Salisbury 18 82 Face to Diocesan Face Guild of 20 07 Newsletter Ringers AUTUMN 2007 NUMBER 114 CELEBRATION 125 Salisbury – Saturday 15 th September 2007 Above photograph l-r: The Ven A.J.Magowan, Archdeacon of Dorset, The Ven P.S. Taylor, Archdeacon of Sherborne, David W. Hacker, Guild President, The Mayor and Mayoress of Salisbury and Robert M. Lewis, Editor of The Ringing World, photographed after lunch. Above right: The Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry and some of the many members waiting their turn to ring. Right: Drinks and social chat prior to Lunch at The Rose & Crown Hotel. See also page 9. (Photos – Editor) NEXT DEADLINE: Material to arrive please by Saturday 24 th November. From the President. ver the past few months I have been involved in the preparation of the various pieces Othat have been written about our Guild to mark the 125 th Anniversary and in particular I have been asked for my thoughts on the future. We have in place some excellent facilities within our Branches, courses organised by Branch Training Officers and run locally, regular publicity of events by our Branch Publicity Officers, our two Ringing Centres together with several other towers that have simulators fitted and modern teaching aids in the form of DVDs and CDs alongside an enormous array of books. So what do we need to do extra to make our future more secure? We need to recruit new trainees to join us and in particular we need to try and make ringing bells attractive to younger people. Somehow the exercise as a whole has to find a way of giving bell ringing “Street Cred” similar to ten pin bowling, ice skating, etc. There is no way that I profess to know the solution to the problem but I am convinced in my own mind that to do nothing is not an option if we are to continue to have enough ringers to ring our bells as regularly as they are rung at the moment. I was at a meeting recently when the final arrangements were being discussed for our Celebration Day in Salisbury and the question was asked if any special arrangements had been made for our younger members who might feel uneasy at a somewhat formal lunch, unfortunately the answer was no and it was somewhat too late to make any special arrangements, but it is something we should bear in mind for the future, maybe next year’s AGM day would be an opportune time to consider organising an event aimed specifically at our younger members. I would like to suggest that the whole subject of “The Future” should be discussed in our Branches during the winter and then in the spring of next year I would like to organise a series of informal meetings across the Guild where Training Officers, Publicity Officers, Ringing Centre Representatives, a cross section of the membership and any other interested persons can come together and pool ideas to try and find some common ground for recruitment, retention and training. I trust that you are all enjoying the celebrations that have been arranged to mark our anniversary and with the publicity that it has received we might have the opportunity to extend our traditional arm of fellowship to one or two who might wish to find out a little more about our historic art. With best wishes to you all, David Hacker. ‘Face to Face’ is the acknowledged Newsletter of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers. First published in 1975, the publication is now produced four times per year and circulated free to all affiliated towers throughout the Guild, as well as to various other bodies. Editor: Ivan L. Andrews, 11, White Close, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3HL. Tel: 01308-425067. e-mail: [email protected] Guild Hon Gen Sec: Anthony Lovell-Wood, 11, Brook Close, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wilts SP3 6PW. Tel: Home 01747-871121, Office 01747-871110. Fax: 01747-871241. e-mail: [email protected] Webmaster: Ian Mozley. e-mail [email protected] The Guild Web Site can be found at: WWW.sdgr.org.uk 1 Guild Striking Competitions – Saturday 16 th June. 8-bell Competition at Gillingham: Four teams took part and all rang Grandsire Triples in the following order – Bradford on Avon, Mere Branch, Calne Branch and Dorchester Branch. The Mere team won first place, with Bradford on Avon, Calne Branch and Dorchester Branch following in that order. The judges were Jenny Hancock and Julian Ferrar. 6-bell Competition at Motcombe: Eleven teams took part, with ringing ranging from Call Changes, Doubles and Minor. West Dorset Branch, Marlborough Branch, St Thomas’, Salisbury, Donhead St Mary, Motcombe, Calne Ladies, Bradford on Avon, Dorchester (Weymouth), Calne Tower, Swanage and Melksham. The winning team was Swanage, St Thomas’ second place and Motcombe third place. The judge was Gareth Bennett from Chippenham. A big thank you, therefore, to everyone who took part in the competition – teams from all branches of the Guild participated this year, viz (in order of ringing) 8-bell: Bradford on Avon, Mere branch, Calne Branch and Dorchester (Weymouth). 6-bell: West Dorset Branch, Marlborough Branch, St Thomas, Salisbury, Donhead St Mary, Motcombe, Calne Ladies, Bradford on Avon, Dorchester (Weymouth), Calne Tower, Swanage and Melksham. We are extremely indebted to Gareth Bennett of Chippenham who forfeited another appointment at short notice to judge the 6-bell competition, and to Jenny Hancock and Julian Ferrar for judging the 8-bell competition. Grateful thanks go to the Mere Branch for hosting and organising the event so well. The cream teas were great and special thanks go to Sheila Porter, Pat Dunbar, Jan Walmesley White, Sylvia Charles, Liz Biles for baking the scones and Jerry Holmes for baking the backup muffins. Thanks also to Liz Biles, Sheila Porter, Jill and Dennis Jenkinson, Gill Duke, Pat Pocock and Jerry Holmes for serving, washing and drying on the day. A great day all round!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This booklet, published to coincide with the Guild’s 125 th Anniversary, covering the highlights and activities of the Guild since the Centenary, is now on sale at £2.00 per copy – with profit, after printing costs, going to the LEBRF. Copies can be obtained from the General Secretary, the Book Stall, the Newsletter Editor, Bradpole Ringing Centre and Branch Secretaries. Remember! Remember! GUILD QUARTER PEAL WEEK 3rd – 11 th November This is an ideal chance to attempt your first Quarter Peal, ring a new method or have a ‘go’ at conducting. Have a word with your Branch Secretary or Training Officer. Please send details of all quarters rung, together with contributions towards The Ringing World, direct to Robert Wellen. GUILD PEAL WEEK – 25 th Dec 2007 to 1 st Jan 2008 2 S.D.G.R. 1882 - 2007 125 TH ANNIVERSARY FINAL CELEBRATIONS SATURDAY 27 TH OCTOBER, EAST DORSET BRANCH GUIDED TOUR OF CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY (afternoon) FOLLOWED BY RINGING GUILD QUARTER PEAL WEEK 3 RD TO 11 TH NOVEMBER GUILD PEAL WEEK 25 TH DECEMBER to 1 ST JANUARY 2008 GUILD PERSONALITY Ruth Plumridge, our new Guild Assistant Secretary Introduction to bell ringing I learnt to ring at Old Wolverton, Buckinghamshire on an on anticlockwise 6 at the age of 12 years, and became a member of Oxford Diocesan Guild of Ringers. Family moved to Gloucestershire in 1971 My family consists of Mum, Dad and 3 sisters Sarah, Rachel and Naomi; the youngest was only 1 year old when we moved. The family home is in a small Cotswold village called Amberley. Nearest tower St. Mary’s at Woodchester – ring of 6. Ringing capabilities were rounds, call changes and tenor behind and I rang tenor behind to several quarter peals. The whole family, at some time, learnt to ring but I am the only one to keep it up as a hobby. College days and Work I attended Brighton Technical College between ‘76 and ‘80 where I studied for an Ordinary National Diploma in Hotel and Catering, and went on to train with the South East Thames Regional Health Authority. My first job was as Catering Manager at Sevenoaks Hospital. During this time I only rang at the occasional tower, but always rang back at Woodchester when I went home for holidays. I worked for a contract catering company for nearly 16 years before taking a very different job path, and now work at one of the local further education colleges in Swindon as part of the Exams Team. Wedding I married in August 1988 at the village church in Amberley. As there were no bells the handbell ringers from Woodchester came up and rang outside the church after the service. My husband is in the RAF and we moved to Lyneham in 1996. Hearing the bells one evening I went along and I haven’t looked back. All my method ringing has been learnt whilst ringing in the Calne branch and, to date, I have rung several quarter peals but only one peal! My daughter Catherine, who is now 17, learnt to ring at Lyneham and would confidently ring rounds and call changes but, like a lot of teenagers, has lost interest. Hannah, the youngest, has grown up to the sound of bells. Whilst still a toddler she would be placed in her buggy at the corner of the tower with a packet of raisins whilst mum had a ring. As soon as she was tall enough she wanted to have a go and, as most of you know, she is now an active junior member of the Calne Branch, having rung her first quarter peal before her twelfth birthday.