BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

July 2025 #2
 

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 26 July, 14:00 - 16:00
Plain Hunt and Bob Doubles at Caddington  (6)  
For those who are ready to move onto Plain Hunt, or those who can hunt the treble and would like to ring plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles inside and touches unaffected.
Booking essential 
Subject: Plain Hunt - Bob Doubles Caddington
A COUPLE MORE HELPERS NEEDED! Please let Angela know asap if you could assist. 
 

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)
 

Tuesday 14 August, 14.00 - 15 .30
General ringing meeting at Clifton (8) 
Please note change of venue.
This eight bell practice 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)
preceded by Theory Session via Zoom
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. First come, first served!
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

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!

The team and reserves are pictured here, with two not quite so young team leaders (one of whom is still shorter than some team members, even though standing on a step!) outside St Mary's Moseley,

We had a great day, and lots of new experiences, including ringing on 16 at St Martins-in-the-Bullring!

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. Please see details above!.

Other notices

THANK YOU TO ...

...The sixteen people who attended the Surprise Major practice at Dunstable on Saturday 19 July. It was a very successful and enjoyable practice with 7 out of the 8 Surprise Major methods being rung.

... All those who have signed up as helpers for any training events and workshops. Your help and continued support is very much appreciated. Following on from this .....


SENDING THE ELEVATOR BACK DOWN .....

It's often the same people giving of their time and expertise to help at training sessions and workshops.
There's an excellent saying which goes something like this:
When you reach the a certain level, remember to send the elevator back down for others. 
You don't have to be an expert / Surprise Major ringer to assist and make a valuable contribution to training sessions/workshops. In fact, some of our most regular helpers at these are recent "graduates" of the Second Saturday training at Biggleswade or other training sessions. It's always fun and very rewarding to "put something back" and watch others make the progress. Please do consider whether you could sign up as a helper now and again! Please don't hesitate to contact Angela trainingofficer@bacbr.org or Linda president@bacbr.orguk if you'd like more information about volunteering as a helper at any event.

Bells, Beer and Bangers 2025 at Blunham

Come and join us for our fourth year of Bells, Beer and Bangers on Saturday 26th July from 2 – 6 pm; Sup local ales, tuck into locally produced bangers and burgers and enjoy hearing the bells being rung by ringers from across the county and beyond.  Cakes and other refreshments are also available. A poster is here https://www.bacbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blunham-for-socials.png
Thank you to all who have been supporting our bell restoration project. We continue our events and grant seeking to enable the big project, (around £60,000) which includes a complete rehang of the bells, to be undertaken.  Thanks to all so far for your generosity.  The fund currently stands at about £20,000.   For more information contact Davina on blunham@bacbr.org.uk
 

Save the date! Association Ringing Outing  - Saturday 20 September.

Update 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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