BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

December 2025 
 

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 6 December, 14:30 - 16:30
General Ringing and Short Business Meeting at Oakley (6) Please sign up for this asap - we need some more ringers!
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. Please let us know that you are coming so we know the practice will be viable.
Sign up via the MemberMojo Store
https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store 
or Email Angela - trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: General Ringing Oakley
 

Saturday 13 December 
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)
Email Angela - trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk and/or Chris Williams -  christine.williams.bells@gmail.com
Please state whether you are coming to Session 1 or Session 2.
Subject: Second Saturday December
 

Sunday  14 December, 14:30 - 16:30 
Bedfordshire Young Ringers at 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 sign up
Email youngringers@bacbr.org.uk
or via the Bedfordshire Young Ringers WhatsApp Group (Please ask to be added to this when you attend a Young Ringers' session)
 

Saturday 20 December, 14:00 - 16:00 (note time change)
Plain Hunt & Bob Doubles Practice -  Potton (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
Sign up essential for students and helpers
Via the MemberMojo Store
https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store 
or Email Angela - trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk email Angela trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: Plain Hunt Bob Doubles Potton
 

Saturday 27 December, 10:30 - 12:00
General Ringing - Totternhoe (8)
This general ringing meeting is for everyone, all levels will be catered for. 
Please let us know that you are coming so we know that the practice is viable.
Sign up via the MemberMojo Store
https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store 
or Email Angela - trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: General Ringing Totternhoe

Proposed 2026 Ringing Programme

Thanks to those members who gave feedback about the 2025 and  2026 Ringing Programmes. We had a wide range of views, suggestions and much food for thought!
Taking all of this into consideration, we've produced a draft programme for January - June 2026. We've tried to make things simpler and more regular. This is a compromise because it was impossible to take on board everyone's suggestions. We'll be asking for regular feedback as the programme rolls out and will make changes as we go through the year.
For the time being:

• No regular midweek meetings.
• All meetings on Saturdays, except Young Ringers which remains on Sundays.
• At least one General Ringing each month, generally on the first Saturday, which  will include a short time to cover Business. The third Saturday will be used in months when the first isn't suitable, for example around a Bank Holiday weekend. These meetings will alternate between 6 and 8 bell towers around the county.
• 'Focus Practices'  not 'Workshops' - these will be suitable for a wider range of ringing abilities as the focus could cover several levels. The focus and suitability will be clarified for each session. 
• Focus Practices will generally be on the third and fourth Saturdays and will be at towers around the county.
• We're still asking for sign up for now - this helps us be confident that a particular session is viable. If viable meeting attendance becomes more reliable then this can be reviewed.  We're hoping to move to a website based calendar in the new year with sign up functionality which will have a 'maybe able to make it' option. 
• Other events, such as specific training or practices on higher numbers, can be arranged as and when there is sufficient demand and available calendar space. 
• There will be a 'Ring a First in February'  initiative.
• The AGM will still be on the third  Saturday of May, for 2026 this is 16 May - venue and arrangements to be confirmed.
• Please support the ringing meetings as much as you can and continue to give us suggestions and feedback!

The Draft Programme is here BACBRRingingCalendar2026-V1-2-Dec-25.pdf
The Calendar Guide is here BACBR-Calendar-Guide-2026-V1-2-Dec-25.pdf

Proposed January events
Please check website calendar for latest situation.

Saturday 10 January, 10:00 - 12:30 - Second Saturday Training, RJ Sharp Ringing Centre, St Andrew's, Biggleswade, two sessions.
Sunday 11 January, 14:30 - 16:30 - Young Ringers practice at Campton (8)
Saturday 17 January, 14.30 - 16.30 - General Ringing and short Business meeting at St Peter de Merton, Bedford (8) 
Saturday 24 January, 10:30 - 12:00 - Focus Practice on Plain Hunt and Bob Doubles at Caddington (6)
Saturday 31 January, 14.30 - 16.30 - Focus Practice on Grandsire (Doubles & Triples) at Biddenham (8)
 

Ring a First In February!
Its back for 2026!
What would you / members of your band like to achieve for your First in February this year? ....

When and where? Any time during February on a practice night, at an Association event or specially arranged just for you!

What? Here's some ideas for starters ....

• First Quarter/ First Quarter of ../First Quarter as conductor/local band Quarter ..
• Conduct call changes (for example - to Queens and back)
• 120 of Plain Bob Doubles (treble, tenor behind, inside bell or as conductor) 
• Ring the treble to a course of Treble Bob or Surprise Minor
• Course/touch of Cambridge Surprise Minor/Major inside
• Something even more challenging!

How?  Can you arrange to ring this with your local band? If not then go along to an Association Meeting (Contact the Ringing Master trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk in advance to check that what you are hoping to ring might be possible)
If you would like to attempt or need help with arranging a Quarter Peal, request help by emailing trainingofficer@bacbr.org.uk
We will do our best to facilitate.
As in previous years, we'll collate submissions to Bell Board, but more of that in the next Update. For now - get planning!

 

Other notices and news

Firsts and Commemorative ringing in November
November 'firsts' - congratulations to:
Dean De-Matteis - who rang his first peal of Bristol Surprise Major at Campton on  3 November. BellBoard
Caroline Doherty - who rang her first  Quarter Peal  for 20 years, Plain Bob Minor at Totternhoe on 22 November, and Holly Richardson who rang her first Quarter Peal in the same Quarter on the treble. BellBoard 

Special ringing:
On Thursday 4 November at All Saints Clifton, 360 Grandsire Doubles, rung to celebrate Clifton Ringer, Nicola Temple’s completion of the St Albans Diocese “Alban Way” programme and her commissioning at St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 1st November. BellBoard

On Tuesday 18 November at St Mary. Henlow, a quarter peal of 1320 Plain Bob Doubles, Rung in memory of Bert Bracken, and John and Audrey Staniforth, much loved members of the congregation of St Mary's. and the First quarter on the refurbished bells. BellBoard

On Thursday, 27 November at St Mary, Maulden, a peal of 5056 Maulden Surprise Major, marking the 75th anniversary of the augmentation of these bells, and the 75th anniversary of the first peal in this method. BellBoard


The Maulden  peal band



Details of the original peal.

England's Art of Bell Ringing - Arte.tv 

We received information from European streaming service, ARTE.tv, about a 31 minute programme about ringing they've made that you might find interesting. This is their press release:

From London to the Cotswolds, this ARTE.tv report explores the fascination with the art of bell-ringing and the efforts made to perpetuate this ancient tradition.
Bell ringing in England goes back centuries with bells being rung in churches across the land by amateurs who are often deeply attached to their hobby for decades. ARTE.tv went to explore this age-old tradition in the Cotswolds village of Bisley and in London.

This is the link to the programme https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/120877-003-A/re-england-s-art-of-bell-ringing/
Enjoy!
 

Keep up to date with all things ringing in
The Ringing World

The Ringing World is a magazine for bellringers that has been printed every week since 1911. 

The Ringing World also runs BellBoard, the complete record of current change-ringing performances worldwide. Visit BellBoard to see any recent news and updates about ringing or The Ringing World.  

The Ringing World also produces books and other products for bellringers, and runs the Ringing World National Youth Contest to support young ringers and bring them together to enjoy the Exercise.

Visit the Ringing World website www.ringingworld.org.uk to download a free issue, subscribe to the printed or online version, or head to the Ringing World Shop to browse other ringing merchandise.

Update from the CCCBR 
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

.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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