen Allton was invited to give some advice on how to go about this task to the Truro Guild, and the talk is available here: https://youtu.be/B7hQKe_xyjg
Link to the completed sample is here: https://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/…/R2R%20sample%20…<https://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site8108/R2R%20sample%20assessment%20Dec%202020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2urgbsTdq-9vdWa7exv7FWc20SE5RobTkc7uiJUbVvm3ev0q3nrq9ud0Y>
https://www.facebook.com/pdgcbr/posts/214653080140090

And with that I will wish you all as Merry a Christmas as you can manage and to hope that 2021 is better in many ways.

Thanks
Helen

Helen Allton
Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR
Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/
e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk<mailto:secretary@pdg.org.uk>
telephone: 01832 735266
[PDG badge small]

Just to confirm, the change of Tiers locally does not impact on the already agreed concession to allow ringing over Christmas. 

The following can be found on the CC website, update for 16^th Dec. https://cccbr.org.uk/coronavirus/

Christmas guidance for England is unchanged from the announcement made on 8^th December.

The current guidance for ringing in Tier 1 will be adopted for towers in all three Tiers just for the five-day Christmas period – 23^rdto 27^th. That is to ring up to six bells, with 1m+ separation and using facemasks. The recommendation is to ring for 15 minutes but to assess your tower’s characteristics. Ventilation is key to reducing the risk of aerosol transmission. Note that bellringing guidance no longer has 72 or even a 48 hour recommended gap between sessions, but to maintain good ventilation and hand hygiene.

Review the Guidance Notes on this page to assess the risk of your own ringing chamber and for members of your band to assess their own personal risk. No doubt many ringers (especially those at special risk personally or in their family) will decide not to ring, just as many towers will lack sufficient ventilation to sufficiently mitigate risk even for this one-off occasion.

The Prime Minister and Chief Medical Officer are urging us to exercise caution and to “keep Christmas celebrations small, short and local to reduce these risks.” We can do that in our ringing of bells to celebrate Christmas – small, short and local.

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR

Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/

e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk

telephone: 01832 735266

A lot of updates for you this week, so I’ll hold the puzzles over for a bumper Christmas edition next week. 

Ringing for Christmas 

While ringing while in Tiers 2 and 3 is not something that the Bishop believes is allowable, there has been an agreement with the House of Bishops Covid Recovery team that we can ring for Christmas regardless of Tier. I think that should be viewed as good news. 

The time period of the relaxation is the same for the general relaxation for Christmas, 23^rd to 27^th Decemberinclusive. So ringing on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and for Sunday service is all possible. 

The spacing between ringers has also been reduced to 1 metre, when ringers are wearing facemasks, taking good hand hygiene measures and remaining socially distant when accessing and leaving the ringing chamber, or when not ringing. The information is that surface contact is a lower risk than originally believed, such that periods between ringers on the same bell can be reduced from 72 hours. That, hopefully, will allow a few more towers to ring or to ring a few more bells.  

Christmas ringing – England

This has been communicated to the diocese and will be being sent to incumbents in the next communication from the Bishop. 

Make sure your Covid assessment is up to date, that your installation is safe and that your incumbent agrees to ringing. The Guild can assist if you need any help. 

Ringing in Tiers

Last time I shared the view of Bishop Donald, that ringing while in Tier 2 would not be permitted. The Central Council’s guidance was published later and is the same. It can be found here. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/30/covid-winter-plan-updated-guidance-for-england-wales-and-scotland/

Ringing Recovery

The first in what is intended as a series of newsletter published by ART and the Central Council on how to get ringing going again, when we can, has been published. Attached & available here: https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201207-Survival-Recovery-Newsheet-Issue-1.pdf

Youth Ringing

Alongside the return of schooling, there has been a move towards allowing youth groups to meet out of school settings. This will include youth ringing groups as of January 2021. There was an article published in this week’s Ringing World, and which is attached. It has not yet been published on the Central Council website. 

In very brief summary, if you have a group of under 18s, up to 6 of them can meet and ring for up to 45 minutes (including ringing up and down) with 2 additional DBS checked adults supervising (but not ringing). 

President’s Blog

Published here. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/12/08/presidents-blog-25/

Stay well and there will be a fun packed update next week. 

Thanks

Helen

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR

Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/

e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk

telephone: 01832 735266

Another fortnight seems to have passed us by. It seems that this year, at least, it is OK to put decorations up in November, so expect to see a bit of sparkle creeping into these updates…

Tier 2 post lockdown 2.
With the announcement earlier in the week that we will be in Tier 2 I can anticipate the next question: can we ring? I’ve been in touch with the diocesan office and the response from the Bishop is “The rule of six only applies outdoors in Tier 2. Indoor meetings (such as ringing) are not permitted”. We will just have to watch the announcements and re-evaluate should we be returned to Tier 1. If you have special circumstances, discuss directly with your incumbent.

Fundraising
As we have not been able to do all the fundraising we would normally do this gives us an opportunity to raise funds, to be able to throw our energies into getting ringers back onto ropes once we’re able to be back in towers.

Amazon Smile: If you already use Amazon, you probably know about Amazon Smile. This allows you to select a charity to support, and they receive 0.5% of your Amazon spend. That might not seem like a lot individually, but it soon adds up across multiple people. We have already received our first £1. Please consider supporting the Guild this way. We’re listed as “Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers”. Your data is already used by Amazon to target your adverts and encourage other people’s spending – this way you get a little something back for them using your information.
Movement for Good
We were successful with one of these campaigns in 2018 and received £1,000. That proves it can be successful and I hope we will be again; the more nominations, the greater our chances, so get clicking. Follow the link, add your details and submit to nominate us. https://bit.ly/PDGnominate<https://bit.ly/PDGnominate?fbclid=IwAR0Aa6YUoU_Ae2fnslMfmRN-oRRtn53BE7CqQro0UZL4iOfkuZywWbxk2VA>

Puzzles
It may be that the current situation is somewhat hard to navigate. This should be easier. Can you make your way through the maze, “ringing” all of the bells as you go. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/201619864776745

A selection of ringers were asked to provide the first words that came to mind when presented with some ringing terms. What ringing related item are they thinking of from this cloud of words? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/198856628386402

Taking inspiration from Richard Osman’s house of games, it’s answer smash. The two answers overlap, letters at the end of the first answer are the start of the second. What’s the smashed answer to each pair of clues? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/194288792176519

Testing your word skills this week with a word search of methods beginning with the letter L. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/193956432209755

Ringing Training
Test your call change knowledge with this quiz from the Association of Ringing Teachers. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/191534582451940
How do you keep track of where you are in the row? This article may help. http://www.cccbr.org.uk/wp…/uploads/2016/02/200012.pdf

Interesting items to catch up on
This is a recent post to YouTube, an evocative spoken poem to bells, sound and history. Excellent 10 minutes. https://youtu.be/lcGgD1jomxE

In case you missed it, Susan Calman gave bellringing try at Inverary on her Secret Scotland programme. Season 3, Episode 9. It was filmed in lockdown, so actual teaching wasn’t possible. https://www.my5.tv/secret-scotland…/season-3/episode-9

Bells and ringing featured on Martin Heath’s Radio Northampton show this morning, discussing the work going on to bells in Towcester. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08yzsc2 Check out Pt1: 2h49, Pt2: 3h39.
And the Rev Paula was able to bless the wheels before they were installed. She might not be the tallest person in the world, so it certainly puts the size of the wheels into perspective! https://www.facebook.com/ToveBenefice/posts/2782345538651305

Central Council Updates
Planning for post pandemic ringing is being initiated at the Central council. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/13/whats-happening-after-the-pandemic/
The winner of the October YouTube contents was announced. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/16/october-youtube-competition-winner/ The final month’s topic is a film that promotes ringing in the most positive way.
And the President shared his latest Blog (although I would dispute that the car being referenced is in any way, shape or form actually a Mini – harrumph!) https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/25/21935/

I am still looking for a good Christmas photo of a church or ringing (maybe the Bell ringers decorated a Christmas tree in previous years?) with which to decorate the Guild’s Facebook page over the festive season.

Thanks
Helen

Helen Allton
Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR
Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/
e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk<mailto:secretary@pdg.org.uk>
telephone: 01832 735266
[PDG badge small]

Had to share with everyone a video on Youtube that was uploaded just yesteray. It is a ringing inspired story brilliantly acted, narrated and filmed to a very high standard. Do please watch it, I am sure it is like nothing you have seen before. Highly recommended.

Lockdown blues? Nothing to do? Nowhere to go? Helen’s letter below is full of things to keep you occupied!

Best wishes

Sylvia

Message from Helen:

Hopefully this finds you safe and well. Lockdown at least is less of a surprise to us all this time around. Although it’s a little less fun in November’s not very cheery weather. 

Remembrance

After both World wars, the Central Council produced books of remembrance of ringers who had lost their lives. The pages selected contain names from the diocese. As WW1 predates the formation of the Guild, the names are listed against the precursor societies.  https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/192441939027871

WW2: Arthur Deacon, Owen Filler, Herbert HC Fry, Edward A Griffiths, Alfred G Humphrey, Robin (EG) Minney, Arthur S Morton, Richard J Smart. Also Hubert CG Partridge and Benjamin GA Wiseman, whose names were omitted.

During WW2, the Guild reports list those members who were serving in HM forces, with tower and, in some cases, branch of the services. Their names are listed by date first included in the report.  https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/191134219158643

The Guild was pleased to be able to provide a clip of some half muffled ringing to the Diocese for use in their online and recorded services. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/coronavirus/useful-resources

It’s usually around now that someone asks which side do you fit muffles… see here for all the practical information you don’t need this year.  http://jaharrison.me.uk/thb/9-6.html

Interesting items to catch up on.  

Something quite different, a project out in Australia to install a carillon approaches completion. https://www.facebook.com/abccentralwest/videos/3396484427139586

If you would like a new challenge during this second lockdown, how about making a bell?! https://youtu.be/RW2Vwq6qco0

The Ringing Isle: An introduction to bells in Britain from The Churches Conservation Trust’s lunchtime lecture series. Lecture by Gareth Davies, a ringer and postgrad researcher in Cambridge. https://youtu.be/lqw6E9zQjtU

Central Council updates

The President’s latest blog https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/10/presidents-blog-22/

Bellringing featured in a magazine for the younger generation. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/07/the-week-junior/

And there are plans being prepared for how we might aim to come out of this situation. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/11/13/whats-happening-after-the-pandemic/

Puzzles

Some more word ladders. You can change 1 letter – and rearrange them to make a proper word or words (using all the letters). Can you do this sequentially to get from the first word to the second? If only it was actually that easy to go from Minimus to Max! https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/192192952386103

Monday’s mind bender shouldn’t tax you too much, it’s a wordsearch of methods beginning with the letter K. And as one of them is KYNEBURGHA, there’s a picture taken from the church dedicated to that saint. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/191307965807935

And finally

Is it too early to mention the “C” word? This year’s seasonal stamp collection features stained glass from within the diocese. Letters to Europe can take something of home with them. https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/193542168917848

Speaking of which, if you have a suitably seasonal picture of your church, or a bell ringing related Christmassy image, I’d love to see it, to be able to use on the Facebook page. 

Thanks and 

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR

Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/

e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk

telephone: 01832 735266

Good morning everyone,

As Helen says below, oh dear here we go again, back into lockdown it seems….I always find November a rather gloomy miserable month & this one looks to be the worst ever.

I hope you are all keeping well and let’s hope that as the longer days and warmer weather begin to return our lives will also start to get back to normal. I’m going out to plant lots of bulbs now in the hope that by the time they are in flower I might be seeing my family, friends and even my church bells once more.

Best wishes

Sylvia

Helen’s message follows:

Oh dear. Back into deeper lockdown we all go. It is not entirely a surprise that it needs to happen, but I can’t say I’m looking forward to the prospect with great joy. We need to just make sure that we’re checking in on those who may be alone or vulnerable, making sure that they know someone is there for them. One last joyful ring this morning for us. I was getting a little more used to the odd combination of bells – although I still can’t tell when it’s about to come round!  

Ringing – or lack thereof

The latest announcement from the government seems to have put an end to regular worship again, and ringing along with that. The CofE and Central Council have not yet updated their guidance pages, but I do not expect there to be anything substantially different. Obviously with Remembrance Sunday next weekend it may be that some incumbents will want a bell tolling or chiming. We request that you take all sensible precautions, if this is the case. 

Brain training

A word puzzle for you. Can you change 1 letter, and rearrange the letters, if necessary, to make a sequence of words to convert the top word into the bottom word. There’s a worked example to get you started, hand to back in 3 moves. How many do you need to solve the other puzzles? https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/189655655973166

We’re entering a timewarp; it’s Thursday night, where do you fancy going ringing? Any of these towers would have done the trick, can you get them to fit?

Ringing knowhow

How many changes can you name? https://www.ringing.info/named_rows.html

And a good looking example of a video produced to promote ringing. How would you promote ringing? Get thinking for when we can get out and put ideas into action. https://youtu.be/S5zZMfD34wg

Central Council updates

The President’s latest blog has been published. I wonder what the Guild’s “average” tower is. https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/10/27/presidents-blog-21/

Meet the President

Just to remind you that Daventry & Kettering branches are next up to meet the President next weekend. Starting at 6pm, you can access the sessions via the link: http://bit.ly/PDGPresident 

Daventry	Saturday 7th November
Kettering	Sunday 8th November
Towcester	Saturday 14th November
Thrapston	Sunday 15th November
Northampton	Saturday 21st November
Peterborough	Sunday 22nd November
Guilsborough	Saturday 28th November
Rutland	Sunday 29th November

If there is anything you want to see, or have enjoyed, please get back to me. Or if you have an inventive streak that has been released in lockdown, I’m always happy to receive contributions. 

All the best

Helen

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR

Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/

e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk

telephone: 01832 735266

Hopefully the clocks going back didn’t leave anyone standing outside their tower an hour early, feeling all alone. I felt like I spent quite a lot of my extra hour putting the clocks in the house right. Hope you made more of yours!

Guild News

The Guild newsletter is available online. Due to ongoing issues with distribution and ability to read it once in the tower, this edition will again be electronic only. http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site8108/GuildNewsletterOct20.pdf

The 2020 Guild Quiz is now available for the princely price of £1. 100 questions to amuse, bemuse and confuse. Submit your entry by the end of January for a chance to win one of 3 cash prizes for the most correct answers. Get one from your branch or direct from the Guild Secretary.  

Meet the President

As the new President can’t meet you at branch events and practices at the moment, he invites you to meet him via Zoom. Over the next 5 weekends there are sessions for each branch. Starting at 6pm, you can access the sessions via the link: http://bit.ly/PDGPresident  

Culworth	Saturday 31st October
Wellingborough	Sunday 1st November
Daventry	Saturday 7th November
Kettering	Sunday 8th November
Towcester	Saturday 14th November
Thrapston	Sunday 15th November
Northampton	Saturday 21st November
Peterborough	Sunday 22nd November
Guilsborough	Saturday 28th November
Rutland	Sunday 29th November

Ringing in Tiers.

With the potential for some areas moving out of Tier 1 at some time in the future, the Guild has been in touch with the diocese on the subject. The Bishop’s office views service ringing as part of worship and are of the opinion that if the church concerned continues to have worship in person, then ringing can potentially continue at the church for the service. This is providing that ringing takes place in accordance with the updated risk assessment, that suitable measures (including distancing, face coverings and sanitiser) are applied and that the incumbent agrees that ringing can continue. Obviously different towers and churches are in different situations and a one-size-fits-all approach cannot necessarily be applied. Good communication between ringers and incumbents is key. Please get in touch should you need any support. 

In the last week, the Central Council has updated its opinion on ringing when an area is in Tiers 2 & 3. This is available on their website: https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/10/23/tiers-2-and-3-in-england-update/

Central Council updates

October’s category in the YouTube competition is for the most effective instructional video (could be handling, maintenance, rope splicing, etc). Details of how to enter are here: https://cccvgvbr.org.uk/youtube-competition/

The President published his 20^th blog: https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/10/13/presidents-blog-20/

Practical matters

It’s heading towards the time of year when tail ends get damp and stiff. The link below is instructions to make a rope warmer to reduce the effects of damp. https://www.ringing.info/odg_leaflet_5.pdf

When teaching people to ring it’s often better to have the bell silenced in the early stages to allow for one to one lessons without annoying the neighbours! There are various ways to silence bells, some easier and quicker to use than others.

Click to access bellsilencing_all.pdf

Brain training

This will get your logic muscles working. It’s a nonogram. This is a logic puzzle where the numbers next to each row (or column) indicate the number of coloured squares in that row (or column). Where there are two numbers, there are two blocks of coloured squares, with the blocks comprising of the number given and must have at least 1 empty cell between them. A little example, and solution, before you launch onto the larger puzzle.

This word search includes methods starting with one of the higher scoring letters, it’s J for JUMP! https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/186298512975547

Get the brain moving with a word, number and logic puzzles from past editions of The Ringing World.

And finally a bit of light relief, courtesy of Isabelle, who has a troublesome band… https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR/posts/185229953082403

Helen Allton

Secretary: Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGCBR

Website: http://www.pdg.btck.co.uk/

e-mail: secretary@pdg.org.uk

telephone: 01832 735266