BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

March 2025

Forthcoming Events

Ringing Events in March

Saturday 1 March, 10:30 - 12:30
General Ringing and Short Business Meeting at Haynes (6) 
This general ringing meeting is for everyone, all levels will be catered for. There will be a short business meeting to elect new members, provide news and updates as necessary.
Subject: General Ringing Haynes

Wednesday 5 March, 10:30 - 12:30
General Ringing at Felmersham (8)  
This general ringing meeting is for everyone, all levels will be catered for.
Although not essential, it would be helpful if you could confirm your attendance in advance.
Subject: General Ringing Felmersham

Saturday 8 March (Morning) 
Second Saturday Training at the R J Sharp Ringing Centre at St Andrew's Biggleswade
10:00 - 11:00  Session 1: Bellhandling
11:00 - 11:15  Coffee (and cake!)
11:15 - 12:30  Session 2: 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.
Session 1: for those who are learning to handle a bell with assistance or wish to improve their handling skills
Session 2: For those who can handle a bell unassisted and wish to improve their bell control and progress to ringing rounds/call changes with others
Sign up essential
Please state whether you are coming to Session 1 or Session 2.
Subject: Second Saturday March

Saturday 8 March, 14.30 - 16:30
Plain Hunt and Plain Bob Doubles Workshop at Westoning (6)
For those who can ring Plain Hunt and would like to learn to hunt the treble or can hunt the treble and would like to ring plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles inside and touches unaffected.
PLACES LIMITED. Booking essential 
Subject: Workshop Westoning

Sunday 9 March, 14:30 - 16:30
Bedfordshire Young Ringers at All Saints, Campton
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 more details or to confirm that you are coming please email Linda president@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: Young Ringers March or via the Bedfordshire Young Ringers WhatsApp Group

Sunday 16 March, 14:30 - 16:30
Surprise Major Practice at Eaton Socon (8)  
This advanced practice is for more experienced ringers who can already ring Surprise Major and for those who can already ring Surprise Minor, strike Plain Bob Major well, and would like to progress onto ringing the treble and inside to Surprise Major. 
Focus methods: Cambridge, Yorkshire, Superlative and Bristol Surprise Major
Sign up essential 
Subject: S Major Eaton Socon

Saturday 29 March, 19:00 - 21:00
10/12 bell Advanced Practice at Leighton Buzzard (12).
For those who can competently ring well struck Surprise Major.
We will ring from Grandsire Caters/Cinques upwards.
Sign up essential 
Subject: Advanced practice, Leighton Buzzard

Saturday 17 May
2025 Association AGM at St Mary the Virgin, Woburn

The meeting arrangements and timings are still to be confirmed.
There will be an evening dinner at The Longs Inn, Woburn.
30 places are available and you need to book by 30 March. Please email Sarah Ward  sarahlouiseward34@gmail.com
For further details and the menu see: https://www.bacbr.org.uk/

Please note: The events above are all confirmed, subject to sufficient members signing up by email. Please put the title of the event in the subject line. If any event has to be cancelled due to lack of numbers, we will send an email to those who have signed up. It may not be possible to post any amendments on the website at short notice.
The provisional calendar for the whole year can be found here:
https://www.bacbr.org.uk/events/forthcoming-events/
This will be updated as necessary during the year, once towers are confirmed and we know which types of events are being supported. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

Other notices

Manage Your Membership
https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr

If you haven't yet registered, please do so asap by going to the Association's MemberMojo Homepage  https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr  then follow the instructions. It only takes a few minutes!

The majority of queries we have received have been from members who thought that they had paid offline (ie by cash, cheque, BACS or standing order) but still received an automated expiry email. If this is you, please go back to your Member Form and check that you have done the following ...

Having completed the Member Form, you must click SAVE, then proceed to CHECKOUT and click the appropriate box to indicate your preferred method of payment, then checkout!

If any members of your tower do not have online access, please download a paper membership form, ask them to complete and send to us (details given on form) and we will register them.  Forms can be found here: https://www.bacbr.org.uk/association/business/subscriptions/

* Apologies if you indicated on MemberMojo that you did not wish to continue receiving this Update. We will amend our circulation list to take into account your preferences as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can unsubscribe below.

Printed Annual Reports

All members already have access to Association Annual Reports in their tower or online at:
https://www.bacbr.org.uk/association/annual-report/

The 2024 Annual Report is currently being prepared and will go to print in March. A copy will be provided for each tower in Bedfordshire. We will not be providing a report for each member unless they request it.

The decision to only provide reports to members on request has been taken following consultations over the past few years. Printing fewer reports will not only cut costs but also reduce wastage. Of the members who have so far indicated a preference, 65% do not want a printed annual report ... that's a lot of reports gathering dust on shelves or going into the bin!

If you still wish to receive your own printed copy of the Annual Report, please request it by Friday 14 March at the latest via your Member Form on MemberMojo.
This will be delivered to you via your tower prior to the AGM in May.

Please note: If members of your tower do not have online access, but wish to receive a printed annual report, please download a paper membership form (see above) for them to complete and send to us so that we can register them with MemberMojo and note their report  preference. Alternatively you can request a printed report on their behalf by emailing annualreport@bacbr.org.uk 

Congratulations to ...

everyone who Rang a First In February
and thank you to all those who participated in any ringing which enabled others to achieve a First.

35 performances containing one or more firsts have been recorded on BellBoard so far. These include ringing a bell up, conducting call changes and firsts in various methods.
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=20107 
2 Quarter Peals containing firsts have been rung.
Well done to :
Marc Kasfiner - first QP on a cover bell, and also on the treble to Grandsire Doubles.

Please add details of all Firsts or other significant performances to BellBoard, using the Bedfordshire Association drop down, so that we can all celebrate your achievements! https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk

Updates from the CCCBR
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

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

Angela Blackburn
Ringing Master / Training Officer
trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk

www.bacbr.org.uk

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