Saturday 8th March 2025 was International Women’s Day and, to join in the global celebrations on this day, a group of 14 local women bellringers who regularly ring in towers around the Vale of Pewsey and Marlborough area came together for a celebratory ring at St Peter’s Church, Milton Lilbourne between 2pm and 3pm.
This global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, worldwide has been marked for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people.
Organised by Sarah Carreck who rings at Milton Lilbourne and Pewsey towers, the band comprised a range of experienced and novice ringers who rang call changes and Plain Hunt, conducted by Sarah. The band included Revd Hazel Davis, Team Vicar for Community, Outreach and Mission in the Vale of Pewsey who was returning to ringing after almost a decade; and also our very newest ringer “Queen Elsa” who chimed the treble for her very first time! After the ringing, the band enjoyed tea and cake at the Honeystreet Mill Café in the Vale of Pewsey and Sarah kindly presented each of the participating women bellringers with a commemorative IWD coaster to mark the occasion.
SARAH CARRECK & ANNE WARDELL (PEWSEY VALE BELLRINGERS)
