BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Update

June 2026  

Brief report on the 2026 Annual General Meeting

Thanks to everyone who came to the Association AGM on 16 May. We had some nice ringing at Clifton in the afternoon and then moved on to St Andrews Biggleswade for the service taken by Rev Liz and Lay Reader Rosemary. It was really good to have a leisurely and sociable ringers tea before the meeting at 6.00pm.
 
The AGM was efficiently chaired by Linda Garton.
We sent our best wishes and thanks to Angela Blackburn, who has stood down as Ringing Master and was unable to attend the meeting.
We stood to remember – Vernon Green, Martin Major, Rev J Michael Stephens, Jean Heaslip and Peter Pratt who had passed away since the last AGM.
 
The 2025 Accounts and the 2025 Annual Report were both approved. Some corrections in the Annual Report will be made and the revised version posted on the Website as soon as possible.
 
Linda was thanked for her time as President.

The following Management Group Officers were elected:
President – Simon Stranks
Ringing Master – Linda Garton (for one year only)
Secretary – Marc Kasfiner
Treasurer – Sue Silver
PR & Comms Officer – Teresa Brown
Bells & Towers Officer – John Hele
 
Other elected posts were:
Independent Examiner – Trevor Groom
Association Bell Restoration Fund Chair – Steve Stanford
Bell Restoration Fund Committee – Ian Steward, Alex Nash (one vacancy still to fill)
RJ Sharp Fund Committee – John Loveless, Alex Nash, Dean De-Matteis
Central Council Reps – Pat Albon, Richard Horne
 
The Association Action Plan wasn’t reviewed last year because of other pressures but will be reviewed as soon as possible by the Management Group. Member feedback is very welcome – please email feedback@bacbr.org.uk
 
Future events were shared – these are on the website and and are listed in this Update. 
 
Items of Any Other Business included:

• The new Bishop of St Albans elect, Rt Rev Dr Andrew Rumsey, will be invited to be a patron once installed later in the year.
• A brief update on the St Pauls Bedford project.
• Association badged clothing will be available soon.
• A discussion about the loss of local connections, the need for a team of local organisers and information on roles to be more visible on the website. 

The date of the 2027 AGM will be Saturday 15 May, location to be confirmed.
 
The meeting closed after a vote of thanks and the day was rounded off with evening ringing at Biggleswade, followed by further socialising by some.

Forthcoming Events

 Ringing Opportunities
Please remember we ask for a suggested £2 donation/person at Association Ringing Programme events. This is so we can make a donation to the tower being visited. Thanks.

Saturday 6 June, 10.30 - 12.30 
General Ringing and Short Business Meeting, Eaton Socon (8) 
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 this will be a viable session.
Sign up in the MemberMojo Store  https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store 
or Email Linda - ringing@bacbr.org.uk
Subject: General Ringing Eaton Socon

Saturday  13 June, 10.00 - 12.30
Second Saturday Training at the R J Sharp Ringing Centre at St Andrew's Biggleswade
10:00 - 11:00  Session 1: Bell handling
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.
We're always looking for experienced ringers to support these sessions. If you'd like more information either contact Chris for details or come along and see for yourself. Whether you feel you could help with either bell handling (10-11am), foundation skills (11.15-12.30) or both, you'd be most welcome.
Sign up is essential  for both students and helpers please
Email Chris Williams -  christine.williams.bells@gmail.com
Please state whether you are coming to Session 1 or Session 2.
Subject: Second Saturday June
 

Saturday 13 June -  The Ridgman Trophy 10 bell striking competition - come and support the team.  
This is being held at  St Peter and St Mary, Stowmarket and Bedfordshire is entering a team.. The test piece is 233 changes of Stedman Caters. The Ridgman Trophy

Sunday 14 June, 2:30 - 4:30 
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, email:  youngringers@bacbr.org.uk
or via the Bedfordshire Young Ringers WhatsApp Group if you're on that (Please ask to be added to this when you attend a Young Ringers' session).
 

Saturday 20 June, 2.30 - 4.00
Focus practice on Plain Hunt and Bob Doubles at Potton (6)
This is for everyone who can handle a bell safely, ring unassisted in rounds and aimed at those wishing to practice Plain Hunt on 5 or 6 bells, ringing or conducting Bob Doubles or ringing the tenor behind.
We will focus on Plain Hunt, plain courses and touches of Plain Bob Doubles and welcome more experienced ringers to help, stand behind and conduct.
Other Plain 5/6 bell methods might be rung if there are sufficient ringers to enable this.
Please sign up so we know this is a viable session.
Either, in the MemberMojo Store   https://membermojo.co.uk/bacbr/store 
or Email Linda - ringing@bacbr.org.uk 
Subject: Plain Hunt and Bob Doubles  Potton

Proposed July events - get these dates in your diary!
Please check website calendar for latest situation.

Please note - there's no Young Ringers practice this month because they will be going to the Ringing World National Youth Competition being held at Nottingham, Saturday 4th July.  Ringing World National Youth Contest – National bellringing contest

Saturday 4 July, 10.30 - 12.00  - General Ringing and a short business meeting at Tilsworth (6).  

 Saturday 11 July, 10:00 - 11:30  Second Saturday Training, RJ Sharp Ringing Centre, St Andrew's, Biggleswade, Please note - there's only one session today and no bell handling. Session 1 only,  10.00-11.30 foundation skills - Rounds, Call Changes, Plain Hunt. 

Saturday 25 July, 2.00 - 3.30pm  - General ringing at Blunham (6). We're going to combine our ringing meeting with the Blunham Bells, Beer & Bangers event. Please stay to enjoy the food and drinks after the ringing to support their bell restoration project fund raising initiative.

2026 Programme
Please note  - Focus Practices aren't specific training events but they can cater for different ringing abilities within the focus theme (other than handling).
The July to December programme is being put together now and will be on the website as soon as its available.

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

Short Business Meeting notes are on the website
Notes taken at our short business meetings at General Ringing Meetings are now being loaded onto the website, click here Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers 

Other notices and news

The 2025 Annual Report is available now
Members will get a hard copy of the 2025 annual report if they indicated a preference to  receive one in their 2026 Member Mojo renewal. We'll also get a copy to each Bedfordshire tower  with a Tower Contact. 
If you haven't received your copy yet please let us know, email  annualreport@bacbr.org.uk 
For those who didn't want a hard copy, a pdf file is on the website  here  Annual-Report-2025_final
Please note - there are some corrections to be made, the pdf will be updated in due course and we'll let you know when this has been done.

May Firsts and Commemorative Ringing

Tuesday 26th May, at St Andrew, Biggleswade - 720 Double and Single Oxford Minor - Oscar's  longest length of minor. BellBoard

Tuesday 19 May, at St Mary, Maulden - 60 St Dunstan's Bob Doubles, a first for all  and rung for St Dunstan's Day. BellBoard

Friday 1 May, at St Mary, Henlow - 240 Grandsire Doubles. Rung in memory of Jackie Cracknell, sister of Henlow ringer Stuart, whilst her funeral was taking place in Yorkshire.

Saturday 2 May, at St John the Baptist,  Flitton  - 144 Single Oxford Bob Minor. Rung in memory of Paul Walters (Oscar's Great Uncle) whilst his Farewell Ceremony was taking place in Arezzo, Italy. BellBoard

Sunday 17 May,  at All Saints, Clifton - Call Changes on 7 BellBoard and 120 Bob Doubles BellBoard,  for Bell Sunday.

Saturday 30 May, at St Mary the Virgin, Studham  - 1272 York Surprise Minor. Rung in memory of Wendy Whaley, a ringer at Toddington, who died suddenly on 30th April. BellBoard

Sunday 31 May, at St James, Husborne Crawley - 5040 Grandsire Triples. Specially arranged and rung in fond memory of Robert R (Bob) Churchill (25/10/23), former Churchwarden, and Tower Captain at this Church for over 60 years; also a former Vice President and Honorary Life member of the Bedfordshire Association. Anthony and Charlotte Smith, Frank Rivett, Jeremy Piron, and John Loveless were unable to ring and would like to be associated with this tribute. BellBoard

Blunham Bells, Beer and Bangers 2026 
Come and join us for our fifth year of Bells, Beer and Bangers on Saturday 25 July, 2 – 6 pm;
Open ringing 2.00 – 3.30 pm. This will be combined as an Association General Ringing meeting. 
Sup local ales, tuck into locally produced bangers and burgers. Cakes and other refreshments are also available. 
Thank you to all who have been supporting our bell restoration project.  We have now raised around £45,000 of our £75,000 target. 
For more information contact Davina on blunham@bacbr.org.uk

St Paul’s Bedford Tower, Clock and Bells Appeal Event – Southill Park Tour, Friday 5 June  - updated details. 

The afternoon tour of Southill Park on 5 June is now fully subscribed. However, there may still be places on a morning tour at 10.30am if anyone hasn’t yet booked and would like to go.
For more information please see the website here Southill-Park-tour-5-June-2026-morning.pdf

News from the CCCBR 
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

Some Useful Central Council Resources 

Risk Assessment Guidance  - Risk Assessment | Running a Tower
In Case of Emergency Notice - Emergency | Running a Tower
Recruitment and Retention - Recruitment and Retention – CCCBR
Notice Board toolkit -  Noticeboard Toolkit – CCCBR
You Tube Index - https://cccbr.org.uk/youtube-index
Images - Photos – CCCBR

.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 
 

Simon Stranks  - President
president@bacbr.org.uk

Linda Garton  - Ringing Master 
ringing@bacbr.org.uk

www.bacbr.org.uk - Website

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