Category: Guild News

Gerald Hodnett of Bridgnorth District died 8th February 2025.

Gerald joined the ringers at Much Wenlock in 1973 and was a member of the Guild for 52 years, receiving his certificate as an Hon. Life Member in 2003 of which he was very proud. He lived at Ditton Priors but he could always be relied upon every Sunday for service ringing and Tuesday practice night. Unfortunately he had to give up ringing due to ill health and for the last few years has been in a Nursing Home. R.I.P.

Following on from the popular learners practice sessions that have taken place in recent months we were very pleased to offer a practice session aimed at the next level of people’s ringing development. The session was held on the gloriously easy bells at Kingsland and our thanks go to Martin Harrisson for allowing us to ring there.

We were delighted to welcome a total of 22 ringers to the session and would like to express a very big thank you to all those came along and especially to all the experienced ringers who helped make the session a success. Below are two testimonials, thank you Isabel and Neil. Similar practice sessions are planned for the future and we hope to see many more of our ringers coming along to them.

Sue Robinson – Guild Master.

Isabel D’Avanzo

“The session was very well attended with ringers from different districts. Sue did a great job at welcoming everyone and catering the practice for both the experienced ringers and those who were ringing triples/major methods for the first time. The practice had a good pace to it and I got a lot out of it” 

 

Neil Toussaint:

“Turnout at our regular tower practice is pretty good. Our weekly agenda includes rounds and call changes, various doubles and minor methods.  Occasionally we ring Surprise Minor when visitors join us from other towers in the Ledbury District.  We have aspiring and capable triples and major ringers but not quite enough so ring Plain Bob and Grandsire Triples and Plain Bob Major rarely.

The Guild has recently discussed how to advance ringing across the Diocese and help with challenges Districts are struggling to solve on their own.  Hence, a two-hour Guild practice at Kingsland on 30^th November for those “confident in ringing Plain Bob Doubles and Grandsire Doubles, who would like an opportunity to ring Plain Bob Triples and Grandsire Triples and Plain Bob Major.”

There were about 25 attendees.  During the rise the organisers asked attendees what they wanted to practice.  There was a mix of covering and treble to triples, some with imminent Grandsire Triples first quarter attempts hoping for a bit of extra practice and several people who know triples and major but rarely get chance to ring them. 

It seemed people had done their homework: everyone knew the line but needed practice to stay on it.  The practice moved along briskly without delays between the touches and post-mortems were conducted to one side.  The touches were quite long which I felt was a good thing. The rhythm became established, there was opportunity to reinforce the cues as to the next piece of work and time to work on making leads and dodges crisp.  There were sufficient standers-by to provide guidance and help was tuned to needs of their ringer: typically a nudge rather than a constant narrative.

The temptation to add methods not on the agenda was avoided.  I felt this was beneficial to those who came prepared “for an opportunity to ring Plain Bob Triples and Grandsire Triples and Plain Bob Major.”  That is exactly what they got.  The day delivered what it said on the tin and gave ringers something that perhaps their tower or District struggles to provide.  Thanks to Kingsland for their hospitality, accomplished ringers who supported the event and the Guild’s organisers for taking steps to rejuvenate ringing.  It was an inspiring, valuable and enjoyable afternoon”