An appeal for new learners and a ‘Tea in the Garden’ event to raise money for bell repairs have secured the short term future of the tower at St Thomas a Beckett Lydlinch, Dorset.
Following concerns raised in early 2024 about the condition of its bells and a dwindling number of locals to ring them, it seemed a very real prospect that the tower could fall silent. An inspection by one of the Guild’s belfry inspectors, identified that urgent intervention was needed for this ring of 5 bells, highlighting the very minimum repairs required and outlining the possibility of the major restoration of the bells.
With the matter being raised at the Lydlinch Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting, it was also revealed that the community was keen to have its own ringers, rather than relying on the band from St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton who have been ringing at Lydlinch once a month for Sunday service and special occasions such as Carol services and weddings.
After the PCC meeting, coffee and cake combined with a talk on bellringing resulted in over a dozen potential new learners coming forward and enough money raised to do essential works to the bells to keep them going for a while. With the bells not being the easiest to ring and not really suitable for teaching on, a plan was devised in collaboration with other local ringers where the new band learning to ring at Sturminster Newton and Margaret Marsh.
Learning at Sturminster Newton, local farmer Ashley Frizzle has taken to ringing like a duck to water, has just been elected a member of the Guild and completed level 1 of the Learning the Ropes scheme and has joined the Sturminster Newton weekly practice. Emma is ringing a bell by herself and will soon try ringing with the band.
At Margaret Marsh, Andrew Oatts recently completed his ART module 1 accreditation teaching Helen who is also ringing by herself. Sally-Anne, who is the driving force behind the fundraising, and Rosie are both making really good progress joining both strokes together. Ashley’s mum Sarah has now also started to learn at Sturminster Newton.
So, for now, teaching of the new recruits is continuing to take place at Sturminster Newton and Margaret Marsh, and with Ashley, Emma, Helen, Sally-Anne and Rosie all making good progress on their bell-ringing journey, the future for the bells at Lydlinch sounds bright!
Most satisfyingly, earlier in May, Ashley made his debut ringing at Lydlinch for Sunday Service celebrating V.E.Day. It was a very proud moment for Ashley as his grandparents used to ring the bells many decades ago.
Nick Dallison,
Sturminster Newton TC & Mere Branch Chairman
