BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

July 2024

Please print off a copy for your tower notice board

New Calendar of Events for 2025 ...
What opportunities would you like the Association to provide for YOU?

The rule changes passed at the Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers AGM on 18 May give us the flexibility to organise a calendar of events from Feb 2025 onwards which offers a greater range of ringing, training and social activities for ALL members at ALL levels. We want to make sure that the events we organise are what YOU, the members want, not what we think you might want!!

Thank you to all the members who have already completed this. Deadline extended!

Please let us know what type of ringing, training and social events you would be most likely to support by completing this questionnaire by Weds 31 July:
https://forms.gle/8N1BYGXfxkrnQbkE7

If you have difficuly completing the questionnaire online, please email president@bacbr.org.uk  We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you!

Bedfordshire Ringing Summer School
Wednesday 28 - Saturday 31 August

SIGN UP NOW OPEN!
Please sign up below. Places for students are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis!

To sign up as either a student or a helper please click on the relevant link below and complete the GoogleForm asap, Applications for students close Sunday 31 July

STUDENTS: https://forms.gle/hotEF4iMmUZwrp6p7

HELPERS: https://forms.gle/cnoVwtRhLopphSRu6

The aim of this event is to offer less experienced ringers a full day session (from 10:00-16:30) with experienced ringers to give tuition and intensive practice at an appropriate level. Each day will have a maximum of 3/4 students and will be tailored to the needs of the individual students. There will also be an emphasis on developing good handling and good striking. 

There will be a morning tower and afternoon tower on each day, with an optional pub lunch in between (or bring a packed lunch). Towers will be confirmed once students/helpers have signed up. For students the cost is £15 payable on the day to cover the cost of tower donations. (Pub lunch extra!)

This year ringing sessions will be offered at 3 levels:

Level 1: Plain Hunt on 5 and Plain Bob Doubles.
This level is aimed at any Bedfordshire ringers who can ring rounds and call changes competently and are ready to progress onto Plain Hunt OR who have some experience of ringing Plain Hunt / Plain Bob Doubles but want to improve and gain more confidence. 

Level 2: Beyond Plain Bob Doubles - Treble to Plain Bob Minor and St Clements / Plain Bob Minor inside
This level is aimed at any Bedfordshire ringers who can ring touches of Plain Bob Doubles confidently and are ready to move on. We will discuss an appropriate focus in advance with individual applicants. This might be ringing the treble to Plain Bob Minor and St Clements Bob Minor or plain courses/ touches of Plain Bob Minor inside.

Level 3: Moving on - Ringing Treble Bob on 6 / Developing ropesight and good striking on 8 bells 
This level is aimed at any Bedfordshire ringers who can ring touches of Plain Bob Minor inside confidently, and who want to move on to ringing the treble to Treble Bob and Surprise Minor methods, and/or improving their ropesight and striking on 8 bells, with a focus on ringing Plain Hunt on 7 accurately on bells of different weights and on the treble to Grandsire and Plain Bob Triples.

Students will be allocated ONE full day session.

We would expect that helpers are experienced ringers, able to ring Plain Bob Doubles and the suggested methods for Levels 2 and 3 accurately and reliably.

To sign up as either a student or a helper please click on the relevant link below and complete the GoogleForm asap, Applications for students close Sunday 31 July

STUDENTS: https://forms.gle/hotEF4iMmUZwrp6p7
 
HELPERS: https://forms.gle/cnoVwtRhLopphSRu6

All students and helpers are invited to a social evening with pizza and BYO  drinks in Campton on the Saturday evening. Details will be sent to participants nearer the time.

Forthcoming Events

Saturday Ringing Meetings  

6 July   Felmersham (8).16.30 Ringing followed by picnic tea. 18:00 Quarterly meeting (Bedford District). Everyone welcome.

13 July   Northill (6) Afternoon ringing  15:30-17:30 (NB This is a change from the tower published at the ADM)

27 July   Shillington (5) 18:30 Meeting (Luton District): 19:00 Evening Ringing
 

Second Saturday Training
at the R J Sharp Ringing Centre 

at St Andrews Biggleswade

Next session: Saturday 13 July

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.  
Students: please sign up in advance by completing the Googleform: 
https://forms.gle/vvk4XLkABRKKTPJQ6
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.)

Please note: there will be no training session in August due to holidays!
 

Bedfordshire Young Ringers

On Saturday 6 July, our Young Ringers will be going to the RWNYC in London. Although we are not competing this year, we are looking forward to a great day out!

The next practice will be on Sunday 11 August
at All Saints Campton, 14:30-16:30

Future dates All Sundays at All Saints, Campton: 8 Sept, 13 Oct, 10 Nov, 8 Dec

Bedfordshire Young Ringers is for all young ringers aged 18 or under, whatever your ringing experience. (Experienced tutors will be there to help!) 
Come along to ring with ringers your own age, eat cake and have fun!

For safeguarding reasons, we ask that all young ringers under the age of 18 are accompanied by an adult. Adults do not need to stay for the whole session (though you are very welcome to do so - tea, coffee and a comfortable place to sit will be available). We will need some paperwork to be completed for each young ringer the first time they attend. 

For further details please email Linda president@bacbr.org.uk
 

Surprise Major Practices

The next practice is on
Sunday 18 August 14:30-16:30
Venue tbc

Dates for future practices, all third Sunday of alternate months: 18 August, 20 October, 15 December 

Congratulations to ...

Cameron White-Spunner - First Quarter on 12 as conductor 
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1750126

Steven Akhurst - First Quarter as conductor
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1751051

Other news ...

Well done to the 24 Bedfordshire towers who rang for the anniversary of D-Day on Thursday 6 June, To view these performances on BellBoard please go to:   https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/search.php?region=Bedfordshire&event=19031

Updates from the CCCBR
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

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

www.bacbr.org.uk

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