The Carlisle Diocesan Guild Bell Ringers' Newsletter Mary Dodd - an Appreciation Kerbeck Fell Ponies. Some of her final years were Issue 22 spent at this lovely spot. A final job was at the Outward Bound Mountain Summer 2012 Mary was introduced to ringing at School at Eskdale, very often staying in Eskdale Egremont Parish Church in about 1955. for the weekend. Whilst there, she joined the If you or your tower have any ringers at St Paul's Irton, where she became a items of news, photos or articles Her initial training was by Alf Eilbeck, real support in their efforts on these difficult for the next newsletter, please then the tower captain. send them by email to the Editor: bells. [email protected] She was an enthusiastic learner and very soon Mary was invited to join the small fund-raising joined the Sunday service band. On practice committee to install the bells at St James Dates nights, they were often joined by Harold Wilson, Whitehaven. She worked on the committee with Graham McKay and John Haile, of St Bees. October 6th 2012 great enthusiasm and was delighted to join the Dinner, Middle Ruddings, The ringing bug must have bitten deeply as some dedication service of the original ten bells. It was Braithwaite. Speaker of her early peals were at rather 'difficult' at St James that, along with a few very old Mike Rodger. towers; she was a member of the band which, in friends, she rang what was to be her last quarter January 12th 2013 1976, rang the first and only peal at Silloth. peal. The band were described as the 'Golden Guild Ringing Meeting - She was also a member of the band attempting Workington Oldies'! to ring five peals in a day. Unfortunately the In her final years she was carer for Henderson Feb 2nd 2013 attempt had to be stopped when, in the fifth following his serious stroke. It seems unfair that Guild Training Day, Hensinham peal, the ringer of the tenor collapsed! she should be struck by her final illness so soon Mary had a number of jobs. Starting at the March 2nd 2012 after his death. Western Branch AGM Wigton District bank in Egremont, she worked for a vets Her funeral service was at Lamplugh Church practice, and at Border Engineering, where she Tuesday March 12th which was attended by many old friends and Eastern Branch AGM Penrith met Henderson Dodd, later to be her husband. ringers from far and near. She finally settled at Fell Dyke, Lamplugh, where, April 20th 2013 The funeral bell was tolled by John Haile. Guild AGM - Kirkby Stephen with her daughter Christine, she establised Rest in peace, old friend Mary. (Jack McTear) Western Branch dates 2012-13 Training Workshops Mon 10th Sept Wigton 7:30pm Wed 10th Oct Cockermouth 7:30pm The workshops held so far in 2012 have been well supported by students and helpers. The March Tue 13th Nov Hensingham 7:30pm event was held at Greystoke where the objective was to ring the treble to touches. The students Mon 10th Dec Workington 7:30pm coped well with ringing the treble to touches of Plain Bob and St Simon‘s Doubles where the order Fri 11th Jan Whitehaven 7:30pm of the bells is less predictable. In May Grandsire Doubles was the focus at Workington. This Sat 2nd Feb Training Day, Hensingham practice concentrated on ringing bobs in simple touches. We had hoped to be able to offer triples Thu 21st Feb Arlecdon 7:30pm Sat 2nd March Wigton Western Branch AGM but were short of helpers. Raising and lowering has been an annual feature since the training Mon 11th March Irton 7:30pm workshops were introduced. Wigton was the location for the June workshop where this year we ran a session for students wanting to learn how to lead up and down. Eastern Branch dates 2012-13 In the February newsletter it was announced that the workshops will be held on the same day as Thursday 23 August Thursby NB 7 – 8.30pm the monthly surprise practices, earlier in the day at a different venue. Wed 19 September Greystoke Tuesday 16 October Penrith Monday 19 November Appleby The proposed programme is: Saturday 2 Feb Training Day Hensingham Tuesday 12 March Penrith Eastern Branch AGM July 21 Bob Minor Saturday 20 April Kirkby Stephen Guild AGM September 15 Stedman Surprise Practices October 20 Bob Doubles November 17 Treble Bob, Kent/ Cambridge February 16 Reserved for follow up, overflow from previous sessions including Saturday 15 September Saturday 20 October the training day. Saturday 17 November Saturday 15 December Venues have yet to be fixed, the July and February events will be at an eastern branch tower and Saturday 19 Jan 2013 the rest probably in the west. Saturday 16 February Student numbers are limited at these workshops so that each student can be given individual Saturday 16 March coaching. For the continued success of these events we depend on support from the more email [email protected] experienced ringers in the area. for confirmation/location, if visiting ringers or you are not already on his CC list. Further details will be sent out by email nearer the date of each workshop. It would help with organisation if students and helpers could give me a provisional indication of interest and From the General Secretary: availability. We now have around 100 members receiving Guild Don‘t forget the simulators are available for groups or individuals to practise on tied bells, messages by email. If you are not one of them and would like to be included, please contact me at Finally, if these workshops aren‘t what you or your tower needs please get in touch and we‘ll try to [email protected] Likewise, if you wish your help name to be removed from the list. As far as Gareth Evans possible, communications are sent as blind carbon copies in order to reduce the likelihood of spam. Hazel Kathryn Hall 15/09/1960 - 25/04/2012 Readers of last year‘s annual report may have become aware of Hazel‘s diagnosis and subsequent treatment for Breast Cancer. It was with sadness that her courageous, selfless battle came to an end in the April of this year, but on reflection, a chance for us all to celebrate the life that she had. Mum learned to ring in the early 2000‘s, soon after Lorna One of Mum‘s favourite events was the Guild Striking and I did, in the summer of 1999. Despite being married to a competition. As well as ringing in the Brampton squad, ringer, Mike, since 1984, and having many ringing-friends she enjoyed renewing friendships with Guild members from the family‘s former Parish Church (St Elisabeth‘s, whom she saw less frequently. It was wonderful to see Harraby) she managed just over 15 years before giving in her at the 2011 contest, which I judged, at Hensingham. and taking it up. As she progressed from handling into Despite being diagnosed with Breast Cancer beforehand, rounds and Call-Changes, the then Brampton band will and the imminent treatment of chemotherapy looming remember various entertaining exchanges between her and (which didn‘t prevent her determination to ring for Dad, comparable to the “don‘t teach your wife how to drive” Sunday‘s during the latter half of 2011), she thoroughly analogy. Such instances were short-lived though, and enjoyed the day. This was sadly the last striking reflected her determination to try and strike her bell competition she attended as, after her cancer‘s return in correctly. Ken Siddle (Brampton) expressed his admiration of March 2012, just over a month later, she had peacefully her ability to keep Dad at bay, and herself unaccountable, left us. when the ringing, very occasionally, began to sound like the Mum‘s service of thanksgiving was a wonderful occasion, proverbial dogs‘ dinner. which focused on the celebration of her life through her Whilst not being a high-high profile ringer, Mum developed a faith in the Lord. The half-muffled bells of St Martin‘s solid competence at trebling to various Doubles methods - were rung by the Brampton band and four close family something of which she enjoyed the challenge as her friends prior to the Service, and afterwards, by members rope-sight developed through the years. Mum rang a total of of the Carlisle Diocesan Guild as Hazel left St Martin‘s for 25 Quarter Peals, her first being Plain Bob Doubles, July the final time. 13th, 2003, and final being March 6th, 2011. A particularly The family extend their thanks and good wishes to all special Quarter Peal was the first of several which contained ringers who sent messages of sympathy and condolence, all four ringing Halls: Mum, Dad, Lorna and I. and to those whom attended Hazel‘s special day. It was Importantly, Mum enjoyed the social side of ringing. This indeed a sad time for both the family and the Brampton ranged from knees-ups hosted at various Brampton ringers‘ band. However Mum would be delighted that ringing still homes, right through to sitting out of touches on practice continues there, owing to the support and kindness that night in order to catch-up with members of the Brampton existed prior to, during and after her departure…. what a band. sense of hope there is for the future. Stephen J Hall York, St Wilfrid. Wednesday, 2 May 2012 in 48 minutes (18cwt) York, St Wilfrid 1265 Stedman Caters Sunday, 29 April 2012 in 47 minutes (18 cwt) 1.