This year we were delighted to be able to hold our AGM at Powerstock.
With their bells only returning from Taylor’s in October the committee felt this would be a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work of the community, and the return of the bells, and we are grateful that the Powerstock ringers, despite the short notice, responded enthusiastically and have made this such a special day.
The afternoon commenced with a church service attended by well over 100 ringers and parishioners. Children from the village school took part in a hand bell demonstration of plain hunt, after which we heard about the history of the bells, and the fundraising efforts to restore them.
The Bishop of Salisbury blessed the bells and the bellringers, and unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion. Followed by a hymn written by our organist, Peter Nardone, especially for the service.
After the service the congregation were invited to stay for refreshments and watch our members ringing. With a ground floor ring open to the church this was a lively, rather noisy affair but fabulous to see such a joyful community occasion, during which Bridport St. Mary’s held a raffle for their own appeal which raised £258.
A lovely ringers tea provided by the Powerstock ringers followed in the village hall, after which we held our AGM.
We were pleased to welcome Guild Master, Vicki Rowse, who presented the West Dorset Teams with their Certificates for the Guild Striking Competitions, and Steve Longridge who presented the Longridge Silver Salver to Clare Oastler, and all the Powerstock ringers for all their work over the last year to achieve their fund-raising goal, and getting their bells ringing again.
To round off the day a band consisting of Committee Members plus Clare (in only her 2nd QP) rang the first Quarter Peal on the rehung bells.
I hope that if you attended some or all of the afternoon you enjoyed it, and thought it was a success, and I can only thank everyone that helped with planning, organising, on the day, or by attending for making it so.
Sylvia Fowler
Branch Secretary
