Sunday 3 August, 2.30-4pm
Easton on the Hill
Please join us for a surprise minor social ring on Sunday 3 August at Easton on the Hill. Suggested methods are London, Bourne and Cambridge.
if you are learning to treble to surprise methods you would also be welcome.
It’d be great if you can let us know if you can attend.
Elaine and Jane
My goodness, we’ve had some very much needed rain in the last week. Hopefully it hasn’t found its way into places it shouldn’t. It making its way into my water butt is most welcome, the tomatoes have been rather thirsty of late.
Young Ringers competition
This week’s Ringing World has devoted half the edition to the RWNYC, including several photos of the Daventry band. Have a look at a copy, if you get the chance. They look both very smart and smiley.
Social Event Saturday
Saturday sees an event at Whilton tower, they are having a day of Bells, BBQ & Beer on 26th July 12.30pm – 4pm. Ringers are welcome to come and ring, as well as partake of the other B’s on offer. There will be a cake stall, which doesn’t begin with B but is a big bonus in my opinion. Bands can book a slot, or just come for the open ringing. Tutors will be on hand to give people a try at ringing and it’s hoped that the village will get involved in the event. There’s a poster available to advertise the event on the Guild website.
https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/whilton-bells-bbq-beer
See you there!
Guild Training
The next Guild Second Saturday Session is an open Stedman practice, to be held at Pattishall on 9th August 6:30 pm. This will concentrate on this most majestic of methods (yes, I’m a fan). You can expect doubles and triples to be rung, and both touches and plain courses.
Branch training
Culworth branch are holding a training seminar for Saturday 26th July from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. It will be held in Lois Weedon village hall. The subject is ‘Starting to learn and ring methods’ and the speaker is Robert Wood who presented a very successful session last year on Plain Hunt and Plain Bob. I hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend – this invitation is extended to other branches of the Guild. There is no charge, but voluntary contributions toward refreshments will be accepted. Please contact Andrew North (secretary@culworth.pdg.org.uk) for further information.
CCCBR news
The youth ringing elements of the Ringing 2030 project are offering 3 student places for 6 to 8 weeks over the summer. This would be to support and create content for the new University Ringing and Young Ringers Hub websites and the school lesson plans project. This is open to young ringers aged between 18 and 30 and there are three summer honorariums, each set at £2000, available across three work packages. Each are envisaged to take 6-8 weeks each, assuming working half time (18 hours per week). Information and guidance will be provided to support the successful candidates.
Expressions of interest can be sent to andrea.haynes@cccbr.org.uk. Please include your name, your availability to start, a brief summary of your experience or interest and which project you are interested in. More details on the website: https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/07/09/young-ringer-for-ringing-2030-summer-honorariums-2025
Booking for the CCCBR’s annual meeting in September, taking place in Sheffield, has opened. Details can be found here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/07/10/central-council-weekend-5-7th-september/ You don’t need to be a CCCBR rep to attend any part of the weekend.
Summer Festival
Advance notice that the Summer Festival is on the 13th September, contest is being held at Castor, in the Peterborough branch. Branches wanting to enter should get their entry to the Master, Jim Bence, by the weekend before. Please remember to include any time restrictions for the team. Rules for the contest can be found on the website: https://pdg.org.uk/forms/8_Bell_competition.pdf
Dates for the Diary
Guild Stedman Practice Saturday 9th August 6:30 Pattishall
Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 13th September. 10:30 – 12:00 Kettering
Guild Summer Festival Saturday 13th September. Ringing at Yarwell & Wansford, Contest and evening ringing at Castor.
And Branch events.
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 2nd August 3:00 West Haddon, 6:00 Long Buckby
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 7th August 7:30 Twywell
Peterborough 8 bell practice Sunday 10th August 2:00 Peterborough St Mary
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 16th August 3:30 Hellidon, 6:30 Woodford Halse
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 16th August 4:00 Sulgrave, 6:30 Woodford Halse
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 21st August 2:30 Stanion
Seeing its August, several branches are having a summer break, hence the shorter than usual list of events. See you, come rain or shine, at a ringing event soon!
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
I need 1 more ringer for a wedding at Oundle on Friday 25th July. Wedding starts at 12.30 so arrive at 12 noon to get the bells up and ring afterwrds which should be about 1.15, for about 20 minutes. £25 per ringer.
Reagrds
Sue
Hello,
This is just a reminder that there is an eight bell practice at Castor tomorrow 11th July, starting at 7. 30pm.
Ringing on 8 bells is anything from plain hunt to Surprise methods dependant on the attendance.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you there.
Kind regards
Elaine & Jane
Well that made quite a change. We went into Sunday service ringing with overcast skies and came out to find water falling from the sky – how very odd! Goodness, the garden needs it. And it spiced the Grand Prix up nicely, so a win all round. It’s certainly taken the edge of the heat, which I can’t complain about.
Young Ringers competition
Pleased to be able to report that our youth team came 6th of 11 in the method ringing at the Ringing World Youth Striking Contest. They rang at Egbaston St Barnabas, Mosely St Mary, St Martin in the Bullring, St Paul’s Jewellery Quarter & Solihull. Well done to Grace, Matthew, Freya, Kaiden, Flynn, Sahib, Zac and everyone who supported them in their efforts.
Results on the Bell board front page https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/.
National 12 bell striking contest
While we’re on striking contests, the National 12 bell striking contest was held the previous weekend at Bristol. And Bristol ran out the winners. There is a broadcast of the day available here. All 7 hours of it. https://www.youtube.com/live/TO9ptIFX67c
Bristol rang 4th, starting at 1:00 pm. But as any of the bands will be producing some of the best ringing you’ll hear, it is worth a listen. There’s also plenty of interesting chit chat between the test pieces.
Social Event – date for the diary.
Whilton tower are having a day of Bells, BBQ & Beer on 26th July 12.30pm – 4pm. Ringers are welcome to come and ring, as well as partake of the other B’s on offer. Bands can book a slot, or just come for the open ringing. Tutors will be on hand to give people a try at ringing and it’s hoped that the village will get involved in the event. There’s a poster available to advertise the event on the Guild website.
https://pdg.org.uk/latest-news/whilton-bells-bbq-beer
Bells on display at Greetham
Greetham bells have been away on holiday to Taylors at Loughborough but are ready to come home. The bells will return in July.
Before being rehung in the tower they will be on display in the church on:
Saturday 12th July 12noon – 5pm
Sunday 13th July 12 noon – 5pm
Monday 14th July 6pm – 7pm
All welcome.
Branch training
Culworth branch are holding a training seminar for Saturday 26th July from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. It will be held in Lois Weedon village hall. The subject is ‘Starting to learn and ring methods’ and the speaker is Robert Wood who presented a very successful session last year on Plain Hunt and Plain Bob. I hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend – this invitation is extended to other branches of the Guild. There is no charge, but voluntary contributions toward refreshments will be accepted. Please contact Andrew North (secretary@culworth.pdg.org.uk) for further information.
CCCBR news
As you’ll be aware, the CCCBR has been planning to increase fees for affiliated societies, based on their membership. This has increased from 20 per members and is due to be increased to £1 per member at this year’s meeting. This poses a problem for some societies, particularly those that doe not have a subscription model, such as university and themed societies. There has been discussion ongoing about how to manage the subscription for these societies. There is an open meeting to be held on the 14th & 17th of July by Zoom. Details here: https://cccbr.org.uk/2025/07/02/membership-categories-open-meetings/
Summer Festival
Advance notice that the Summer Festival is on the 13th September, contest is being held at Castor, in the Peterborough branch. Branches wanting to enter should get their entry to the Master, Jim Bence, by the weekend before. Please remember to include any time restrictions for the team.
Dates for the Diary
Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 12th July. 10:30 – 12:30 Higham Ferrers.
Guild 10 Bell Practice Saturday 12th July. 10:30 – 12:00 Kettering
Guild Summer Festival Saturday 13th September. Ringing at Yarwell & Wansford, Contest and evening ringing at Castor.
And Branch events.
Peterborough 8 bell practice Friday 11th July, 7:30Castor
Kettering Branch Practice Saturday 12th July, Weldon 2:00, Corby 3:15.
Thrapston Branch Practice Thursday 17th July 2:30Woodford
Wellingborough Surprise Practice Saturday 19thJuly 10:30 Ecton
Wellingborough Branch Practice Saturday 19th July 2:30 Grendon
Daventry Branch Practice Saturday 19th July 3:00Norton, 7:30 King’s Sutton
Culworth Branch Practice Saturday 19th July 4:00Middleton Cheney, 7:30 King’s Sutton
Guilsborough Branch Practice Saturday 2nd August 3:00 West Haddon, 6:00 Long Buckby
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
As you will have seen from the Guild Secretary’s last Update of 16th June the post of Recruitment and Training Officer remains open for Nominations. Anybody wishing to stand for this post would need to be proposed and seconded in writing (email is fine) to the Secretary prior to the day of the Summer Festival on 13th September.
Following requests for more information I have put together a Note giving the background to the creation of this new post and a bit more about what might be involved. This is also available on the Guild website.
I have attached my Note together with the original Role description.
On behalf of the GMC we hope that you will seriously consider taking on this opportunity to shape the future of ringing across the Guild.
Alistair DonaldsonPresident
Peterborough Diocesan Guild
Sunday 6 July 2025, 2.30-4pm
Nassington
This is a reminder that we are hosting a minor social at Nassington on Sunday.
Come along and join us for some minor ringing from rounds and plain hunt 6 to minor methods including plain bob, little bob, St Clements, single Oxford and double Oxford. If you would like to ring something else please let us know so we can make sure we are prepared!
Please also let us know if you are planning to come along so that we can make sure we have enough refreshments. Thank you.
We are asking for a £2 donation for each ringer so that we can make a donation to the hosting tower and cover the costs of refreshments. There will be a card reader available at Nassington. Thank you.
Elaine and Jane
I need three more ringers for a funeral at Oundle on 1st July from 12.30 untl just before 1pm. Volunteers to ring the back bells especially welcome. The usual wedding fee of £25 will be paid.
Rgeards
Sue
I am to be interviewed by Kev Lawrence on BBC Cambs Radio tomorrow morning at or after 7:05. The theme is volunteering as a bellringer every Sunday morning. Not sure exactly how it’s going to go – it will be live! Hoping I don’t make an arse of myself and that we get some good PR for bellringing. I am going to (try to remember) to say that we need more learners.
Nick Elks
Calling all fun-loving people to support St. Marys Peterborough charity fundraiser evening, 7pmstart, on Saturday 28th June, of hilarious table-top pig-racing with raffle and interval refreshments (please bring your own drinks and glasses unless you wish to wash-up at the end of the evening!). See attached poster. Tickets from Diana are just £6, email:- diana_cherryfields@yahoo.co.uk please, so we know how many to cater for, thank you.
Sadly St. Marys has no car parking of its own but there is a reasonable fairly large one behind (roundabout exit before church from ringroad side) the church which takes card and, on a good day, cash!
I hope to see you all there supporting a good cause and to have fun amongst super company,
thank you.
from
Diana
Peterborough Branch 