The Reports of Recent Visits of the Guild appear below:
2026
The Spring AGM meeting went very well with some good ringing in the Cambridge area and superbly organised by Louise Webber. The AGM was held at Oakington where it was decided that Richard Saddleton would take over running the RAFGB website and Louise Weber would be the new Publicity Officer. There were no volunteers to organise a Summer Meeting but the Ringing Master would try to organise a couple of QPs for Armed Forces Day in the Aldershot/Farnborough area as an alternative event.
The Battle of Britain meeting was centered around the Banbury area with ringing at 15 towers over 3 days and 16 ringers attended. Lovely bells were rung differing from heavy 8’s to new 6’s and included a 10 at Banbury itself. A good spread of ringing abilities and good sounding bells. Geoff Cowling also organised a social evening in Banbury enjoyed by all.
2025
For the second year running Jenny & Ian Ferguson organised the Summer meeting, this time in Shropshire venturing into North Wales. We started on the lovely bells at Ellesmere before 4 other towers, with a good standard of ringing and finished up at Oswestry. Attendance by members was down a bit (only 8 ringers) but help from some local ringers made up a good band able to instruct and supervise as required. A really nice tea, organised by Jenny, and Ian’s sister, in the Oswestry Church Hall finished of a very fine day.
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 Triples 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.