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:

• CANCELLED – Ringwood Surprise Practice – 1st Jan 2020

  Given the date and the number of regulars not available it was thought prudent to cancel this session.

  Next practice Wednesday, 5th Feb., special method Deva.

  Alan Bentley

• District Christmas Carol Service 07.12.2019

  

• BEYOND BOB DOUBLES SOPLEY – 04.12.2019
  Hello all,

  Our next practice is at Sopley onWednesday 4th December.  This year there is no choir concert to dislodge us – they’re going somewhere warmer!

  At our last practice we sucessfully concentrated on Little Bob Minor and spliced it with Plain Bob Minor, This time we’ll go a step further and ring touches of spliced!

  If time permits (it flies by) we’ll try plain courses of Single Oxford Bob Minor – basically Bob minimus plus triple dodges in 5/6. Watch the treble.

  As usual, please let me know if you will/won’t be there,

  Hope to see you then,

  Tim

  Contact Tim Kettle

   

• Method Monday at Sacred Heart, Bournemouth 02.12.2019
  Dear All,

  Just a reminder, that this Monday (2nd Dec) is our next Method Monday.

  We are planning to ring touches of St Nicholas Doubles and variable hunt doubles.

  Practice time 6 till 7.30 followed by beer and Wetherspoons pizza.

  Happy learning.

  Kim

  Contact Kim Matthews
• Winchester District Practice at Broughton – Monday 9th December 7.30-9.00pm PLUS Carol Service at Northington on Saturday 14th December

  In the run-up to Christmas, your District is pleased to offer you TWO events in the first half of the month, hopefully before you get too bogged down in Christmas arrangements and commitments.

  Firstly, we have a District Practice a fortnight tonight, at Broughton, on Monday 9th December. Please note the start and finish times of 7.30 p.m. and 9.00 p.m., half an hour later than Broughton’s usual start/finish times, but arranged thus to spare anyone who cares to support this practice and coming from a distance from having to set out too early in the evening.

  Secondly, we are looking forward very much to our Carol Service, a week later than previously mooted, on Saturday 14th December, at Northington, hosted by the Candover Valley Band. As you’ll be aware, the new six has but recently been consecrated, so the afternoon offers much to look forward to.

  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible – and, indeed anyone who’d like to join us from neighbouring districts/the rest of the world – at either or both of these events, at which you will be assured of a warm welcome. I’ve attached the usual flyers/posters – please bring to the attention of your band members, or anyone else you think would be interested.

  Best wishes,
  Bruce
  Winchester District Secretary

  Poster for District Practice at Broughton on Monday 9th December

  Poster for Winchester District Carol Service at Northington on Saturday 14th December
• 8-bell Practice, Bournemouth, St. John’s – Tuesday 10th December

  Tuesday 10^th December will be the last 8-bell practice for this year!  As usual we will ring as many 8 bell methods as possible as well as rounds & plain hunt.

  As a thank you to all our faithful visitors during the year, we will be having mulled wine refreshments at half time.  Please come!

  Penelope

• Beyond Bob Doubles – Wednesday 27th November at Easton, 7.30pm

  Dear All,

  This month’s Beyond Bob Doubles will be at Easton from 19:30 on Wednesday 27th November.  All welcome from the district and beyond.

  Edmund.

• 200 Club – November 2019 Draw Results
  The November draw of the W&P 200 Club took place earlier this week at the practice at Upham. The results were as follows:

  	Draw Date	20/11/2019
  Prize	Prize Accumulation	£74.00	Winning Numbers	Winners
  First	50%	£37.00	27	Christine Hill
  Second	20%	£14.80	31	Wendy Ling
  Third	10%	£7.40	26	Wendy Smart
  Fourth	10%	£7.40	28	Peter Hill
  Fifth	5%	£3.70	18	Tony Smith
  Sixth	5%	£3.70	1	Robin Milford

  If anyone was wondering why the draw was at Upham practice night rather than at the Executive Committee meeting last Saturday, I forgot to take the bag of numbers with me! However, I did remember the cheque book and was able to give the Guild Treasurer a cheque for £166 for the Training and Development Fund from this year’s draw proceeds.

  The next draw should (hopefully) be at the next Executive Committee meeting in March 2020. More members always welcome.

  Robin Milford

   

• Practice Cancelled – Hinton – Tuesday 12th November

  Please note: The Hinton practice on Tuesday, 12th November has been cancelled.

  Thanks
  Robin

• Basingstoke District Practice at Crondall – Saturday 16th November – 7-8:30 pm

  The last Basingstoke District Practice of the year will take place just outside the District at Crondall (8 bells, 14cwt tenor) on Saturday 16th November from 7pm until 8:30pm. As always all levels and abilities will be catered for.

  Hope to see many of you there.

  Joseph