Recent Visits

The Reports of Recent Visits of the Guild appear below:

2024

The Spring ’24 AGM meet to the East of Nottingham began with a successful evening QP on 22nd March of Grandsire Triples at Radcliffe-on-Trent with the main event the following day.  Twenty ringers enjoyed all the 5 towers visited, 4 very nice rings of 8 bells and the new anticlockwise 6 at Car Colston.  The amazingly renovated and invigorated church at the latter, bearing the most impressive and locally created King George III Crest, with refreshment hosting by local supporters making the visit most memorable.  The AGM was held at East Bridgford Church and followed a short Service and a superb ringers tea, all organised by Steve and Kay Green.

Thanks to Jenny and Ian Ferguson the Summer meeting was held in the Welsh Marches area on Saturday 15th June.  A QP of Grandsire triple was rung the evening before.  On the day 6 churches were visited by 16 ringing members.  Two 6 bell towers and a 10 bell (Clun) in the morning, followed by 2 more 6 bells and then the 8 bells at Presteigne in the afternoon where tea followed the ringing.

The Battle of Britain meeting was organised by Christine Baldock in the Hailsham area from 12th till 14th September. Three towers on the Thursday pm followed by a Fish & Chip supper at Christine’s house.  The Friday was planned as a training day with very useful instruction from Paul Wotton (RN Guild) on the tied bells at Hailsham and dinner at an Indian restaurant followed.  Five tower visits on the Saturday with some good surprise major and minor ringing, afternoon support from local ringers and Tea served at Burwash by the incumbent and parishioners.  All in all a very good three day meeting and enjoyable ringing, all thanks to Christine’s great hosting and organisation.

2023

On 23rd & 24th March the Guild held its 50th Anniversary meeting. On the 23rd, 6 towers were visited on the Hertfordshire/Essex border and a QP attempt was made on newly rehung bells at Great Chishill.  On 24th, 3 towers were visited before a very good celebratory lunch in Saffron Walden followed by ringing at Saffron Walden itself.  30 members and guests sat down for the sponsored lunch and 25 ringers took part in the ringing.  An AGM Meeting followed the lunch and a new team of Guild Officers was elected.

On 13th May Members gathered in London for 2 QP attempts for the Coronation.  As SCD was unavailable due to masonry maintenance these attempts were rung at St Magnus followed by Garlickhythe.

On Sat 10th June 15 ringers gathered for the Guild Summer Meeting and visited 6 towers North of Oxford.  A fine day’s ringing with a buffet lunch provided by Guild Officers Clare and Mike.

On 21st thro 23rd September the BofB meeting visited 15 towers in West Suffolk.  26 ringing members attended at various times throughout the 3 days and a most enjoyable evening social dinner was held at a local hostelry on the Friday evening.  Some very fine rings of bells were visited with ringing ranging from call changes to Surprise Major.

2022 

25th March.  QP of St Clements College Bob Minor rung at All Saints, Eagle prior to following day’s Guild visit

26th March – 5 towers around Lincoln visited.  Tea and AGM held at Lincoln St Giles.  A well attended event with 28 sitting down for tea.

11th June.  5 towers around Forest of Dean and Severn Valley visited also Rev David Gill’s Mini Ring in his garage, followed by Tea at a local pub.   20 members attended also Navy and Army Guilds represented.  A great day out organised by retired RAF Chaplin, Rev Robin Noble.

The September BofB meeting was sadly cancelled due to death of HM Queen.

2020/21

Early March ’20 – Practice at SCD

All other events cancelled due to Covid;  however up to 10 members joined one another in “Ringing Room” where acquaintances were eagerly renewed and some joyous ringing was sprinkled with updating of tales to be told.

Late ’21   Members invited to join the Army Guild to visit Towers around Devizes area.

2019

9th Mar              5 towers in Lincolnshire, near Skegness + AGM –  Well attended

12-15th Sep     16 towers in North Yorkshire, Northallerton area – Well attended

7th Dec                5 towers in Surrey, Guildford area, joined Guildford Guild Carol Service

2018

10th Mar             6 towers in Leicestershire, near Loughborough + AGM

20-22th Sep     All 8 towers in the Channel Islands

1st Dec                 6 towers in Herefordshire, near Leominster

Also in 2018 Quarter Peals were rung at Waddington, Lincs for the official opening of the International Bomber Command Information Centre, St Clement-Danes for the RAF 100th anniversary and the final reunion service of RAF Changi St Georges Fellowship and also St Clement Danes for the Centenary of the 1918 Armistice.

2017

11th Mar            7 towers in Northamptonshire, near Thrapston

2nd Dec             6 towers in Bedfordshire, between Luton and Bedford

2016

12th Mar             6 towers in Nottinghamshire, near Nottingham.

15-17th Sep      16 towers in Somerset, north west of Taunton

3rd Dec               6 towers in the East Sussex/Kent area.