2025 Young Ringer of the Year was awarded to Bobby Ashton and announced at the Guild AGM. Below are the nominations written by Tower Captains of Evershot and Beaminster, Gareth Evans and Harry Murley.
Bobby was presented with the Young Ringer of the Year Award by West Dorset Secretary, Sylvia Fowler at Evershot.
From Gareth Evans – Evershot TC
Bobby started to learn to ring with a new band from Frampton when he was 12, the first major event being rounds and call changes to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
Keen to progress he soon joined the band at Evershot and very quickly became proficient in ringing the treble and tenor for doubles methods. Even at this stage he took great care to achieve high quality striking. At the same time, he began ringing at Beaminster, ringing for Sunday services whenever he can, and becoming a core member of the practice night band. This allowed him to ring on ten bells regularly.
Bobby rang his first quarter peal for his 14th birthday in January 2024, ringing the tenor to Grandsire Doubles, and repeated this for an Easter Sunday service quarter. After quickly picking up Plain Bob doubles he rang his first quarter inside for his for his 15th birthday in January 2025.
He is now progressing to ringing Plain Bob Minor inside, and ringing the treble for Surprise Minor, all the time listening to his bell and striking it well.
It is always a pleasure to ring with Bobby, he has a very mature attitude beyond his years and is always cheerful and keen to learn and ready to listen. His standard of striking is exemplary, and he’s making rapid progress. Always ready to ring for services and special occasions Bobby has become a very highly valued member of the Evershot band.
From Harry Murley – Beaminster TC
We were fortunate to welcome Bobby to the Beaminster tower in 2023 when he was ringing rounds.
His dedication to the art and eagerness to learn have been exemplary. He attends Sunday morning ringing as often as possible and is a core member of our practice night band. Bobby now rings Plain Hunt on doubles, minor, triples, major, and caters with confidence. He maintains a steady treble and tenor and has recently begun calling touches of Plain Bob Doubles and recently passed another milestone as he rang his first blows in Bob Minor. I had the privilege of ringing in Bobby’s first quarter peal last year, where he rang the tenor exceptionally to Grandsire Doubles.
His progress continues to impress, and we look forward to seeing his ringing develop even further.
