*NEWS FLASH* – a new batch of TDGR badges have arrived. £4 each from your District Secretary!
Last month we lost Stephen Gill of St. Endellion who rang in his last few years at St Mabyn. His funeral took place at St. Kew on Friday, 18th August. I send my condolences to his family. RIP Stephen. We also lost Barbara Cash of Manaccan and St Anthony and I send my condolences to Michael and her family.
Lesnewth bells had gone into a state of disrepair and therefore had not been rung since 2022. Following a couple of inspections, clearing out of many bags of sticks by Simon McNair-Scott and Julian, plus a few other bits and bobs Julian and I were then able to get the bells going again. On Saturday, 24th August most of the villagers turned out in force to listen to our Call Change Peal!
Lesnewth Church (Ian P Self)
That same morning the Central District held a practice at St. Dennis on their newly rehung bells by Taylors. Well over 30 ringers were in attendance and on the previous Tuesday there was a Full Peal. The evening before Padstow ringers visited the church so do make use of these cracking bells – brilliant news!
Now, sadly, I have to report a loss to our Art – Norman Mattingley died at home on Sunday, 25th August. Although not a Cornishman by birth, Norman moved down here around the mid 1990s. He rang 125 peals for the Guild with 42 as Conductor. I got to know Norman well after the foundation of the CCCBR Ringing Centre at Gwennap (2001).
Years later I asked him if he would kindly come up East to show us a different way of teaching method ringing and he duly arrived at St. Cleer, where our friendship started. His way has now been used for many method learners. We also had chats at his house about Conducting, which was extremely helpful to me, so much so that I was able not only to call but also monitor the ringing of the first peal on the augmented bells at Pillaton, which was the first resident band of Cornwall Surprise Major, with Norman on the 7th. He was also ringing next to me on another occasion – my first peal of Surprise Royal at Plymouth Minster.
Norman served the Guild by becoming Education Officer following the dissolution of the Ringing Centre at Gwennap, and he was a member of the Standing Committee as well as being on the CCCBR Ringing Centres Committee for many years. He was an absolute gentleman of our Exercise and will be sadly missed by many both here in Cornwall and throughout the country. RIP Norman, my friend.
Links to ringing for Norman can be found at https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/memoria.php?id=19374
The St. Erme annual BBQ and Picnic took place on the 26th August with 30 or so in attendance. Thanks must go to Eric Bannister for continuing this tradition and somehow managing to get nice weather organised!
Hedley Stevens, long time Tower Captain at Landewednack and stalwart of the Lizard ringing, passed away at the age of 93. Back in 2013 Hedley let us in for a successful Call Change Peal and following the ringing he congratulated us by saying “Cracking, it nearly put me to sleep”. I send my condolences to his family. RIP Hedley.
My final job this month was to Chair the Standing Committee in Kenwyn. Many matters were discussed as we aim to push forward in TDGR.
N.B. Don’t forget to buy a tea towel (or two), white with black or red printing, available from your District Secretary at £5 each.
Keep ringing!
Owen Borlase
Guild President
