SDGR Ringing Update - April 2024

Happy Easter!

Here’s your latest update which contains updates published on the website since the last edition including a special Book of the Month offer, steeplekeeping advice, a message from Guild President, Pat Davidson, and a very interesting Tower of the Month article. There are also links to the latest from each branch. I’m most grateful to each of the contributors who are helping to keep the website and newsletter current and interesting.

We hope you are busy making plans for Firsts Week which starts next weekend and runs through to the following weekend. There will be a special section on the website where you can record your “First” achievements and download certificates to present to your ringers. More about this to follow, but for now let's get as many plans as we can in place to make the most of the Firsts Week opportunity.

I do hope you enjoy the newsletter.

Happy Easter ringing!

Andy Waring
Acting Guild Publicity Officer
news@sdgr.org.uk

Latest from around the Guild...

President’s Piece

From Pat Davidson – Guild President, March 2024 As I write this, my first ‘piece’ for the new website, I am hopeful that the wet, cold days of winter are behind us and Spring is well and truly on its way. All the Branch AGM’s have now taken place. I have tried to get to […]

Book of the Month

Tutors handbook – A handbook for Tutors and Students. WF Moreton / N Chaddock. This book is split into 2 parts. The first part deals with the practicalities of learning how to ring. From teaching bell control to plain hunting. It starts with the backstroke, handstroke, then the combination of the two, catching the sally […]

Powerstock Fund Raising Success

Despite heavy rain and gales more than 100 people turned up to support the “Big Breakfast” held in Powerstock Hut at the end of February, which made over £800 profit. This was the last planned fund-raising event to re-hang and restore Powerstock’s bells, the heaviest 6 in Dorset. The Powerstock Peal Appeal has now surpassed […]

Belfry Upkeep: Bell Frames

The bell frame is the structure which rigidly supports the bells and ensures that the vertical and horizontal forces arising from the movement of the bells is safely and efficiently transferred to the tower walls. It requires periodic inspection and occasional maintenance. Although a local steeplekeeper can do some basic maintenance, it is also important […]

Tower of the Month: Horningsham

In the latest article in the Tower of the Month series, Jack Pease introduces us to the challenging bells of Horningsham in Wiltshire. Horningsham is one of the prettiest villages in Wiltshire with quaint stone cottages, a mill pond, a village shop, and a historic church set in picturesque rolling hills. Not many, however, are […]

Ring Out for Peace

Join the World in Ringing Out for Peace event 6.30pm, 6th June 2024 (80th Anniversary of D. Day) The President of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers recently issued this request: On behalf of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, I am honoured and proud to be part of this campaign. Bellringing marks […]

Important Privacy Policy Announcement

Letter to all Members: March 2024 Dear SDGR Member As you may be aware it has been necessary to review the Guild Data Privacy Notice and Policy, a copy of which can be found on the Guild Website. sdgr.org.uk This review was necessary due to changes in the way the Guild now operates and with the […]

Queen Camel: A Trip Down Memory Lane

For many ringers, there is nothing more enjoyable than ringing a deep-toned, boomy, heavy set of bells well. The bells of Queen Camel in Somerset, well known in ringing circles for their superb tone and immense weight, fit this very nicely, for they are the heaviest ring of six in the world. Though the new […]

A Year in the life… Shipton Gorge

Was it only a year ago we set off on our adventure? The village had been without a band for well over 10 years, the bells only rung by occasional visitors, so I thought ‘how hard can it be to have the bells ring out?’ A wee message out to the village FB page and […]

A “Heard” of Listeners

Nineteen bell ringers representing twelve towers descended on Holy Trinity Church in Bradpole on Saturday 9th February 2024 for a full day to focus on enhancing performance through improving listening skills. The participants were across the full spectrum of abilities from ARTS teachersand tower captains to those just having become competent in bell handling and […]

Further Award

Dorchester Branch Chairman receives another award for her voluntary work with Dorset Police – a Recognition Award from The High Sheriff of Dorset. The event took place on Wednesday 7th March in the Victorian Hall at Dorset Museum in Dorchester .

Guild Festival and Annual General Meeting 2024

Saturday 11th May 2024 St James Church, Church Street, Trowbridge BA14 8ES Programme: 13:00 – General Ringing at St James 14:00 – AGM in the Church Hall (BA14 8RY) 15:15 – Service Touch 15:30 – Service 16:30 – Tea & Raffle in the Church Hall 18:00 – Evening ringing at St James if desired Other Ringing Ringing Routes will be arranged […]

Learn to Ring Course at Broad Chalke.

The final session of 6 in our Learn to Ring Course at All Saints Broad Chalke was held on Saturday 2nd March. The course started in January with a taster session where six potential learners came along and were given an overview of what bellringing is all about, were shown the bells and how they […]

Branch News

Calne	Devizes	Dorchester	East Dorset
Marlborough	Mere	Salisbury	West Dorset
Channel Islands

Other Sections

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