Category: Guild News

Guild Competition Day

The 2024 Thomas Cooper Striking Competition is taking place as part of the Guild Competition Day on Saturday 9th March at Kington. We are hoping, after the cancellation of last year’s event, that the new date in the spring will prove more popular and we are trying to do something new with the event.

You can  download the rules for the event which I hope will be self-explanatory. There are some changes to the requirements for the competition, following your feedback. Firstly, the test piece for the method ringing section will now be 120 changes of any doubles method. For the call change section, the ‘two year rule’ has been relaxed to three years.

As in 2019, the last time the competition was held, there will be a method ringing and a call change section to the competition. This year, we are going to add a third element to the event, which will be a Novice Rounds Challenge. This will be open to individual towers or cluster bands to enter, and constructive feedback will be given positively and in an encouraging manner! Please see the rules for further information.

The aim of the Novice Rounds Challenge is to encourage new ringers to develop their engagement with the Guild and to aspire to good striking. It is hoped that the Challenge will encourage networking and sharing good practice amongst developing bands, learners and teachers of ringing.

Throughout the afternoon, tea, coffee and cake/biscuits will be available in the church and we are arranging various stalls and activities to be available while ringing takes place. There are toilet facilities in the church. Access to the tower is via an external stone staircase and the bells are an easy-going, clear ring of six with little odd-struckness.

I look forward to receiving entries by Saturday 2nd March 2024 please.

If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Best wishes,

Tim Hollinghurst (email timhollinghurst@hotmail.com)
On behalf of the Committee (Fran Watkins, Nicky Aubrey and Tim Hollinghurst)

 

Second Learner’s morning held at St Peters Bromyard

We were delighted to host a second session for some more eager learners at St Peters Bromyard on Saturday 20th January 2024.  Like last time attendees could practice their handling skills, continue getting to grips with rounds and call changes, start their plain hunt journey and for some practice their doubles methods. This time we welcomed 17 enthusiastic learners from Cleobury Mortimer, Knighton, Eardisley, Bredwardine, Almeley, Kington & 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, Chris Kippin, Ed & Sarah Lupton, Tim Hollinghurst, Stella Smith, Elaine Wilkinson, Karen Parker, Sue Robinson, 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.

Bromyard learners

Sue Robinson 21.01.2024

Hereford Ringing Course 2024

Update from Adrian Moreton on 3rd February …

Hi!

We’ve just finished processing the student applications for this year’s course, and with their acceptances we’ve included a clothing order form. We have a special 60th logo  – similar to the 50th for those who remember it!

If you want to order anything,  the price list and  form can be downloaded here: Ringing Course clothing order form 24

Looking forward to seeing you in April.

Best wishes,

Adrian

A three day course: Thursday 4th – Sunday 7th April, 2024

Royal National College, Venns Lane, Hereford

  • Groups ranging from Rounds and Calls to Surprise Major
  • 6 Practical sessions
  • Additional opportunities to practice
    • Conducting
    • Listening and timing
    • Change ringing on handbells
  • Saturday evening celebration of 60 Hereford Courses

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, 2024

Prices: Resident: with all meals: £505
Basic (non-resident, no meals) : £150 (£100 for under 18’s) Individual
meals may be ordered as required.

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.