Category: Church Stretton

Splendid turnout at Stoke St Milborough

It was a bumper district practice at Stoke St Milborough on Saturday 20 June!

For those interested, Ashley Smith provided a demonstration of the Stoke St Milborough ringing simulator.  His eager students were then able to ring plain hunt, plain bob doubles, a course of Yorkshire Surprise Major and two leads of Glasgow Surprise Major on the simulator before the start of the district practice on open bells.

Twenty-three of us attended the practice on the 8 bells of St Milburga, Stoke St Milborough, led by Ringing Master, Mark Gilham.

It was great to see not only a good turnout of Stoke St Milborough ringers but ringers from across the district, all keen to catchup with friends and make the most of the practice in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

We practiced quite a variety of methods that were requested:

      • Call changes on 8
      • Plain Bob Triples
      • Superlative Surprise Major
      • Grandsire Triples
      • Yorkshire Surprise Major
      • Stedman Triples
      • Bristol Surprise Major

Part-way through the practice we took a break for tea and cake, followed by a brief business meeting.

Julie Quinn of Cuckfield was proposed as a non-resident life member by Paul Wells and seconded by Mark Gilham.  Penny Bellis of Stoke St Milborough was proposed as a member by Ashley Smith and seconded by Sue Rees.  Paul Cross of Ludlow was proposed as a member by Tim Hughes and seconded by Rosie Marshall.  Julie, Penny and Paul’s election was agreed unanimously.

Michael Carding provided an overview of Shropshire Association Centenary events over the coming months, including the Centenary Service at St Chad’s, Shrewsbury in July, walking tour and mobile belfry in August, and open towers in September.  Details of events will be available on the Shropshire Association of Church Bellringers website.

Mark Gilham then provided a brief summary of future Church Stretton District events, including the Guild Competition Day on 18 July, the Ringing Festival (‘RingFest 2026’) on 15 August and the District Outing to Shropshire and North Wales on 12 September.

Ringing resumed after the meeting, although there was plenty of cake to keep everyone fortified!

We do hope you’ll join us for RingFest 2026 which will be at St John’s, Bishop’s Castle, on Saturday 15 August, 10.30am ’til 4.30pm.  We’d like bands from across the district to showcase their ringing in a non-competitive way, either on St John’s tower bells, on the ‘Peals on Wheels’ mini-ring or both.  Is your band short of a few ringers for the RingFest?  No problem – borrow some ringers on the day.

Neil Pirie
Church Stretton District Secretary

Hey ding a ding, ding in Chirbury

The district practice at Chirbury on Saturday 16 May had a new twist.  It took place at the same time as a massive jumble sale in the church.  “Are you a Bellringer or a Jumbler?” was the greeting from the jovial fellow on the door.

Fourteen of us attended. We again had a good mix of abilities and I am so pleased that Chirbury ringers, Claire and Tony, joined us, along with ringers from other local towers.  We practiced quite a variety of methods that were requested.Church Stretton District practice at Chirbury

We rang:

      • Call changes on 6
      • Plain Bob Doubles (both plain course and touch)
      • Plain hunting on 5
      • London Surprise Minor
      • Grandsire Doubles (both plain course and touch)
      • Plain Bob Minor (touch)
      • Stedman Doubles
      • Cambridge Surprise Minor.

A nomination for membership had been received from Geoff Lowe at Condover, and so a brief business meeting was convened.  Michael Carding of Condover was proposed by Jenny Ferguson and seconded by Jackie Morris.  Michael’s election was agreed unanimously.

After ringing, teas and coffees were kindly provided down in the church by the jumble sale refreshment team whilst we enjoyed a selection of bellringer-made cakes.  Hmmm!

We do hope you’ll join us for the next district practice which will be at St Milburga’s, Stoke St Milborough, on Saturday 20 June, 10am ’til noon … followed by tea and more CAKE.

If there is something you haven’t rung for a long time at your own tower, come along and ring it at a district practice!

Church Stretton District practice at Chirbury

Neil Pirie
Church Stretton District Secretary
Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers

ch_str_sec@hdgb.org

Quarter Peal of Stoke St Milborough Surprise Major rung for the first time

On Friday 30 August 2024, a quarter peal of a brand new method was rung at St Milburga’s for the first time. The method, now named Stoke St Milborough Surprise Major, was devised by Martin Scott, who also conducted the quarter peal with a band of ringers from The Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Members of the band agreed that the composition used produced a lot of pleasant “music” that made it enjoyable to ring.  Thanks to Stewart and Helen Sharp for recording the performance and to Henry Lewis, without whom none of this would ever have been possible.

Details of the performance are featured here on Bellboard. More details and an excerpt of the performance on their website here.

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