Category: Guild News

Learner’s morning held at St Peters Bromyard

We were delighted to host a session for some eager learners at St Peters Bromyard on Saturday 28th October. With attendees learning to ring a bell, getting to grips with call changes, starting their plain hunt journey through to doubles methods, we welcomed 15 enthusiastic learners from Chetton, Coalbrookdale, Wellington, Broseley, the Cathedral & Bromyard. In between tower bell practice sessions there was an opportunity to have a go at handbell ringing.

Many thanks must go out to the helpers, Kris Perruzza, Ginette Pardoe, Darren Swancott, Ady Taylor & Nicky Hudson who allowed us to give people the experience they came for. And to Bill & Clare Evans for running the handbell workshops.

There are a few snaps from the event below and the consensus is that we will do it again!

St Nicholas, Hereford

There is an evening practice at St Nicholas, Hereford on the 3rd Wednesday in the month; from 1830-2000, the next of which will be Wednesday next week, 20th September.

All methods and abilities will be catered for, but I would like us to concentrate specifically on Double Oxford Minor, (plain hunting treble), and Stedman Triples. Any ringers who might be interested to look these methods up; learn them, and we will have a go at ringing them.

Please come along and support this practice to help us out.

Yours sincerely,
Stu Swift (new Tower Captain and Steeple Keeper at St Nicholas, Hereford – initially for a trial period.)

Chetton bells are ringing again

In mid-May, the Guild received an enquiry from a group of new and lapsed ringers who wanted to get Chetton church bells ringing again.

The bells hadn’t been rung for several years, so on 14th June, Darren and Jools from Broseley popped over to check the bells over (picture above). Fortunately no problems were found.

Practices were started up on Tuesday evenings. Ginette then began the task of teaching the new learners and helping the existing ringers regain their confidence.

Despite usually only having one teacher to four learners, the new ringers are progressing well and it is expected the band will be able to ring independently by the end of the year.

Sue Robinson, our Master Elect, kindly drives over from Bromyard to look after things when Ginette is on holiday.

One of the returned lapsed ringers, Vikki, is now helping to teach the learners which should help to move things along even faster.

Vikki being presented with her Guild membership certificate by our Guild Master Nick Cronin at a ringing outing on 12th August.

Anyone interested in supporting the new band is welcome to visit Chetton on a Tuesday evening. Practices start at 7pm and are usually followed by a drink in the church.

Returned lapsed ringer Charles (left) with the four learners Tim, Sarah, Elisabeth and Phil.

Guild Festival and AGM at Leominster Priory & Forbury Chapel, Saturday 13th May

The Guild AGM will be held on Saturday 13th May 2023 in Leominster.

The Ringing Festival takes two alternate routes on the way to Leominster; join us to ring at the towers on Route A or Route B below, finally meeting up at Eye and then Leominster Priory church.

Route A
10:00-10:30 Wigmore
10:45-11:45 Aymestrey
12:00-12:30 Monkland
Route B
10:30 – 11:30 Stoke Prior
11:50-12:20 Leysters
12:30-13:00 Middleton

13:00 – 13:45 Eye

Leominster Priory
14:00 – 15:30
Guild Office
15:30
AGM 16:45 in the Forbury Chapel
followed by Ringers Tea.
Note: toilet facilities are very limited (Stoke & Leominster only).

Download the HDGB AGM Agenda 2023

Mordiford Bell restoration

Moves are in progress to restore the 5 bells at Mordiford and make them ringable again.

The bells were cast in 1687 and are unique in that they are the only complete peal of bells in existence made by William Huntbach of Worcester. They have not been rung for at least 50 years.

Fund raising is in progress and has raised £12,500 to date towards a target figure of £55,000 for the restoration project. If you would like to make a donation to get these bells ringing again, please contact Barbara.fox54@btinternet.com for further details.

Desmond Ferguson

It is with sadness we announce the death of Desmond Ferguson on 16th March. He was Tower Captain at Stanton Lacy for over 60 years and Master of the Hereford Guild in 1980 – 82. Des, who was a Freeman of the Guild, learnt to ring in the early fifties and was a member of the band that rang for the Coronation of the late Queen in 1953 after the rehanging of Stanton Lacy bells.

His funeral will be held at 11.0am on 22nd April at Onibury

Hereford Ringing Course 2023

A three day course: Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th April, 2023

Royal National College, Venns Lane, Hereford

Prices: Resident: £265 plus meals —meal prices unavailable until February
Basic (non-resident, no meals) : £100 Individual meals may be ordered as required.

    • Groups ranging from Rounds and Calls to Surprise Major
      • New Treble Dodging Minor group
      • Surprise Major group focusing on the new ‘core 7’
    • 6 Practical sessions
    • Additional opportunities to practice
      • Raise and Fall
      • Conducting
      • Listening and timing
      • Handbells (change ringing and tunes)

For more information, a full programme and application form visit www.herefordringingcourse.org.uk
Or contact the course secretary enclosing a self addressed stamped envelope:

Alison Moreton
1 Silcoates Drive
Wrenthorpe
Wakefield
WF2 0UR

Closing date for applications is 31st January, 2023

Please join the Hereford Course Facebook group if you would like to keep in touch with our activities.

belfry upkeep

The Stewardship & Management Workgroup are pleased to announce Belfry Upkeep, an online document aimed at the Steeple Keeper – the person responsible for keeping the bells in order. The aims of the document are:

  • To help you understand the installation in your tower
  • To describe the checks you should carry out to identify any problems
  • To advise you on the maintenance tasks that you should be able to carry out, possibly with expert advice or assistance
  • Most importantly, to help you recognise the tasks that require specialist knowledge from a Bell Hanger or other expert

The document can be found at https://belfryupkeep.cccbr.org.uk