Conni has been ringing since she was 10 years old and she has attended young ringer practices on a regular basis for the last 6 years and has been part of the young ringers’ team for the last 3 years. The team came 4th out of 17 teams last year. She will be ringing for the final time at the National Youth Ringing World Competition in London this year.
She has rung quarter peals frequently with a variety of bands and was part of a band going to Dordrecht, in the Netherlands, to treble for her first quarters on eight and ten bells to Yorkshire Surprise Major and Grandsire Caters.
She was elected at the last AGM becoming the Dorchester branch deputy ringing master and has been developing her skills at running a practice at her home tower practice nights (Upwey) and at branch level.
This January, she also rang for her grandmother’s funeral trebling to Beverley Surprise Minor and covering to Stedman, which she carried out with dignity and composure on bells that she had not rung on before.
Conni is modest in her ability but always willing to ring and support others and has the confidence to give any bell a go.
Also Nominated:
Emily Burslem, Downton, Salisbury Branch
Emily learnt and regularly rings with her dad Tom on the challenging eight at Downton for Sunday morning services, and at Downton and Fordingbridge on practice nights which combine the two bands.
Despite her age and her fairly small stature, Emily has met the demands of the Downton bells and made consistently good progress. This has enabled the Downton band to extend its repertoire for Sunday service ringing.
Emily rang her first quarter peal, at Downton, in 2022, to celebrate leaving Primary School, trebling to Plain Bob Doubles. Last year she rang her first inside of quarters of Plain Bob Doubles and Minor.
Emily is presently getting to grips with touches of Grandsire and plain courses of Stedman Doubles. She has also rung plain courses of Plain Bob Triples inside.
On practice nights Emily is not afraid to venture round to the ‘back end’; she enjoys the challenge of ringing heavier bells.
Emily has attended various young ringer’s events at nearby towers. She took part in the Ringing World National Youth Competition at York last July and the Guild 6-Bell Striking Competition at Sutton Veny in September.
Emily has been to and rung at practices at neighbouring Ringwood and the challenging eight at St Thomas, Salisbury.
Emily’s constantly cheerful disposition is evidenced by her almost constant smile when ringing – even when she goes wrong! She listens to and acts upon advice offered by those ringing around her.
Emily is now starting to become involved in Branch activities. She was in a team comprising family members at our Branch Skittles evening in November.
More recently, she helped with preparations in the Church for the tea at our branch AGM held at Downton, as well as serving on the day and helping with clearing up.
Jacob Goff, Bratton, Devizes Branch
When Jacob was 9 years old he was keen to start bell ringing however local tower rules state that children need to be 10 years old and physically able. Jacob began his training a few weeks before his 10th birthday in March 2022. As with most young people, Jacob readily took to the training and quickly learnt rope control. As his hands and arms became a little stronger his handling improved and by late 2022 he was a regular Sunday service ringer at both Edington and Bratton. He also had a goal, which was to ring with his two uncles Rhys and Gareth at Christmas which he successfully achieved. Jacob was elected a Full Member of the Guild on 7th October 2023.
Jacob has progressed well through call changes, ringing up and down in peal and can now plain hunt on seven. He enjoys the challenge of more complex methods and is working on Plain Bob Triples at Edington. To date he has rung at Edington, Bratton, Great Cheverell and Southbroom.
He enjoys bell ringing because it is different to what his friends regularly do. After ringing and without fail he always has a smile on his face. He loves to learn and be challenged.
Jacob regularly attends the weekly Learner Practices at Edington and new learners have particularly noted how encouraging and supportive he is.
The Devizes Branch is delighted to nominate Jacob for the award of Guild Young Ringer of the Year for 2023.
