BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

Latest news and information for all towers and ringers in Bedfordshire

November 2023
Please forward to other ringers in your tower and print off a copy for your tower notice board.

Forthcoming Training Sessions and Meetings

Second Saturday Training
 
at the R J Sharp Ringing Centre 
at St Andrews Biggleswade

Next session: Saturday 4 November
(Please note change from the usual Second Saturday)

10:00 - 11:00  Bellhandling
11:00 - 11:15  Coffee (and cake!)
11:15 - 12:30  Foundation skills - rounds, call changes, Plain Hunt

These sessions are aimed at less experienced Bedfordshire ringers who would like to improve basic skills and confidence.  
It would be really helpful if students could sign up in advance please as far as possible by completing the googleform:  https://forms.gle/STqwN2hkBKv5XuNi8  or email Chris Williams christine.williams.bells@gmail.com  so that we know who is coming and can plan accordingly. (If you haven't signed up but find yourself able to come at the last minute, please do still come along.)

Dates for your Diary

Surprise Major Practice

The next practice is on
Sunday 3 December 14:30-16:30
at Campton

Tea, coffee and mince pies!

Please sign up by Friday 1 December if you are coming, either via this link (preferably):
https://forms.gle/E9xjzA8giLw4m66SA
or send an email to president@bacbr.org.uk
Better still, sign up today and put the date in your diary as a definite commitment!!

Tower donation of £2 per ringer requested, payable on the day.

This advanced practice is aimed at ringers who:

• can already ring Surprise Major inside
• or have rung the treble to Surprise Major and have learned Cambridge S Major
• or have rung Surprise Minor and would like to extend this to Major

Other News and Events

RIP

We are very sorry to inform you that Bob Churchill died on Wednesday 25th October at a care home in Tilsworth, having been in hospital for 8 weeks and then 5 weeks in the care home prior to his death. Bob was a Honorary Life Member and Past Vice-President of the Association. The funeral will be at Husborne Crawley and then on to the hall at Eversholt. Further details will be posted on the website and Facebook as soon as they are available.
 

Firsts are not just for February! Please submit any Firsts to BellBoard  https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/ so that we can all share in the achievements of Bedfordshire ringers.

Review of the Association

Please let us have your thoughts and suggestions!

As you may be aware last year the Association General Committee asked for your views on the future of the Association, so that we can best support the next generation of ringers. The next General Committee Meeting is on Saturday 11 November, and there are two particular issues that we will be discussing. We are inviting your comments prior to this.

1. Restructuring of the Association

 
Presently we have over 300 ringers in the Association, with an average attendance of 15 ringers at each District meeting. 

We are finding it increasingly more difficult to encourage ringers to take on posts / responsibilities and at district level not all posts are currently filled. Our current structure requires 48 (yes, 48!!!!) positions to be filled, with some ringers taking on more than one role. Is this sustainable? The GC will be considering which of the current roles we need or whether we could create a revised structure with new roles, to enable us to function better and provide better ringing opportunities across the county.

2. Annual Report
 
The GC is also looking at not producing a paper version of the annual report as the cost of printing is going up. (Currently about £500 per year.) As part of the constitution we must produce an annual report but there is no specification about the its format. The report is printed in late February/early March. By its nature, it may already be out of date when it’s distributed just before the AGM in May. If the annual report was published instead on the website, details of tower correspondents/practices etc. could be updated more regularly. We would make sure the format was such that it could be printed if required. 

The money saved could be used to build / maintain a new website and for future years any surplus could go into the Association Bell fund. We are seeking your ideas. 

There have been opportunities to discuss this at the District meetings already held this month, and some helpful feedback given. Thank you! Any further views are welcomed.
 
If you have a suggestion about the restructuring of the Association or production of the annual report please email Sarah secretary@bacbr.org.uk or Linda president@bacbr.org.uk by Friday 10 November.

Updates from the Central Council of Church Bellringers

NEW:
Recruitment and promotional videos now available. The PR Workgroup are proud to present two videos that were commissioned earlier this year to support recruitment and promotion activities.  The videos are free to use and can be accessed via the CCCBR YouTube channel. For more details go to https://cccbr.org.uk/2023/09/05/recruitment-and-promotional-videos-go-live/

Do keep an eye on the Central Council website for wider ringing news, resources and helpful information!   https://cccbr.org.uk

Linda Garton
President, BACBR 
president@bacbr.org.uk

www.bacbr.org.uk

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