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:

• A&P: Practice cancelled at Bramshott – 2nd March 2020
  Dear All,

  I am afraid that we are unable to have a ringing practice at Bramshott on Monday 2nd March.

  We have just been informed that the stone work repairs in the chancel are being carried out all next week. Scaffolding is to be erected in the chancel on Monday morning, close to the ringing area, and we have been advised, for safety reasons, to curtail ringing until the work is complete and scaffolding removed.  

  Hopefully this should be done within the week – so practices will resume on Monday 9th March 7.30 to 9 pm. 

  As always, visitors are most welcome.  

  If there is any further delay with the masonry work, I will, of course, let you all know.

  Many thanks.

  Di Hart,

  Tower Captain
• C & S March District Practice and Hartless Shield Striking Competition – Sat 21st March at Milford-on-Sea, 2.30-4.30pm

  

• Basingstoke District Practices for 2020

  Please see below a list of the District Practices for this year

  

• All Saint’s Fawley – Tower Keeper

  We are looking for someone to carry out routine checking and maintenance of our bells as currently we don’t have anyone physically able to do it.
  Please contact me if you may be able to help us. We will happily agree a fee for this work.

  Lawrence Clark
  Fawley Bell Ringers Secretary & Treasurer

  T: 024 8084 3662
  M: 07711 577919

• A&P: Buriton practices cancelled on 26th February and 4th March

  There will be no practice at Buriton on Wednesday 26th February it being Ash Wednesday when there will be a Service in Church at 7.30pm.
  The following Wednesday, 4th March, there will again be no practice as we will then be holding our AGM.
  Thereafter we will be practising normally when all will once again be most welcome.
  David Hughes
  Tower Captain

• Winchester District – Beyond Bob Doubles at East Tytherley – Wed 26th Feb – 7.30-9pm

  Dear All,

  This month’s Beyond Bob Doubles will be at East Tytherley on Wednesday 26th February, expect Little Bob, Grandsire, maybe Stedman.  All welcome.

  Edmund.

• C&S District NEW Training Morning. Brockenhurst. Saturday 21st March 9:30am until 12:00noon.

  

• Basingstoke District Practice at Yateley – Saturday 21st March 2020 – 4:30pm – 6pm

  The next Basingstoke District Practice will be held at St. Peter’s Yateley (8 bells, 11cwt tenor) on Saturday 21st March from 4:30pm to 6pm. As always all levels and abilities are welcome and rounds, call changes, Plain Bob and Grandsire will be rung. A brief meeting for the election of any new members may be held.

• Winchester District Practice – Tues 25th Feb at Crawley, 7.30-9pm.

  Dear All,

  Please find attached poster for our next District practice, which is in Crawley, so nice and central for (nearly) everyone.

  Hope to see lots of you there!

  Best wishes meanwhile,

  Bruce

  District Secretary

• Draft Minutes for 2019 Annual Andover District Meeting held at Highclere 11th January 2020 at 3.30pm

  Draft Minutes for 2019 Annual Andover District Meeting

  held at Highclere

  11^th January 2020 at 3.30pm

  Officers attending: Peter Niblett (PN), Chair; Ros Brandwood (RB), Treasurer; Helen Piper (HP), Ringing Master; Maggie Hiller (MH), Secretary; Eve Lind Smith (ELS), Vice Chair.

  Other Andover Members:  Mike & Lucy Hopkins Till, Gill Gardner, Helen Thomas, Carol Waller, Sarah Cooney, Mike Winterbourne, Alec Gray, Matthew Holbrook & Alice, Ken Porter, Chris Pack, Deidre Kenny.

  Other Guild Members: Christine Knights-Whittome, Pete Jordan, Lin Jordan.

   

  1. Welcome and Vote of Thanks

  Remembering those District ringers who passed away in 2019

  Maurice Dodd – ringer at Highclere.  Jen Saunders – ringer at Longparish.

   

  2. Apologies

  Received from Louise Wodehouse of Clatford; Martin Newbury, Tim Pink, Janet Larkin of Kingsclere; Brian Oakes, Ken Waller, Roger Thomas of St. Mary Bourne.

  3. Acceptance of 2018 ADM Minutes. (Whitchurch 12.1.19)

  The minutes copies of which had been distributed previously were agreed.

  Proposed – Peter Niblett              Seconded – Gill Gardner                All in agreement     Signed by PN (Chair)

  4. 4. Matters Arising

  a. WW1 events – these were covered in the Half-yearly meeting held at Whitchurch in July 2019.

  b. GDPR – A list of those District members wanting to be included has been compiled.

  Guild President, Peter reported that a new policy and agreed at the Exec meeting in November 2019.

  To be distributed by District secretary to all towers.  Any queries to be followed up by secretary.

  c. ADM Format

  Comments from the Chair were requested from those attending.

  • Fewer than hoped for less experienced ringers but those turning out to offer support was extremely good
  • The final ring was well attended
  • The earlier start was welcomed
  • The meeting was brisk and businesslike
  • A longer trial would be required to decide on any permanent changes
  • It was suggested that the District needed to provide things that ringers wanted and not attempt to persuade them to attend what was considered they needed
  • If the towers unable to attend the ADM could give their reasons for not showing and suggest activities which might help their members, meetings might be better attended.

  5. Acceptance of 2019 Half-Yearly Minutes. Whitchurch 1.7.19

  The minutes copies of which had been distributed previously were agreed.

  Proposed – Ros Brandwood              Seconded – Helen Thomas           All in agreement.

  Signed by PN (Chair)

   

  6. Matters Arising

  a. Risk Assessments

  PN has written a risk assessment plan for Whitchurch.  He is willing to share his plan with anyone wanting to complete their own.

  b. Striking Competition

  Little positive interest has been shown by those who have discussed it.  Further discussion is required to find out what would be worth organising.

  c. Aird and Gosling Challenge Cups

  Despite several attempts the whereabouts of these cups has not been established.  MH will continue to follow this up.

  d. District Outing

  The outing to mid-Hampshire was well attended but daylight was poor and next year it was thought bringing it forward 2 or three weeks would help to overcome this.  All towers booked were attended.

  7. Officers’ Reports for 2019.

  a.Chair, Peter Niblett

  Recruitment and Teaching

  Following the Guild education meeting in September 2019 the general consensus was that

  • whole day courses were too long .
  • work covered was not followed up on return to the various Districts.

  As a result one whole day course will replace the current four and will be aimed at more experienced ringers.

  Districts need to evaluate their own needs and run their own training with support provided by the Education Committee if requested.

  PN thanked the Ringing Masters, Helen Piper and Tim Pink for their dedication and the other officers on the District committee.

  b. Secretary, Maggie Hiller

  The overall number of ringers has remained much the same for weekly tower practices and monthly District practices.  A small group of very supportive towers attend all DPs and our Ringing Masters have decided to concentrate their efforts within this group in 2020.

  Groups of towers have combined resources to strengthen ringing numbers on practise nights.  Tangley, Kingsclere and the Wallops have regular combined practices with the support of their local towers.  Quarter peals and other dedicated ringing along with weddings have benefitted from this local support.  Visiting groups have also rung QPs.

  Dedicated ringing from several towers in the District showed solidarity with the people of France following the Notre Dame fire.

  Highclere reports that ill health and the sad loss of Maurice Dodd has reduced their band.  They would welcome new recruits.

  The S.M.B. outing to the Somerset Levels in August was an opportunity to catch up with former District ringers Charlie Hunt and John Simpson.

  The Wallops are back to full strength with repairs to the 500 year-old tenor and the other bells at Over Wallop.

  Ecchinswell hopes to complete the installation of their new ring of six this year.

  A retired ringer at Whitchurch has donated a lovely, handmade working model of a bell.  The tower secretary believes he takes orders if other towers require a teaching aid.

  Unfortunately, the District has to say goodbye to incumbents Craig Marshall at S.M.B., Hurstbourne Priors and Longparish and David Bartholomew at Burghclere, Newtown and Ecchinswell.  We wish them well.

  Maggie Hiller Secretary

  c. Treasurer, Ros Brandwood

  The Treasurer reported on the accounts for the year ended 30th November 2019, copies of which had been distributed to the meeting.

  It was noted that membership numbers and subscription income had decreased slightly, but subscription income was still over £1,000.  After deducting the amounts due to the Guild and other expenses, the District had sustained a small surplus of expenditure over income of £27.94 (a surplus income over expenditure of £150 in 2018).  The balance carried forward at the year-end was £1,432.37.

  A “one-off” contribution of £151 had been made to the Guild’s WW1 project and, once again, the district had met the tower fees for the District outing (£100).  The training bursaries offered previously had not been taken up.

  Adoption of the accounts was proposed by Gill Gardner, seconded by Helen Piper and agreed by the meeting.

  d. Ringing Masters, Helen Piper and Tim Pink

  Many practices went well however this year the Ringing Masters have decided to limit the venues to the towers which most support the monthly event.

  PN agreed this would be a sensible option and that persuading those ringers who rarely attended DPs required a different solution.

  It was suggested that varying the times and days of DPs might encourage others to attend.

  Surprise practices are held on the second week of each month.  The timetable for 2020 will be given out at the Newbury Branch in March.  Mike Till will send one to the Andover District.

  All towers have received a copy of the District’s 2020 monthly practices.  The DP for the Andover District will be held on Wednesday August 5^th.

  8. Election of Officers

   ‘Three District officers are to be elected for a term of two years on a rolling basis from 2018’

  Year 1 – Chair, Vice Ringing Master, Treasurer

  Year 2 – Vice Chair, Secretary, Ringing Master.

  2020 is Year 1- Officers to be elected:

  Chair (currently Peter Niblett)

  As there were no new nominations Peter has agreed to carry on for another year and was elected.

  Vice Ringing Master (currently Tim Pink)

  As there were no new nominations Tim has agreed to carry on for another year and was elected.

  Treasurer (currently Ros Brandwood)

  As there were no new nominations Ros has agreed to carry on for another year and was elected.

  The 2019 Secretary 

   MH wished to stand down at the last ADM.  She will be absent for the Half-yearly meeting this year and would be very happy if someone would consider taking the minutes for this event.

  As there were no new nominations Maggie has agreed to carry on for one further year.

  9. Appointments

  Independent Examiner (currently Carol Waller)

  Carol has very kindly agreed to continue in this post and was appointed.

  2 Guild Exec Reps (currently District Secretary and Mike Winterbourne)

  MH to continue.  Lucy Hopkins Till very kindly volunteered to attend these meetings as the other Guild Exec Rep.  Both appointed.

   

  District Forum Reps (currently Brian Oakes and Helen Thomas)

  Both Brian and Helen have agreed to continue and was appointed.

  • Election of New Members

   

  Surname	Forename	Tower	Proposed by	Seconded by	Membership type
  Pearce	Debbie	Goodworth Clatford	Max Roberts	Angela Rogers	Probationer
  Freegarde	Tim	Goodworth Clatford	Max Roberts	Angela Rogers	Probationer
  Sketchley	Chris	Highclere	Mike Hopkins Till	Lucy Hopkins Till	Probationer
  Latter	Richard	Kingsclere	Maggie Hiller	Helen Piper	Probationer
  Hudson	John	Kingsclere	Tim Pink	Janet Larkins	Probationer
  Donkin	Richard	Nether Wallop	Ken Porter	Jamie Biles	Probationer

  Proposed – Peter Niblett            Seconded- Ros Brandwood

  • Proposals

  Final submission for any new proposals need to be presented to the secretary at least one month prior to the ADM.  (12.12.2018)

  None forthcoming.

  12. Forthcoming Events

  Monthly District Practices:

  See Ringing Masters report.

  A list of DPs is attached.  The date for attending the cathedral in August has been set for Wednesday 5th August.

   Annual District Outing 2020

  PN has very kindly volunteered to organise this but people must bear in mind it can be a long and drawn out process if responses from towers are slow.  Peter is often away and it may take time.

  Education Days: Christine Knights-Whittome

  Christine’s comments very much reflect those of PN Item 7b.  She reported that the half-day events were very popular.  ‘Raising and Lowering’ in particular for which there is still a waiting list.

  The September meeting felt that to use resources most efficiently District ringing masters needed to find out for themselves what ringers really wanted by contacting their own towers. If support for training events is needed then it can be provided with the help of the Education committee.  Follow up practices are essential if progress is to be made and DRMs need to accommodate this in their planning,

  • Guild Master’s Report

  The time and effort put in by those ringers who teach often surprises learners.  Tutors do it because they want to and taking on the job isn’t as scary as you might think.

  There are two Guild projects which some of you may like to be involved with especially if you have expertise in photography or sound recording.

  The Guild, under the supervision of Alan Yalden, wants to create photographic and oral archives of peals rung in the Guild.

  Alan requires:

  • current photographs of peal boards- many of which hang in your towers
  • contacts to collect and sort the photos
  • advice on how the best types of sound recordings can be achieved
  • sound recordings of the bells

  If anyone would like to be involved please contact Peter Jordan.

  10 Salisbury Gardens          Phone:07583 356936      Email: petejordan.wp@talktalk.net

  Basingstoke

  RG22 6NT

   

  14. AOB

  a. Each tower is required to inform the editor of the Guild Report how many copies are required by them this year.

  Please contact Ros Brandwood with your total.  ros.brandwood@btinternet.com

  Phone: 01635 48937

  b. 2020 ADM Venue

  Eve Lind Smith, explained that Hurstbourne Priors which was to be the venue for the next District ADM in January 2021 has only 2 ringers and is badly placed to hold the event.

  She suggested Longparish as an alternative.  As a six-bell tower it might appear less intimidating to the less experienced ringers we have been trying to encourage to attend today (currently it is only 8 bell towers that hold ADMs).

  Most thought this a suitable alternative.  Eve will enquire at Longparish to find out if the ringers are amenable to this.

  Meeting closed at 4.34pm

  Dates of next meetings:  Half-yearly – Whitchurch on Monday 6th July 2020

  2020 ADM at Hurstborne Priors on Saturday 9^th January 2021 (provisional)