FROM THE PRESIDENT
It’s now just about six weeks since I was elected to the Presidency of our Guild, and in that time I’ve done my best to get around as much as I can. Appropriately, my first engagement was in my own tower, when the cathedral hosted a 12-bell practice for the Central District. Under Jonathan Young’s leadership those with no or only limited experience on the higher numbers of bells were given the chance to ring rounds and simple call changes, and it was obvious from talking to various ringers how much they had enjoyed the experience. I hope that they will wish to come again to future such events.
Next up was the Western District Striking Competition at Mullion on 18 June. There were no fewer than 23 pieces of ringing divided into three categories. As Andy Smith, one of the judges, said, “You’ve all won because you’ve turned up”. Inevitably in any event with the word “competition” there were winners and runners-up, but before the results were announced Jo Wenborne, the other judge, made helpful and constructive comments on each performance, noting at the outset that the general standard of striking had improved since the last occasion they had been judges a couple of years ago. There was a happy and purposeful atmosphere, helped by the arrival of pasties at lunchtime, together with an excellent range of other refreshments.
On 18 June, Helen and I travelled to St Cleer for the Eastern District’s monthly practice. Here too was a great turnout despite some rather changeable weather. The ringing was run by Owen Borlase and ranged from rounds and call changes to Cambridge Minor. Once again, some wonderful refreshments were available, and ringers from different towers were soon mixing with and talking to people they didn’t know or hadn’t see for some time.
Finally, and in completely different weather conditions – the heatwave – we were at Otterham on 25 June for the Northern District monthly practice which Julian Trick led. Unfortunately, this was curtailed after an hour or so when first one rope broke only to be followed by another. But this didn’t dampen spirits, and once again there was plenty of tea, coffee and cake to cheer us up.
The one common feature of all these events was the obvious pleasure which everyone present had in their ringing, and if we can keep this up it augurs well for the future. Inevitably at any one time some towers will be on a roll while others may be struggling, but the great thing is to keep going and to attend these local events if you can. Most of us have experienced the same issues which might be facing your tower, and a problem shared is possibly a problem nearer to being solved.
In addition to my various visits I have responded to various matters raised by my fellow officers, and these and other matters will be discussed at the next meeting of the Guild Committee. One issue which will be a regular feature of our conversations will be the arrangements we shall need to make for the meeting of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers which our Guild will be hosting in September 2028.
If you would like me to attend any event in your tower or district, please do let me know and I’ll do what I can to help. I have never been an assiduous user of social media, but president@tdgr.org.uk should find me.
Finally, and more sombrely, we have recently sustained the loss of both Neil Hitchens of Gulval and Doug Petipher of Calstock. Both were leading ringers in their own parts of Cornwall, and we remembered both of them at the Western District Striking Competition before ringing commenced. May they both rest in peace and rise in glory.
Robert Perry, Guild President
