Category: Guild News

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.

Norman R Mattingley

We are sad to announce the death of Norman Mattingley, one of the Freemen of our Guild on 25/08/2024.

Norman died at home, funeral details will follow when they become available.

Norman joined the Guild in 1969, and quickly became a hard-working member whose enthusiasm and knowledge helped drive and develop the Guild during 1970s, 80s and 90s.    Initially joining the Guild Committee as a District Representative in 1970-76, from then onwards Norman fulfilled almost all roles within the Guild. He was Guild Master 1976-1977, served as Acting Guild Secretary 1977-1979, Report Secretary 1989-1991 and was a Guild Central Council Representative from 1981-1995.

In addition, he served on the 1976 Central Council organising committee, and the 1986 Centenary Committee both of which were hugely positive events that helped the Guild members form closer fellowships.

He was a founding member of the Bell Restoration Fund in its current form and served with drive and enthusiasm for many years.

Norman held active District roles and was Tower Captain of Hereford St Nicholas from 1976 until 1994 during which time they were augmented from 6 to 8. He was also a Tutor on the Hereford Ringing Course for many years.

Norman rang 1063 peals in total including 671 for the Guild.  Notable among his HDGB peals were the 15,000 Doubles rung at Eardisley in 1974, and the first peal of Maximus for the Guild in 1981.

This is an impressive list of achievements, and there are many more not noted here, but these do not reflect one of the most memorable things about Norman – his sense of fun.  It is clear that he was serious about ringing and the Guild, but he carried people with him because of his enjoyment of ringing and silliness.  Those of us who have witnessed one of Norman’s impromptu ‘speeches’, or taken part in the party games at Guild social events he organised will not forget him, often we all giggled away, as he looked like a 6ft 4, well built, schoolboy.

When Norman and his family moved from Herefordshire in 1994, Val Roberts, who was Master at the time wrote ‘We wish him and his family all the best.  He was a gentle giant amongst us and we will miss his leadership in the Guild’.  Truly Norman was one of the great characters of our Guild and we cannot underestimate the work he has done for us and ringing in general.

Our sympathies are with his wife Steph, and his children David, Christina and Helena.

Guild Quarter Peal Festival

You may be familiar with the Hereford District Quarter Peal Festival we have held over the last few years. This year it has been extended to become a Guild-wide Quarter Peal Festival from 10th – 25th August.

As usual, ringers are encouraged to organise and ring quarter peals to celebrate and advance their ringing. As the event is Guild-wide we simply cannot arrange all the quarter peals and need individual ringers to seize the initiative, so please talk to the ringers in your group and see what you can come up with. We are happy to help to coordinate quarters and to try to find extra ringers to make up a band where needed, Ledbury District is keen and has expressed an interest in ringing some ‘combined district’ quarters, so there should be lots of opportunity to make the most of the event.

So, what we would like you to do is:

  • Think about what you would like to ring, perhaps this could be a ‘first’ – first quarter, first in method, first as conductor, or something you have not had the opportunity to ring for while
  • Talk to your band and see if you can arrange a quarter
  • You can add your planned ‘attempt’ to the event on the Bellboard diary https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=18675
  • If you cannot find a complete band, you can try using the Whatsapp General Chat to see if anyone else is interested, or contact Nicky (peo@hdgb.org) or Fran (guild_secretary@hdgb.org) to see if they can help find a ringer who might be available
  • Let us know how you get on!

We will be issuing certificates to ringers who achieve a notable first, hopefully you will feel inspired to try something new, and your band will benefit from the opportunity to ring for an extended time. Quarter peals offer an opportunity to really get to know a method much more than a five minute attempt on a practice night, as well as a really good chance to work on improving your striking together as a band.

Chris Kippin – updated funeral arrangements

We are very sorry to announce the death of one of our most distinguished ringers, Chris Kippin, on 18th July 2024 after a short illness. Our thoughts and deep sympathies are with Heather and family.

Many tributes will be paid to Chris, who was an extremely talented, yet patient and modest man.

Chris’s daughter Eleanor writes:

“As many of you will already know Dad died on Thursday after a short illness. All the letters, emails and messages that have poured in show how much he meant to so many people.

You don’t need me to tell you what an amazing man Chris was. Talented, enterprising, imaginative, capable and a man who gave so much to our community in so many ways.

In the spirit of true Kippin efficiency we already have funeral details. Monday 12th August, Cleobury Mortimer parish church, 11:30am. Please let me know if you are planning to come using ekippin@gmail.com

Everyone has been so very kind. Our nurse at the hospital, Ashley (the rector, not Fortey!) and our Funeral Director have given exceptional pastoral care at the same time as getting on with the business parts of their jobs. I was also incredibly grateful that a test match started on Thursday which meant our car journey home from the hospital was accompanied by the TMS team.”

If you are intending to attend the funeral please could you let Eleanor know, ekippin@gmail.com.

Parking – please use a car park if possible, there are two town car-parks in Childe Road and a car-park for the leisure centre in Love Lane.

Ringing – before the service will be done by the local band – ringers from the Hereford DG are welcome to join this ringing. After the service there will be four touches by pre-planned bands followed by general ringing.

Family flowers only/No specific dress code.

Learner’s Practice at Burghill, Sunday 14th July 2024

Thank you to Kris and the team for hosting the 4th learners practice which was held at Burghill on Sunday 14th July. The event was extremely well attended by ringers from Hereford, Bromyard, Bridgnorth and Clifford & Kington Districts, and well supported by helpers from the same districts. It is really great to see those who have attended past sessions growing in confidence and making such good progress.

We are lucky enough to always get positive feedback from those attending, however this time we’ve included a couple of testimonials from a learner and a helper.

From Julia (from Bredenbury, learning to ring at Bromyard):

“This was my first time to Burghill church and to the learner’s session. It was a great way to meet other learners from different groups and to practice ringing rounds together in groups of 6 and 8, with our respective teachers there for support and guidance. Also, I enjoyed the opportunity to ring a different set of bells which felt a little smoother that what I was used to ringing. Thanks, Sue, for being there to provide the teacher help and guidance.”

From Cathy (Bromyard & Cradley ringer, recently completed the ART course in teaching bell handling)

“Excellent, well attended training afternoon. Trainers were responsive to each individual. All learnt something, including the more experienced ringers and trainers. Tea and cake most welcomed. Thank you.”

Details of the next session will be announced shortly, and we look forward to seeing you all very soon.

Stoke St Milborough simulator available for booking

Throughout July and August 2024, the ringing simulator and training bells at Stoke St Milborough, near Ludlow, are available to book any Wednesday or Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm. (Other times are theoretically possible by prior arrangement.)

Stoke St Milborough simulatorYou can book in for individual practice, where you ring the tied Treble to any method alongside virtual ringers or you can come as a group and ring together with up to all eight of the bells tied. Early stage learners can use our Matthew Higby training bells to perfect handling.

​In this way, you can ring on real bells without being heard outside the church – ideal for ringers trying to challenge themselves with methods that push them beyond their comfort zone. (If it keeps firing out, at least you know you’re disturbing nobody!) We have recorded the sound of our own bells, so the amplified sound within the ringing room is pretty authentic. Tied-bell quarter peals are also possible, of course – it’s up to you how you use the set-up…

Stoke St Milborough simulatorMartin and/or Ashley can be available to offer any help and guidance, and if you want any extra ringers to help make up a band, we can try to get that organised too.

There is no charge to use the simulator, but donations to the bell fund are, of course, greatly appreciated. Last but not least, we can open up the Village Hall bar if you want a quick drink before you head back home. What could possibly be a better incentive?!

Stoke St Milborough simulatorFurther details are on our website https://www.stmilburga.co.uk/using-our-simulator-and-teaching-set-up.html and here is our exact location https://w3w.co/octopus.published.offer

To make an initial inquiry or book in, please email milburgaringers@gmail.com or just make contact through the website.

Stoke St Milborough simulator​We look forward to hearing from you!

Martin Scott & Ashley Smith

Stoke St Milborough

The Hereford Guild Appoints a New Vice-President

The Hereford Diocesan Guild made a rare appointment at its AGM on May 9th by electing Valerie M Roberts, of Much Wenlock, as its Vice-President.  She joins a very select group of four ringers who have held this position within the past 50 years, namely Arthur W Davis, Wilfrid F Moreton MBE, George T Cousins and Michael V Powell JP.

Valerie was taught to ring at Much Wenlock in 1952 by her father, Harry Edge, and she has retained her close involvement with that tower ever since.  Harry was in the band for her first peal, at Stokesay, Shropshire, on May 9th, 1959.  Thereafter she progressed rapidly and soon demonstrated her organisational abilities by taking Guild office, the first of many, as Bridgnorth District Secretary in 1962.

At the age of 23 she became the first lady, also the youngest person ever, to be elected Master of the Guild from 1968 to 1970, a post she held for a second time from 1993 to 1995.  In between, she was one of the first trustees of the Guild Bell Restoration Fund when it was founded in 1976.  She was elected a Freeman of the Guild in 1982 and from 2000 to 2004 was the Bridgnorth District’s Education Officer.  In addition, she and Alec Osbaldiston led the sub-committee that organised the Guild’s highly successful annual ‘Thomas Cooper Trophy Striking Competition’.

Arguably her greatest service for the Guild, though, was as its Peal Recorder for ten years from 1970, during which time she meticulously wrote out, using a Rotring pen and stencil (not to mention masses of patience), more than 3,000 of its peals, which now fill ten of the ‘Viggers’ Record’ volumes that make up the Guild’s Peal Book.  The magnitude of the task becomes apparent when one hears Valerie declaring ruefully that it used to take her longer to write out some of the multi-Doubles peals than it had taken to ring them in the first place!  Given that it required at least an hour to write out even the simplest of peals, it was truly a heroic labour of love, for which the Guild has long been highly appreciative.

The rare honour of ‘The Order of St Ethelbert’ was bestowed upon Valerie at a service held in Hereford Cathedral in October 2017; it was awarded ‘for services rendered to bellringing and in recognition of loyal and distinguished service to the Church of God and to His people in the diocese’.  It is perhaps not generally known that the “young and virtuous” King Ethelbert of the East Angles, whose shrine is in the Cathedral to this day, was brutally murdered whilst on his way to King Offa of Mercia’s Palace at Marden, Hfds, in AD 794:  his demise at Sutton Walls is widely thought to have been at the instigation of Cynethryth, wife of Offa.

Much Wenlock bells are an Abraham Rudhall II back six with two Taylor trebles added in 1930.  They are a fine eight and popular with peal ringers, 61 peals having been rung on them since their augmentation;  Valerie has rung no less than 17 of her 74 peals on them.  But, after nearly 100 years of heavy use, the bells are now in need of some professional attention, and John Taylor & Co., of Loughborough are about to embark on a £25,000 restoration to bring them back into tip-top condition.  Unsurprisingly, Valerie is a leading light in the preparation of, and fund-raising for, this project; work is expected to be completed this summer with, it is hoped, financial support from the Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers Bell Restoration Fund and other grant-awarding sources.

Val Roberts
Val Roberts

To all who know her, no meeting is ever boring when Valerie is present.  She holds strong, and always well-thought-out, views, about the Guild in particular, and ringing in general, and is never afraid to make them known!

It’s hard to imagine anyone more deserving of this latest honour than Valerie M Roberts (née Edge), so many thanks for all you’ve done, and a warm welcome to this new position you now have in your favourite Guild!

Neil Bennett

Guild Festival and AGM – report of the day

Presteign
Presteign

We had a very enjoyable Guild Festival and AGM, the whole day ran smoothly with beautiful weather to allow us all to appreciate the wonderful scenery in the Clifford and Kington District.  Morning ringing started at Presteigne with ringing ranging from rounds to Surprise Major.  At smaller towers those in charge kept the ringing running at a brisk pace, whilst those not ringing took the opportunity to catch up with each other outside.  Some opted for a pub lunch whilst others enjoyed their own packed lunch or picnic.

At Eardisland, Rosie Roberts took the service, and reminded us that, whatever we might be able to ring, we were all working together to be part of one band or body, and that each of us was of equal importance to that body.  The hymns were sung with enthusiasm, and all seemed to enjoy the service.

Tea in the parish hall was followed by the meeting.

Attendance throughout the day was good, with some ringers joining only for the ringing, others joined just for the service, tea and meeting. 52 members attended the meeting. A happy flow of people enjoyed whichever part of the day suited them best.  We hope to see you all again soon.

Some of the main outcomes of the meeting are as follows:

Alan Reade of Claverley was elected as a Guild Freeman, in recognition of his long-standing work for the Guild and particularly as the Tower Stewardship Advisor, a post that Alan has held since its creation back in 2010.

The Guild Officers for 2024 are:

    • Guild Master – Sue Robinson
    • Guild Secretary – Fran Watkins
    • Guild Treasurer – Mark Aston
    • Guild Education Officer – Jessica Pugh
    • Peal Recorder – Neil Bennett
    • Report Secretary – Neil Bragg
    • Master Elect – Kris Perruzza
    • Belfries Officer – Ashley Fortey
    • Public Engagement Officer – Nicky Aubrey
    • Tower Stewardship Advisor – Alan Reade
    • Webmaster – Nick Chapman
    • Events Committee Representative – Richard Bracher
    • Central Council Representatives – Anthony Ellis & Abigail Pugh
    • Clerical Representatives – Barney Bell, Anthony Ellis, Nicky Seabright
Our newly elected master, Sue Robinson

The Guild Subscription has increased to £10 for 2025, the reduced rate for under 18s remains unchanged.

The Centenary Shield was awarded to the Committee that had organised the Guild Competition Day in March.

Vice-President

Val Roberts
Val Roberts

Val Roberts was elected as a Vice-President in recognition and appreciation of the outstanding contribution she has made to the Guild. Val was the first lady Master of the Guild in 1968, and became Master again in 1993.  Val has also served as Peal Recorder for 10 years from 1970 and began the huge task of writing the Guild Peal Books.   As well as this, Val has remained a stalwart of the Bridgnorth District, and the Guild, throughout the years.  In typical fashion, when speaking to accept the nomination, Val offered continued help and advice to the Guild in her new role. This honorary post is an excellent recognition of all Val’s hard work, and we thank and congratulate her on this well-deserved achievement.

Fran Watkins (pictures: Nicky Aubrey)

 

Bell Restoration Fund AGM

The Bell Restoration Fund AGM will be held at 7:30pm on 14th June 2024 at the Forbury Chapel, Church St, Leominster HR6 8NQ.

As a reminder, the membership of the BRF comprises all current Ringing Members, Honorary Ringing Members and Freemen of the Guild, together with one representative from each affiliated church’s Parochial Church Council.  Members are entitled to attend, speak and vote at the Annual General Meeting.

More about the Bell Restoration Fund and its work can be found here.