BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

August 2025 
 

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 2  August, 2.30 - 4.30
General Ringing and Short Business Meeting at Flitton (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. Sign up preferable  for contact purposes.
Subject: General Ringing Flitton
 

Saturday 9 August (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  (Helpers and students please)
Please state whether you are coming to Session 1 or Session 2.
Subject: Second Saturday August
 

Sunday 10 August, 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 youngringers@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: Young Ringers August or via the Bedfordshire Young Ringers WhatsApp Group (Please ask to be added to this when you attend a Young Ringers' session)
 

Thursday 14 August, 14.00 - 15 .30
General ringing meeting at Clifton (8) 
Please note change of venue and correct day.
This general ringing meeting is for everyone, all levels will be catered for. Sign up preferable  for contact purposes.
Subject: General Ringing Clifton
 

Saturday 16 August, All day
Plain Bob Doubles Workshop at Haynes (6) - NOW FULL - waiting list available
preceded by Theory Session via Zoom (no limit on numbers for this one)
on Monday 11 August, 18:00 - 19:00
Please note that this is a change to the event previously advertised.
This workshop is aimed primarily at students who wish to progress from ringing the treble to Plain Bob Doubles to ringing inside, or who can ring inside and want to progress to ringing a touch.
The day will comprise of two sessions, with a pub lunch in between, Students may sign up to one or both sessions (numbers permitting)
Morning: 10.00-12.30
Afternoon: 14:00 - 16.30
Cost £5 per session (ie £10 for the day) to cover tower donation and refreshments payable on the day.
Booking essential by Friday 8 August.
Numbers limited. NOW FULL but waiting list available.
Subject: Bob Doubles Haynes. Please specify whether you wish to attend in the morning/afternoon or both (if numbers permit)

Thank you to those who have already been in touch with Linda regarding these sessions. Please consider yourself booked in! 

The workshop will be preceded on
Monday 11 August, 18:00 - 19:00 by a 
Plain Bob Doubles Theory Session via Zoom
Tips, tricks and signposts to help you to learn and stay right in Plain Bob Doubles!
Open to all, whether or not attending the workshop.
Sign up essential by Friday 8 August
Subject: Bob Doubles Zoom

Further details of both the workshop and theory session will be sent out to all who have signed up 24 hours prior to the zoom.
 

Saturday 23 August, 14:00 - 16:00
Plain Doubles and Minor practice at Tilsworth  (6)  
For those who can ring a touch of Plain Bob Doubles unaffected and beyond! 'Stepping Stones' learning to ring doubles and plain minor methods by structure, opportunities to call touches. 
Booking essential 
Subject: Plain Doubles and Minor Tilsworth

Proposed September events -  please check website calendar for latest situation. 

Saturday 6 September. 10:30 - 12:30 - General Ringing with short business meeting, Biddenham (8)
Saturday 13 September. 10:00 - 12:30 - Second Saturday Training at the RJ Sharp Ringing Centre, St Andrew's, Biggleswade, Two sessions.
Saturday 13 September. 14:30 - 16:30  - Plain Hunt and Bob Doubles practice, Silsoe (6).
Sunday 14 September. 14:30 - 16:30 - Young Ringers practice at Campton (8)
Tuesday 16 September. 14:30 - 16:30 - General Ringing,  Colmworth (6)
Saturday 20 September. Association Outing to the Milton Keynes Area. Full details below.
Saturday 27 September. 14:30 - 16:00 - Surprise Minor Practice, Arlesey (6)

Association Outing - Saturday 20 September 

Join us for our outing to the Milton Keynes area - all are welcome! We'll be ringing for 45 mins at each church.

10.00  – Cosgrove, St Peter & St Paul, (6) 10-0-26 in G

11.15 – Old Wolverton, Holy Trinity, (6) 13cwt in G

12.15 –  Great Linford, St Andrew, (6) 16-1-22 in F#

Lunch 1.00- 2.30pm own arrangements.

2.30 – Downs Barn, Cross and Stable, (8) 6-0-10 in C

3.30 – Loughton, All Saints, (6) 11-2-14 in G

4.30 – Milton Keynes Village, All Saints, (6) 9-0-0 in G

Please let us know you’re coming by completing this form as soon as possible   Poll – Bedfordshire Association Outing – Framadate

£10 adult ringers, £5 for under 19's, to cover tower donations

Stay on for an evening meal at The Wheatsheaf, Bow Brickhill – 5.45pm.  The menu is available on the website here.
Please email your order to Sarah Ward as  soon as possible –  sarahlouiseward34@gmail.com

Congratulations to ...

Bedfordshire Young Ringers....
 

who rang really well and came 2nd in the Beginners' Call Changes category at the Ringing World National Youth Contest in Birmingham on Saturday 5 July. Very well done! 

Thank you too to parents, grandparents and other supporters who came along on the day to cheer them on! We had a great day, and lots of new experiences, including ringing on 16 at St Martins-in-the-Bullring! See more pictures of the day are on the website  here 

All young ringers are really welcome to come along to our practices on the second Sunday of each month at Campton. We cater for all ringing levels, from bellhandling upwards. See the August and September dates and details above.
 

Some July 'firsts' 
 

Pam Bailey - who rang her first Quarter Peal of Swindon Surprise Royal at Kempston on 18 July. https://bellboard.uk/view.php?id=1871619
Dean De-Matteis who rang his first Quarter Peal of Royal, and Helen Manktelow and Alex Nash who rang their  first Quarter Peal of Lincolnshire Surprise Royal at Kempston on 25 July. https://bellboard.uk/view.php?id=1871622
Cameron White-Spunner who conducted his first Quarter Peal of Erin Cinques at St Pauls Bedford on 27 July. https://bellboard.uk/view.php?id=1871583

Other notices

Bells, Beer and Bangers at Blunham - Thank you!
Another great event despite the opening downpour.  A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported raising over £2,000 for our bell repairs.
Thank you to the band of ringers who took on the challenge to ring a quarter peal of Cambridge Surprise Minor to kick the afternoon off, and other ringers from across the county and beyond who helped make it such a success. For more information about the appeal or to donate contact Davina on Blunham@bacbr.org.uk

Guess the weight of Henlow tenor!
The true weight of the Henlow tenor has been a matter of speculation for 150 years and could be anything between 12½ and 15½ cwt – but the mystery will be solved when it is weighed this summer. Whilst the bells are undergoing some refurbishment, the ringers have decided to have a 'Guess the weight of the tenor' competition to raise funds for the church. The bell hangers will weigh the tenor and put the weight in a sealed envelope.

Click on the link below to enter as many guesses as you want to pay for, at £5 a guess. The winner will be revealed when the envelope is opened at the Rededication Service in September. The closest guess will win £50 and a bottle of Bells! It will be fun to guess, fascinating to learn the true weight and should raise some money for the church.

ENTER on  this link https://www.guesstheweightofthetenor.co.uk/

Association or Tower branded clothing available shortly
Our Secretary, Marc Kasfiner, is currently exploring options for Association and Tower branded clothing  to be available to members to buy. You'll be able to order items such as sweatshirts, hoodies, polo and T shirts - all  with an embroidered bell motif and relevant wording. We'll post more details as soon as things are finalised.

Update from the CCCBR 
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

Ringing for VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, Friday 15  August - more information here VJ Day – CCCBR

The Central Council's Annual Meeting and Roadshow - is being held over the weekend of Friday 5th - Sunday 7th September in Sheffield.
The Roadshow on Sunday is open to all  and runs from 11am to 4.30pm with trade stands, demonstrations, speaker events and the chance to try out mobile rings and training bells.  The full programme will be published shortly, but highlights include:

• Talks on a wide variety of subjects including:
• “Ringers… a scandal to the Church, and a disgrace to themselves”
• “What does karate teach us”?
• an interactive workshop on all you need to know about creating engaging media content – bring your tablet or laptop along!
• a Yorkshire Association perspective
• “We’ve always done it like that!” Transforming your Guild or Association: from the Past to a Sustainable Future
• Stalls and trade stands from many ringing organisations and trade suppliers
• Try out your striking skills on mobile rings
• See what a training bell could do for your tower by testing the training bells on offer

Booking closes at midnight on Sunday 17th August 2025. £10 Adults, Children go free. Use this link to book https://events.cccbr.org.uk/product/annual-meeting-2025

The Central Council Code for Ringing  - a reminder for everyone about this code for ringers - Code-for-Ringing-Edition-1-v1-285.pdf 

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

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

www.bacbr.org.uk

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