C&S District July Practice, this Saturday at St Mary’s, Southampton. Everyone welcome from rounds upwards. Method of the Month: Yorkshire Surprise Royal.
Category Archives: Surprise Royal
Surprise Royal Practices on hold for the Summer
CANCELLED – Surprise Royal Practice – 22nd April
Hi all,
Sadly due to lots of people being away this month I am going to have to cancel the planned surprise royal practice. There will be no practice in April.
I will make contact again soon regarding a possible May practice. The date would be 27th May.
If the May practice isn’t able to go ahead then I’ll have to review the situation as it may no longer be practical to have these practices sadly.
Thanks to those who are continuing to support the practices. Please watch this space.
Regards,
CANCELLED – Surprise Royal Practice – Next one April 22nd – RSVP
Hi all,
Due to a number of people being away, we are too short of people in March for a Surprise Royal practice to take place.
So to confirm – there will be NO PRACTICE in March.
Looking ahead to April things look slightly better, so please use the following link to let me know if you can make the April practice.
Sunday April 22nd – 14:00 – 15:30
https://doodle.com/poll/vpphxe73w83hvwah
I’ll update you in early April as to the likelihood of the practice going ahead.
Thanks,
Guild Surprise Royal Practice Sunday 25th Feb (parking update)
Hi all,
Surprise Royal Practices in 2018 – Next one March 25th
Hi all,
Surprise Royal Practice – Sunday 26th November at Bitterne Park – 14:00 -15:30
Hi all,
I am now finally able to confirm the location of the next Surprise Royal Practice.
Sunday 26th November 14:00 – 15:30 BITTERNE PARK, Southampton.
Methods as usual to include C/Y/N plus Bristol Royal. If enough we will try some 3 spliced.
I have tried a few other towers this time away from Southampton but they were all unavailable.
Look forward to seeing lots of you on a Sunday!
Cheers,
Daniel Graham
Surprise Royal Practice Southampton St Michael’s Sun 22nd Oct 2pm
Hi all,
To confirm the October surprise royal practice will be going ahead;
Sunday 22nd October = 14:00 – 15:30
PLEASE arrive for a 14:00 start, the last few practices we haven’t had 10 until close to half past
Methods: Bristol and C/Y/N spliced and single as required.
I look forward to seeing lots of you then!!
Cheers,
Southampton
6 Hour Peal to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of All Saint’s, Basingstoke
Surprise Royal Practices continue – 4th Sunday of the Month – sign up here!
Upcoming Surprise Royal Practices and the future…
Spliced Surprise Royal Ringer needed – Quarter Peal Day Oxford area Saturday 29th April
**now sorted
I have a surprise Royal quarter peal day on 29th April going to Abingdon/Oxford St Thos/Shrivenham/Thatcham and have one rope left. The ringer needs to be able to ring Bristol, Pudsey, and spliced CYN confidently and to a good standard.
If anyone is free please get in touch as soon as possible and I can supply more details. Thanks.
Confirmed – Guild Surprise Royal Practice 30th April 2pm
Dear all,
The April surprise royal practice will go ahead.
Sunday 30th April, 14:00 – 15:30 at St Mike’s Southampton
Methods will include Cambridge, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and new for this month PUDSEY.
(We may also ring Bristol and London if enough people attend but the focus method is Pudsey)
I look forward to hopefully seeing lots of you there!
Thanks,
Dan
Guild Surprise Royal Practice 30th April 2pm – only a few more people needed
Guild Surprise Royal Practice 30th April – UPDATE
The next Guild Surprise is planned for Sunday 30th April 2pm-3.30 **RSVP**

Surprise Royal Practice – Sunday 26th February
- Contact Daniel Graham
Email:Use Form
Cancelled – Surprise Royal Practice – Sunday 29th January
Dear all,
Despite a positive initial reply, sadly it seems that not quite enough people are around this month for a viable Surprise Royal practice. Therefore the practice is CANCELLED.
I did have around 10 replies though, so will contact those people to see if a quarter peal would be of interest.
The next practice is proposed for Sunday 26th February and would be in Southampton. Feel free to indicate availability for this now, however I will email again towards the start of February.
Thanks,
Daniel
Southampton
WP Surprise Royal Practice – Sunday 29th January 2016 *CANCELLED
Surprise Royal Practice -Sun 29th Jan – RSVP
Dear all,
I hope you all had an enjoyable festive break and wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope you are all recharged for more Surprise Royal ringing!
The next date for the Surprise Royal practice is Sunday 29th January 2017. As usual this will only go ahead if enough people say they are free to attend.
Please let me know if you would be able to make this date and time.
I will email again in around a weeks time with an update on the plan.
Thanks,
Southampton
Bold Plans for the Ten Kingston Bells (Isle of Purbeck) SDGR
Whilst occurring outside our Guild, this may be of interest to people wondering “how can I restart ringing at an under-used tower?” RM
Eleanor Wallace Writes:
As some of you may know, I have been working with Mike Pitman recently to try and formulate a plan to get the practices and quarter peal nights up and running at Kingston again. They are such a beautiful ring of bells, and being a Kingston ringer myself for years I hate to see them not being rung as much as they should and going to waste.
As I have finally finished university and returned to the area I now have time to dedicate myself to re-establishing a regular practice night. However, I need as much support from everyone as I can and am asking for your help. Mike and I have come up with a concept of having two practice nights and two quarters a month on a friday so that the bells are rung every week, and we hope that it at least one night a month may appeal to all ringers of any standard, so that people don’t feel pressurised to dedicate themselves every single week.
The below is the monthly structure which I am trying to introduce, and I would love to hear what you guys think, advice etc as have never done anything like this before.
The Plan
From Friday 3rd March practice nights and quarter peal nights will be resuming at Kingston from 7:30 – 9:00 pm, and we would really love for you to join us. We have a lovely sounding and very easy-going ring of ten bells (tenor 26-3-16) and we want to get them ringing regularly again with the long-term aim
of becoming a supportive teaching tower. We are aiming to create a monthly structure that caters for ringers of all abilities; whether you are a called change ringer or a surprise ringer we hope to provide something for everyone.
1st Friday of the Month – Open Practice Night
Any ringer of any ability who is interested in getting practice at ten bell ringing is more than welcome. Ringing will range from Rounds and Called Changes to Plain Caters and Royal, as well as any six to eight bell ringing if its requested. Whatever you’re learning, come along! Any more advanced ringers who can help out will also be very much appreciated too.
2nd Friday – Advanced Ten Bell Practice
For ringers who want to challenge themselves learning Surprise Royal or just want to keep the cobwebs off. We will be practicing the Standard Eight Surprise Royal methods (and others as time goes on) with a special method to focus on every week.
3rd Friday – Open Quarter Peal
Whatever the method or number of bells, if you fancy ringing a quarter peal then let us know and we will try to organise it for you. This night is aimed at giving people of all standards quarter peal practice and achieving firsts in method etc. Just pop an email to Eleanor Wallace (form below)
4th Friday – Advanced Quarter Peal
We will be working through the Standard Eight Surprise Royal (and others afterwards) quarter peals. If you’re interested in getting involved, achieving firsts in Surprise Royal etc. just send an email to Eleanor:
- Guild AGM 2022 – Detailed arrangements -Saturday 11th June
The Alton & Petersfield District warmly welcomes you to attend the Guild AGM on Saturday 11th June!
Here is an overview of the day, but please download thesee the document below using the ‘Download’ button for the detailed arrangements, including timings, locations, links and maps.
Guild AGM Schedule (Saturday 11th June):
10:00am – 12:00noon Inter-District striking competition at West Meon.
11:00am – 12:30pm General ringing at Bentworth.
11:30am – 1:00pm General ringing at Chawton.
Lunch (own arrangements)
2:00pm – 2:50pm General ringing at Holybourne.
3:00pm – 3:30pm Service at Holybourne.
4:15pm – 6:00pm Annual Guild Meeting at St Lawrence Church Hall, Alton.
6:15pm – 7:00pm Ringer’s Buffet Tea & Refreshments.
7:00pm – 8:00pm General ringing at St Lawrence, Alton.
To avoid disappointment, please book your place in the Hall for the Tea & Meeting as soon as possible (and before 10pm on Wednesday 8th June) using the following link:
You are welcome to attend any individual part(s) of the day, or the entire day, according to your preference/availability!
REMINDER: Please could District Ringing Masters notify Pete Jordan (Guild Master) of their intention to enter a District team(s) before the closing date of Saturday 28th May.
With best wishes, and look forward to seeing you on 11th June.
Rachael Barber
A&P District Communications Officer
- Guild Newsletter – Spring 2022
The Spring 2022 edition of the Guild Newsletter is now available! You can read it directly online below, or download a copy using the ‘download’ button.
Huge thanks to all who have contributed. Please feel free to send any future news articles to comms@wpbells.org.
Happy reading!
The Communications Committee
- Winchester District QDM – Saturday 14th May – Kings Somborne from 3pm (meeting starts at 4.30pm)
The next Winchester District QDM will be held on Saturday 14th May at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Kings Somborne.
There will be open ringing from 3-4pm, a simple tea and then the business session will start at 4.30pm. After the meeting there will be more open ringing for those who would like to do so.
Please let Micki Nadal (Winchester District Secretary) for more details and to let her know if you intend to come along as this helps us with the catering arrangements.
AGENDA
- Chairman’s Welcome/prayers
- Apologies for absence
- Minutes of the previous meeting (ADM held on 12th February 2022)
- Matters arising from the minutes
- Loss of members through death
- Confirmation of belfry elections
- Election of new ringing members
- District Communications – ‘Given the duplication that arises through the District using multiple channels of communication, and the need to maximise engagement with members across the District, a survey to be carried out to establish District members preferences for different types of communication. The results of the survey and any recommendations for action arising therefrom to be reported to the next Quarterly District Meeting.’
- A proposal by R Booth to undertake a consultation exercise and report back with recommendations to a future meeting. Supporting documentation – please see attachment or the District Newsletter sent on 1/5/22 and to Tower Correspondents on 3/5/22
- Training needs/purchases and programme – ‘That the District allocates £150 from its funds to purchase a set of four roller banners to be used for PR purposes across the District’.
- A Proposal by Mrs C Knights-Whittome of the design and purchase of roller banners for PR displays. Supporting document from Mrs C Knights-Whittome attached.
- Programme of future events
- Younger ringers in the District
- Improvers’ practices (WIMPS)
- Jubilee ringing and Quarter Peal fortnight
- Trout ‘n About Stockbridge, Alresford and Romsey Shows
- Twyford and Ropley restoration projects – update
- Any other notified business
- Chairman to close meeting
- Guild AGM 2022 – Saturday 11th June – Alton
The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild AGM 2022 will be held in St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Alton, on Saturday 11th June at 4.15 p.m. This will be preceded by the Inter-District 8-bell Striking Competition at West Meon in the morning and a service at Holybourne at 3 p.m. (details to follow).
Attached are the agenda, minutes of the last meeting, and officer and committee reports for 2021 . The document is also available at http://www.methods.org.uk/files/220611.bulk.pdf and will be kept up-to-date with any additional agenda items or supporting papers.
Web versions of the papers are at http://www.methods.org.uk/wparch/agm2022a.htm and will also be kept up-to-date.
If anyone has apologies for absence, items of Any other business, or comments or questions on any Agenda item, please send them to me in advance so that the meeting can run as smoothly as possible.
Many thanks and best wishes, Tony Smith.
Guild Minute Secretary.
- Guild Inter-Tower Striking Competitions – REMINDER
REMINDER
The Guild Intertower 6 and 8 bell Striking competition closing date for entries is the 8th May. If your tower has not thought about entering a team yet why not come along, have some fun and give it a go. Even if you only ring Rounds and Call changes you can enter a band.
Let’s make the return to ringing after Covid a success!
If you have any questions please contact Pete Jordan for more details.
Pete Jordan
Master – Winchester & Portsmouth Guild of Church Bell Ringers.
- Guild PRO Message – April 2022
Happy Easter!
Hopefully we’ll all be able to enjoy some ringing over this special weekend.PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF YOUR RINGING ACTIVITIES and ACHIEVIEMENTS for potential inclusion in a PRESS RELEASE!
We hear how much ringing is missed by our communities when towers cannot ring for whatever reason. It would be good to reach out again and remind folk that we are still here for them. It would be great to build on the wonderful recruitment ‘green shoots’ we are seeing across the Guild this year so, it is my hope to issue another Guild Press Release in the next few weeks.
We have some special opportunities coming up to showcase our ringing:
17 April Easter Sunday 21 April Queen Elizabeth’s (actual) birthday 23 April St. George’s Day Patron Saint of England 18 May St. Dunstan’s Day. Patron Saint of Bell Ringers,
Archbishop of Canterbury 960 – 98826 May Ascension Day 2-3 June Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday 25 June National 12-bell competition (Guildford Cathedral) 2 July Ringing World National Youth Contest
https://rwnyc.ringingworld.co.uk/28 July – 8 August Commonwealth Games (Birmingham UK) 9 – 18 September Heritage Open Days
Theme for 2022 ‘Astounding Inventions’
Registering available now: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/If you wish to see more there is a list here –https://cccbr.org.uk/bellringing/things-to-ring-for/
I’m very much looking forward to hearing your exciting ringing news.
Thank you.
Viv Nobbs
Public Relations Officer
wp.public.relations.officer@gmail.com14 April 2022
- Your Guild needs YOU!
To all Guild Members
At the Guild AGM this year the elections will be taking place for the officers of the Guild. A number of people are standing down this year and at this time I know that there will be vacancies for:
Master
Vice-Master
General Secretary
General Treasurer
Peal Recorder
Safeguarding Officer
It would be great to see some new faces in these roles so please don’t be shy in coming forward if you think you might be able to fill one of these important posts and make a difference to your Guild. It is important that we have people in these posts to ensure smooth running of your Guild.
The job descriptions for the principal officers posts are below. If you are interested please contact me or one of your District officers for more information or just to chat about the role.
With kind regards
Pete Jordan
Master – Winchester & Portsmouth Guild of Church Bell Ringers.
- A&P Bell Ringers District Practice held at Binsted 12th Century Church – Saturday 19th March 2022
On a marvellous bright and sunny Saturday, a well-attended District Practice was organized by Roger Barber, Ringing Master, at the lovely Binsted Church of the Holy Cross. Under Roger’s guidance the ringing consisted of Rounds, Call Changes, Plain Hunt, Plain Bob Doubles and Minor. Thanks were given to Roger for all his helpful teaching and to Binsted Tower Captain, Andrew Croom-Johnson who made everyone so welcome. After a photograph taken outside the Church everyone called at the Binsted Arms for a drink.
Ringers outside Binsted Church of the Holy Cross.
Photograph taken by Caroline M Welsh member St Peter’s Church Bell Ringers.Caroline Welsh
- 200 Club – March 2022 Draw Results
The March draw for the 200 Club was held at Botley practice on Thursday 17th March, as the Executive Committee meeting on the 19th was being held via Zoom.
The results were as follows:
Draw date: 17th march 2022
Draw for December to March money.
Prize Prize Accumulation £50.00 Winning
NumbersWinners First 50% £25.00 6 Pete Jordan Second 20% £10.00 27 Christine Hill Third 10% £5.00 31 Wendy Ling Fourth 10% £5.00 15 Viv Nobbs Fifth 5% £2.50 19 Roy & Anne LeMarechal Sixth 5% £2.50 35 Piers Armstrong 2 £46 Money to Training & Development Fund from this draw Prizes will be distributed shortly.
New members are always welcome – please see the details on the website 200 Club page and get in touch with me, Robin Milford.
Robin
- Portsmouth District Events for 2022The Portsmouth District committee has now issued the calendar for 2022, which can be downloaded in pdf form for printing or, if you wish to embed the Google Calendar in your electronic calendar system, please click the “plus” symbol at the bottom of the calendar window on this page and follow the instructions.Throughout the year, the calendar is subject to slight changes so it is useful to have the up to date version to hand.
Or click here to download the printable pdf of the 2022 programme: Portsmouth District Calendar 2022
Guild Surprise Royal Practice Sunday 27th Nov 2pm Hursley
Daniel Graham writes:
A final reminder that the November surprise royal practice is taking place this weekend, details as below;
When: Sunday 27th November at 14:00 – 15:30
Where: Hursley
Methods: Special method will remain as Bristol Royal, but we will also ring Cambridge/Yorkshire/Lincolnshire as required.
Cheers,
Daniel
Southampton
Daniel Graham Reports from the Southampton St Michael’s Practice Night
An enjoyable and rewarding practice night in Southampton last night at St Michael’s with a particularly good half course of Cambridge Royal and a nice touch of 8 spliced surprise major. Lots of other ringing too including Grandsire Triples/Caters, Stedman doubles and 4 spliced (CYNS) surprise major.
Next week, at Bitterne Park, we start our new venture of increasing our 8 bell repertoire, by starting to work through the methods in ‘Smiths 23’. First method is Cray Surprise Major.
As always all ringers welcome at any of our practices 🙂
November Surprise Royal Practice Confirmed: Sun 27th Nov 2pm at Hursley
Surprise Royal Practice Sun Nov 27th – **RSVP**
Dear all,
The suggested date for the next Surprise Royal practice is Sunday 27th November 14:00 – 15:30. This will hopefully be at Hursley (tbc).
As with all of these practices, it will only go ahead if I can get a minimum number of people reply who are available and hoping to come.
If you are free and likely to attend please let me know asap. A final decision whether to go ahead or not will be made next week.
Cheers,
Daniel
Southampton
- Contact Daniel Graham
Email:Use Form
Still Short – Surprise Royal Practice – Sun 30th October
Hi all,
Thanks to all those who have already replied. However we are still a fair way short, so if you are available and haven’t relied yet please let me know.
Final decision will be made on Thursday.
Thanks
Contact Dan Graham
RSVP for the planned Guild Surprise Royal Practice Oct 30th
Dear all,
- Contact Daniel Graham
Email:Use Form
Another Successful Guild Surprise Royal Practice
“…please thank everyone who rang on Sunday afternoon: the sound was glorious”
This feedback was from the vicar at St Michael’s Southampton about the ringing for the surprise royal practice which took place yesterday.
Many thanks to all those who made it, it was a successful afternoon with two decent half courses of Bristol Royal achieved along with Cambridge, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. A few people ringing things for the first ever time which is fantastic!
I will be in touch soon about the next practice, but the suggested date is Sunday 30th October.
Thanks. Dan
Surprise Royal Practice 25th September 2pm
Hi all,
I’m delighted to say we have now exceeded the minimum number required, and therefore the surprise royal practice will be going ahead this Sunday :-).
Sunday 25th September, 14:00 – 15:30.
St Michael’s Southampton
Special method = Bristol Royal
Cambridge/Yorkshire/Lincolnshire also rung.
I look forward to seeing you then.
Cheers,
Dan
Surprise Royal Practice – Sunday 25th September in Southampton
Dear all,
The next potential surprise royal practice will be on Sunday 25th September, 14:00 – 15:30. This would take place in Southampton.
As always the practice will only go ahead IF I get replies from enough people saying they are free.
So please let me know asap if you are free on 25/09 and interested in attending.
Thanks,
Contact Daniel Graham