Coventry Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
Newsletter
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Submit Article: Articles for inclusion in the newsletter are very welcome. Please Click here for guidance as to how to submit something, or simply Click here to email something directly to me. Many thanks! Mike Chester (Editor). Download Newsletter (PDF format): April Qtr 2007 , July Qtr 2007, October Qtr 2007 January Qtr 2008 April Qtr 2008 |
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| OCTOBER 2007 EDITION | LATEST NEWS (for next edition) |
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President's Message
The saddest pictures of their type that I have seen in a long time were those in the Leamington Observer of the recent fire at Radford Semele The fire there has devastated the church. The walls are all that it standing; the glass has gone, as has most of the interior. The bells were left hanging in their frame, but have suffered major harm due to the intensity of the fire. It looks likely that they will need recasting. Taylors are due to come to the church to remove the bells in the week of the AGM.
It is typical of the ringing fraternity that almost immediately the band were offered Offchurch bells on which to practice and train their learners. This will certainly help to keep the band together. Many thanks to Paddy Taylor and the Offchurch ringers for their kindness.
One can only trust and believe that this will be, “A Phoenix rising from the ashes”, story and at some point in the not too distant future the church will be rebuilt and that there will be bells ringing out of the tower to remind the local population of the presence of God. This is certainly the intention of the local congregation and we can only wish them well for the future.
On the more positive side, Bilton bells have been restored and we have two augmentation schemes in progress at the moment. Kineton are racing ahead with their intention to augment to 8 in the near future and Brinklow are moving in the same direction. It will take a lot of hard work, but I am sure that it will be worth the effort. Good luck to both towers.
Mike Chester
Draw Club Rules
The Draw Club was setup several years ago to raise funds for the Guild General Fund, to support events planned in the Guilds Centenary. It is now more appropriate that from this year any profit should support the Guild Bell Repair Fund. This administrative change was proposed and passed at the Guild Quarterly mtg.
Membership.
The current Draw Club membership is 65, well down on last year. Please can you encourage people to support this form of fund raising. A form is available to down load from the Guild web site. I have attached one to this circular, contact me by mail, or see me at one of the Guild/District events.
I am planning the Feb draw for the 2nd Feb at Napton.
M J Dew
Draw Club Promoter
Tower Stewardship Article from The Central Council's "Tower Stewardship Committee"
Coping with External Pressures
Church bell ringers are under a number of external pressures that can have great influence on the management of bell towers. These pressures include child protection, health and safety, fire risk assessment and insurance. However, with care, most of these factors can be managed, and even used to the bell ringer’s advantage.
The Tower Stewardship Committee of the Central Council has been set up to monitor the development of these external factors and help ringers and tower management authorities on how to manage them.
The management of most of these external factors is usually vested in the owners of the building. In the case of the Church of England, this is usually the Vicar, Church Wardens and PCC. However, these functions are often delegated to a specific church member. Most parishes now have a dedicated child protection officer (sometimes called a young persons co-ordinator or similar). Usually, the church treasurer is responsible for insurance matters, and more and more, it is common practice for a health and safety officer to be appointed. These “managers” are usually very well meaning, and have the best intentions of the church at heart. However, they may well not know, or understand how bell towers work, or even know who the ringers are at their church.
Hence it is worth ringers ensuring that their interests are looked after. Ringers should be aware of what external pressure may affect the tower, and maintain a dialogue with the appropriate person responsible for the church policy in each area. Rather than have the church impose a policy on the bell tower, why not develop a joint policy that encompasses the whole church? The church insurance company – often the EIG – is keen to see this sort of interface between church and ringers.
However it must be understood, as in the general spirit of health and safety, the appointment of an official to look after a specific area does not excuse anyone else from having any responsibility. Even, for example, if the tower captain is not the church's health and safety officer, he still has a degree of responsibility, for anyone entering the area s/he has responsibility for, even when the place is unattended. Why unattended? Just think of the consequences of leaving bells up in an unlocked tower.
Don’t be put off by the above. Risks can be managed. Assessments can be performed. Insurances can be put into place. CRB checks can be made.
The Tower Stewardship Committee has compiled leaflets covering the following areas that offer advice on how to manage these external pressures. They cover the following areas:-
- Tower Management
- Child Protection in Towers
- Church Law in Relation to Bells
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Insurance and Ringing
- Tower Safety and Risk Assessment
These leaflets can be found on the Central Council web site here
These leaflets have been published on the Internet, in electronic form, mainly so that updates can be easily done when new and updated information is available. As the Tower Stewardship Committee has an ongoing mandate to monitor both existing and new rules and laws to see how they impact on bell ringers, we have decided to use this form of publication to ensure that the most up to date information is readily available. If you are a tower captain without Internet access, do see if there is someone in your tower or church who can access them for you.
Why not print them out, and get together with members of your PCC (or equivalent) to produce the appropriate assessment, before one is imposed on you.
Part of the work of the Tower Stewardship Committee also involves contact and negotiations with outside organisations. Our negotiations with EIG have resulted in very competitive quotations for public liability insurance being offered to Central Council-affiliated societies, based on the number of members. Details were published on P419 on the RW 27th April 2007
For further information, and help, please contact:-
Ernie Runciman
Chairman
CCCBR Tower Stewardship Committee
e.mail: tschair@cccbr.org.uk
Phone: 07624 412 235 (Mobile) 01624 615154 (Home)
Skype: ernie.runciman
32 Royal Court
Royal Avenue
Onchan
Isle of Man
British Isles
IM3 1LH
Ringing Roadshow
Tickets are now on sale. Buy now and get them for £6 instead of £8 at the gate! Ian Maycock has some to sell and would also be happy to receive offers from ringers to do some stewarding at a designated time on one or both of the days. No payment, I am afraid, but the rest of the day at the Roadshow will be yours and you will get free entry on the day when you are stewarding.
Sir Adam Butler
We are very sad to have to report the death of Sir Adam Butler on Wednesday 9th January this year. Though not a ringer himself, it is undoubtedly through his skills of quiet persuasion that the ring at Lighthorne were rehung and augmented. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. The first peal on the new 6 was rung half-muffled in his memory. Details of the peal:-
Coventry Diocesan Guild
Lighthorne, Warks, St Laurence
Saturday, 19 January 2008 in 2h36 (6)
5040 Surprise Minor
1 ext each London, Wells, Durham, York, Beverley, Surfleet, Cambridge
1 Geoffrey W Randall
2 John R Fisher
3 Raymon A Sheasby
4 Simon P Rogers
5 Ian C Maycock (C)
6 Michael Chester
Rung half muffled in memory of Sir Adam Butler who was instrumental
in the success of the project to rehang and augment these bells.
First peal on the bells since augmentation
The following obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph giving details of his political life.
50 years of ringing for Chris and Geoff
Geoff Randall and Chris Mew, both ringers at Warwick, have reached the half-century in terms of years of ringing. Naturally they marked the event with a peal. The ringers were all from the local band, with the exception of Alan Bagworty, a long standing ringing friend of Chris. Our congratulations go to both of them. Details of the peal are:-
Coventry Diocesan Guild
Warwick, Warwickshire, St Nicholas
Saturday, 26 January 2008 in 2h55 (15)
5058 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by: W John Couperthwaite
1 Simon P Rogers
2 Jane M Rogers
3 Ruth M Border
4 Annie Hall
5 Charles S Hayward
6 Alan E M Bagworth
7 Christopher F Mew (C)
8 Geoffrey W Randall
Arranged to mark 50 years ringing by Chris Mew and Geoff Randall
| Chris and Geoff | |
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Geoff and Chris | The Peal Band |
Rodney and Gem are married
Rodney Swallow, Tower Captain at Fillongley, and Gem Mohabir were married on 29th January 2008. Naturally a peal was rung to mark this happy occasion, the sharp end all being Fillongley ringers! Details of the peal are:-
Coventry Diocesan Guild
Fillongley, Warwickshire, St Mary and All Saints
Saturday, 26 January 2008 in 2h44 (11)
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by: J R Fisher (No. 1f)
1 John F O'Brien
2 Rodney A Swallow
3 Penelope N W McKenzie
4 George McKenzie
5 Ian D Thompson
6 Simon E Adams
7 John R Fisher
8 Michael Chester (C)
Rung as a wedding compliment to Rodney Swallow, Tower Captain at Fillongley,
and Gem Mohabir, who are to be married on 29th January.
Draw Club Membership.
The current Draw Club membership increased to 69, but is still down on last year. Please encourage your ringers to support this form of fund raising. A form is available to down load from the Guild web site, or contact me by mail, or see me at one of the Guild/District events.
I am planning the March draw for 14th at the Rugby deanery practice at Clifton.
Latest Results
Jan
1st Adrian Chatterton
2nd Chris Worley
3rd Christine Cooke
Feb
1st Rod Wheat
2nd Jill Montgomery
3rd Wolston Ringers
M J Dew
Draw Club Promoter
Progress at Kineton
So far the Band has raised over £4000 towards the Augmentation appeal - only about £13,000 to go! Sales of mugs are doing well and our next product;- a shopping bag, will be available soon. An Open Day, Teddy Bears Parachute Jump and Grand Draw will add to our funds as well as the bells festival and Handbell Concert in October! There is a long way to go and we are still looking for bell donors but our aim still is to order bells in 2008! We still have to work out what to do about our "outsized" treble too! In the meantime a faculty application has been submitted for our two new trebles. An inspection to develop plans for the sound control prior to a faculty will take place soon.
The Ringing Centre is now recognised by the Central Council and operational. Michael Gray is Chairman of the Committee, Graham Nabb Hon Sec & Treasurer, with Sue Marshall and Nick Gunn completing the picture. Bell handling tuition is underway and some coaching using the simulator. We were not expecting too much activity this year! The name of the centre is to be decided in May when a brochure will be available describing what tuition is available for all towers in the area.
Graham Nabb
Centenary Peal at Stoke
Following the founding of the Guild at Warwick in November of 1907 it took just a few weeks for the first peal to be rung for the Warwickshire Guild. This was at Stoke, by a local band. Eight of the most active peal ringers for the Guild completed a repeat performance on the exact date of the centenary. There were no ringers common to both peals! Details of the peals are as follows:-
The Warwickshire Guild
Stoke, Coventry, Warwickshire, St Michael
The Stoke Society
On Friday, February 21, 1908 in 2 hours and 53 minutes
5040 Grandsire Triples
Composed: by E Taylor
1 Edward H Johnson
2 Stephen J Hope
3 Arthur W Flowers
4 Frederick G Viles
5 William Maund
6 John G Fennell
7 J Frank Smallwood (C)
8 George Webster
First peal of triples; 6 & 8. First peal as conductor
First peal of triples on the bells.
Rung as a wedding compliment to Joshua Perkins, Esq. donor of the bells.
First peal for the above Guild.
Coventry Diocesan Guild
Coventry, West Midlands, St Michael, Stoke
Thursday, 21 February 2008 in 2h44 (13)
5040 Grandsire Triples
Composed by: E Taylor
1 Raymon A Sheasby
2 Peter C Randall
3 Michael Chester
4 Ian D Thompson
5 John Thorne
6 Simon P Rogers (C)
7 Geoffrey W Randall
8 Mark W Sayers
Rung by 8 of the Guild's most prolific peal ringers on the centenary
of the first peal for the Coventry Diocesan Guild, (formerly the Warwickshire
Guild), at the same tower, ringing the same composition to the same method.
Circled the tower twice: 1.
Warwick District Annual Meeting
The Warwick A.D.M held at All Saints Leamington on the 1st March Elected the following officers:
District Secretary: Tom Houghton 01926 422126
District Treasurer: Geoff Sreeves
District Ringing Master: William Jones
Guild Committee Representatives: Angels Elliott, William Jones
District Committee Members: all the above officers and Ann Beeny, Michael Gray, Ian Maycock, and John Nutt
Thanks go to John Nutt for a sterling performance as District Secretary over a number of years.
Bilton Bells Ring for Easter
Bilton’s rehung bells rang out for the first time on Easter Sunday, 2008 after the 8.00 am service. This was the culmination of a project that started in late 2005 when bell hangers inspected and reported on the bells. Two years later, we had DAC approval (but no faculty). Three months on and we had our new bells.
The process of obtaining the faculty is the subject of an article in itself. The work we wanted to do to the bells, apart from rehanging them, affected one of our three medieval bells and the 1662 tenor. It was these bells which caused most of the obstacles we encountered with the Council for the Care of Churches. In June 2007 Harry Windsor arranged a meeting between the DAC, Taylors Eayre and Smith Ltd and the local ringers which resolved all outstanding issues and allowed the DAC to give informal faculty approval. We finalised the actual faculty application and, at the same time, placed an order with Taylors to ensure the work could go ahead early in 2008. After all the previous setbacks, the prospect of not having the faculty in place when Taylors came to remove the bells on 9th January was not one we were prepared to consider.
Christmas and New Year came and went and still no faculty. A worried phone call to the Diocesan Registrar’s office on 2nd January elicited the news that the faculty was somewhere between the Chancellor and Coventry and could arrive anytime in the next week. Much to my relief it came by email later that day, so we were on for removing the bells the following week. By way of preparation, we had to rewire the tower, remove part of the clock mechanism and supporting beams which were directly between the trap doors and record the bells, a requirement of the faculty. This was all done by the following Monday, our last practice on the old bells. Steve Westerman from Taylors arrived early on Wednesday and with the help of local labour removed the bells and fittings in two days. We said goodbye to the old tenor in pouring rain on Friday.
For the first time we were on a roll. We started working on Saturday mornings and practice nights to renovate the sound control and clear up the bell chamber before repainting the frame. The recasting of the tenor was scheduled for 17 January and a group of ringers and friends were planning to go to Loughborough for this event. A phone call from Taylors told us that the furnace had broken down during the previous week’s casting and that our casting would be put back by a week. We eventually shared a casting with the two new trebles for Barrow upon Humber, (pictured recently in the RW) and a recast bell Charminster. Bilton’s tenor was the last to be cast and we hoped that the metal would last. It did – just, with four ingots made from the remaining metal.
With the frame repainted in gun metal grey and the tower cleared of rubbish from top to bottom, we were ready for the return of the bells on 14th March. After leaving them on display in the church over the weekend, we started the job of lifting the bells back into the tower. Four local ringers under Steve Westerman’s guidance started enthusiastically with the 4th (5 cwt). No problems and on to the 5th at 7 cwt. A bit harder, but up she went. Then came the new tenor at 9 cwt. We felt the extra 2 cwt and the extra 1.75” in diameter. Had the openings shrunk? A bit of juggling and removal of part of the side frame did the trick. By tea time, all six bells were in their pits and the Monday team has had enough. The rest was plain sailing, fitting wheels, stays and ropes and removing the rope guides in the ringing chamber, which served no useful purpose. The clappers eventually arrived and were fitted in time for a fully muffled try out on Thursday.
First impressions are that Taylors have done a really good job on the bells. Rehanging the old bells on canon retaining headstocks and moving the rope guides to the clock chamber has significantly improved the handling on all the bells, such that they feel like a different ring of bells. Retuning the front three bells and a new, heavier, tenor has transformed the sound.
The new Archdeacon of Coventry rededicated the bells on 6th April, with representatives from the Guild and Rugby Deanery present. During the re-dedication we sang the hymn composed the Rector of Bilton in 1948 for the previous dedication service after the bells had been rehung and augmented to six. We felt this link with the past was appropriate as we had completed a job started 60 years ago. A quarter peal was successfully scored in the afternoon.
The ringers of Bilton would like to thank all those ringers who supported this project and in particular, Harry Windsor in his role as Diocesan Bell Advisor, who provided support, advice and guidance throughout the faculty process. Special mention must also be made of our two enthusiastic engineering undergraduates, Katy and John who helped throughout the removal and rehanging of the bells. Finally, we thank the Guild for the gift of the new tenor as a Centenary bell and for the BRF grant, which made the project possible.
The Guild Quarterly meeting will be at Ryton and Bilton on 18 October. Please do come along and try our new bells.
Chris Idle
Barn Dance
A most enjoyable barn dance was held in Claverdon on March 1st. Many thanks to all those who helped to make this event a successful one
| Barn Dance at Claverdon | |
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"No John, you put |
John Nutt showing us how |
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Dancing in circles |
A well earned break |
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Not everyone gets the |
The dancefloor is full |
Open Day
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| Time | Tower | Bells | Weight | Grid Ref | Comment |
| 9.20 | Little Compton | 5 | 6-2-1 | 261303 | GF |
| 9.40 | Whichford | 8 | 12-2-23 | 312347 | GF |
| 10.00 | Cherington | 6 | 5-2-23 | 292366 | GF |
| 10.20 | Tidmington | 3 | 6 Cwt. | 261385 | GF |
| 10.40 | Shipston on Stour | 6 | 9-2-1 | 259406 | T |
| 11.00 | Sutton under Brailes | 5 | 8-2-23 | 299375 | GF |
| 11.20 | Brailes | 6 | 29-0-19 | 315393 | |
| 11.40 | Honington | 6 | 13 Cwt. | 261427 | |
| 12.00 | Tredington | 6 | 16-1-20 | 259439 | GF |
| 12.20 | Alderminster | 6 | 12-0-26 | 230486 | |
| 12.40 | Halford | 6 | 7-2-16 | 259456 | GF |
| 1.00 | Whatcote | 3 | 6-0-0 | 298445 | T Refreshments |
| 1.20 | Oxhill | 5 | 8-3-13 | 317455 | GF Wedding beforehand |
| 1.40 | Swalcliffe | 6 | 13-2-1 | 378378 | Difficult Parking |
| 2.00 | Shennington | 5 | 9-2-20 | 373428 | GF |
| 2.20 | Wroxton | 5 | 8-1-20 | 418418 | GF |
| 2.40 | Drayton | 3 | 7-1-0 | 428415 | GF Car Park by Church |
| 3.00 | Shotteswell | 6 | 9-1-0 | 426455 | GF |
| 3.20 | Mollington | 6 | 4-2-6 | 442475 | GF |
| 3.40 | Farnborough | 6 | 6-1-12 | 434496 | |
| 4.00 | Fenny Compton | 3 | 7 Cwt | 417521 | GF |
| 4.20 | Burton Dassett | 6 | 13 Cwt. | 399515 | Ear Defenders Compulsory |
| 4.40 | Radway | 5 | 5-0-26 | 368481 | GF |
| 5.00 | Butlers Marston | 6 | 14-0-20 | 320500 | GF Restricted Parking – be considerate |
| 5.20 | Kineton | 6 | 10-0-5 | 335511 | T Refreshments |
| 5.40 | Chadshunt | 6 | 11 Cwt. | 349531 | GF Compulsory One-way System to drive in |
| 6.00 | Lighthorne | 6 | 5-2-5 | 335560 | T |
| 6.20 | Newbold Pacey | 4 | 8 Cwt. | 299571 | |
| 6.40 | Bishops Tatchbrook | 3 | 6-3-10 | 314614 | |
| 7.00 | Harbury | 8 | 12-0-3 | 374600 | T |
| 7.30 | Ufton ** | 3 | 6 Cwt | 379622 | GF Subject to test and confirmation |
Parking – many of the villages have very restricted parking – please ensure that you are considerate to local residents.
Refreshments - Teas Coffees other drinks and cakes etc.
Ringers must have full unsupervised bell control. And Junior ringers must be accompanied by a responsible adult ringing in their group. The tower steward will have the discretion to deem a ringer unsuitable to ring.
Please be aware of all safety factors in and around the ringing venues. The organizer and stewards will not be held responsible for the negligence of the bell ringers at any time. Any damage caused (incl. stays etc.) must be paid for.
Please ensure you to maintain good ringing at all times.
Donations to ”Kineton Bells and Ringing Centre Project”. We are hoping for at least £12 pp for the day or £1 a tower (£5 for tower marked **). Gift-Aided where possible.
Names for tea – Reminder
Following the last two Guild meetings hosted by towers in our Deanery, the Rugby Deanery Committee feel it is necessary to remind everyone about the need to send in names for tea.
Yes, sending your name in for tea is a bit of a chore and easily forgotten, but please remember the caterers, who provide these excellent teas voluntarily. When 30 names for tea are received, those catering provide generously for that number, but when 50 turn up it doesn’t take much addition to realise there will not be enough to go round.
Please... it is better to ring up late, than to just turn up thinking there is always enough food.
Janet Dew
For the Rugby Deanery Committee
Child Protection Update
Members may be aware that in November, 2006 the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 was passed. The provisions of the act will not be activated until 12th October 2009 but there appear to be considerable implications for both bellringing and other voluntary activities such as choir, brownies, scouts.
Up to now ringers have been following guidelines issued following the House of Bishops recommendations in February, 2004. The Coventry Guild, closely following both the Bishops recommendations and those of the Central Council of Church Bellringers revised its guidelines and these are contained in the Annual Report.
All towers and church PCCs were circulated at the time and details should be in belfries. Each PCC took its individual view regarding the necessity of adult ringers to be CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked but the majority have settled for a limited numbers of persons in each tower to be so checked (generally captain and deputies).
I have been following the new legislation and attended a seminar on 10th April the key elements of which are as recorded below.
With effect from October, 2009 all voluntary workers dealing with vulnerable groups (children under 18 and vulnerable adults) in “regulated and controlled activities” will need to be registered. The activities defined include teaching and training where this takes place more than 2 days per month and where face-to-face-contact is involved. Transporting such vulnerable persons also triggers the same requirements.
Registration will be with a newly formed Independent Safeguarding Authority, will involve persons to provide identity to avoid fraud. There will be a one off registration charge of £64 for paid workers but volunteers will be registered free. Once registered the registration is completely transportable between jobs and activities.
It will become a legal requirement to be registered for the defined activities and there will be a legal requirement for the employer or provider (in case of voluntary activities) to ensure that those engaged with young and vulnerable persons are registered.
The implications for ringers both in their home towers and as visitors, whether outings or ringing meetings, is considerable. There are still detailed legal definitions to be issued by Government but ringers should be aware of the likely need for all adult ringers to be registered where contacted with children is involved.
A fuller article is planned to appear in the Ringing World but if anyone has any questions please contact Chris Mew on 01926 402273.
Guild Library
It is now three years since the valuable records of the Guild were deposited in the Warwickshire County Records Office in Warwick. The deposits include Minute Books and Annual Reports since the foundation in 1907 and three Volumes of Peal Books.
These documents may be studied by going to the Records Office between 9.00am and 5.30pm Tuesday – Thursday, 9.00 –5.00 Friday or 9.00 and 12.30 pm Saturday. Most of the records are under reference DR1289 with peal books under reference DR1301. Anyone wishing to look at the records should take some form of identification showing current name, address and signature (a new photo style driving licence carries all these).
To round off the Centenary year it has been the intention to institute a wider lending library of books for the Guild. This has now been done and a new glass-fronted cabinet has been installed in the belfry of St Mary’s , Warwick. The library currently contains a mixture of books donated by members together with a full set of all the currently available Central Council publications.
The total number of books available exceeds 100 with all but a handful of historic volumes available for loan. A full list of books is being circulated to all towers.
Should you wish to borrow a book from the list you may do so by visiting St Mary’s on practice night or Sunday or by other arrangement, possibly by hand or postage. Please contact Chris Mew on 01926 402273 for further detail or to make arrangements.
The library will be glad to receive donations of books from any members for the future use of the Guild’s wider membership.
Chris Mew
From The Quarter Peal Columns
The following was taken from quarter peals rung within the Diocese and printed in the Ringing World from the first week in January to the end of March. The highlights are: -
First quarter peals have been rung by Tom Precious (at Binley Woods) and Alan Patterson (Kineton).
First inside has been rung by Laurence Washbrook and Sam Precious (Binley Woods).
First on 8 has been rung by Sam Precious (Binley Woods) and Tom Houghton (Whitnash).
Richard Hartwell (Binley Woods) has rung his first as conductor and James Trewin (Kineton) has rung his first Minor as conductor.
Enjoy your quarter peals through the warmer months of 2008!
Simon Rogers
QUARTER PEAL REPORT 2007
This report covers all tower bell quarter peals rung in 2007 that have appeared in the “Ringing World” up to the end of March 2008. I can only assume that there are no more quarters rung in 2007 to appear – and I hope I have missed none! Quarters were split thus:-
| Warwick Archdeaconry | 142 | (46 towers) |
| Coventry District | 75 | (21 towers) |
| Rugby Deanery | 45 | (14 towers) |
| Total | 262 | (81 towers) |
Methods were split thus:-
| Minimus | 2 |
| Doubles | 89 |
| Minor | 86 |
| Triples | 29 |
| Major | 39 |
| Caters | 9 |
| Royal | 4 |
| Cinques | 3 |
| Maximus | 0 |
| Other | 1 |
| Total | 262 |
The total of 262, which is the highest total since 2002, is 68 more than in 2006 with an increase in all 3 districts of the Guild. Only just over 20 towers were not quarter pealed - the increase mainly due to a bit of revitalisation of quarter peal ringing in South Warwickshire and the Guild Centenary. There were also 10 handbell quarters published.
This year Binley Woods has taken top place for the first time. Quarters were rung at:-
13 Binley Woods Bell Tower
12 Kineton
9 Bilton
8 Wellesbourne
7 Studley, Stoke and Coventry Cathedral
6 Bulkington, Chilvers Coton, Southam and Salford Priors
5 Monks Kirby, Allesley, Honiley, Stoneleigh, Warwick St Mary, Whitnash, Radway, Rugby (5), Shotteswell and Lillington
4 Bidford-on-Avon, Cherington, Chadshunt, Napton, Radford Semele, Warwick St Nicholas and Stretton-on-Dunsmore
3 Wolston, Bubbenhall, Church Lawford, Rugby (8), Shilton, Fillongley, Cubbington, Lighthorne, Stratford-on-Avon,
Sutton-under-Brailes, Tredington, Ullenhall and Whichford
2 Alveston, Aston Cantlow, Claverdon, Great Wolford, Leamington All Saints, Leamington RC, Long Compton, Oxhill,
Snitterfield, Tysoe, Corley, Leek Wootton, Mancetter, Wolvey, Hillmorton, Newbold-on-Avon, Ryton-on-Dunsmore and Willoughby
1 Dunchurch, Brinklow, Ansley, Bedworth, Hatton, Kenilworth, Keresley, Rowington, Withybrook, Barford,
Burton Dassett, Coughton, Halford, Henley-in-Arden, Harbury, Ilmington, Newbold Pacey, Offchurch, Sherbourne,
Shipston-on-Stour, Wootton Wawen and Clifford Chambers
Simon Rogers
Social and Fundraising Committee
The SFRC is looking to compile a list of people that would be willing to help out with our activities, without them necessarily having to be formal a member of the Committee, though this would be nice!
Over the coming year the Committee will be running the Guild stand at the Roadshow, holding a quiz night, producing a Guild calendar and catering for a number of other Guild events with the aim of raising some money for the Bell Repair Fund. If you feel that you would be able to assist the committee in any of these events please let us know.
Claire Kimpton (SFRC chairperson)
clairehoyland@hotmail.com
024 7646 9089