Ringer of the Year

Nominations are sought early in the New Year for both Ringer of the Year and Young Ringer of the Year and the Guild Education Committee decide both recipients. Both awards are presented at the Guild Festival in May.

This award was introduced in 2008 as the Most Improved Ringer Award however this was changed in 2016 to the Ringer of the Year Award.

From 2011 we have made two annual awards, one to a junior member and one to an adult member. Any Guild member is eligible for nomination. For the adult award (over 18 years of age) each Branch is asked to make one nomination only. The award is in the form of a model bell generously donated to the Guild by former President Rosemary Julius.

Suggested criteria for nominations are:

• A ringer who has recruited or taught a significant number of new ringers for their tower in the year even though he/she might only able to ring rounds and call changes.
  
  
• A ringer who has successfully overcome a disability against all odds.
  
  
• A ringer who whilst not being able to ring methods has enabled others to make progress in method ringing by organising practices with assistance from experienced helpers.
  
  
• A ringer who helps at several struggling towers enabling progress to be made by the band in striking, call changes or method ringing.
  
  
• A conductor who has called a significant number of quarters in a year for those wishing to ring their first quarter.
  
  
• A ringer who has made significant improvement in the year.
  
  
• A ringer who has contributed more widely to the art such as involvement in the Branch or Guild Committee, organising Branch or Tower events, supporting Training days, running training courses, taking on a Tower role etc.  
  
  

This is not a definitive list and all nominations will be considered.

For the young ringer award (18 years of age and under at 31st December in the year of nomination) each branch can make as many nominations as it considers appropriate. Originally the award to young ringers was a six-month introductory subscription to The Ringing World however in recent years it has been ringing related books as well as The Don Lee Trophy.  Don was a former Vice President of the Guild.

Nominations are to be submitted to the Guild Education Officer by 28th February and the Guild Education Committee will decide the recipients. 

Both awards will be presented at the Guild Festival in May and we encourage Branches to make those nominated aware they have been nominated and to attend the Guild AGM for the announcement and presentations.