G&BDA Tewkesbury Branch

Gloucester & Bristol DA Bell Ringers

Tewkesbury Branch Committee
Message from the Branch Ringing Master
Branch programme 2017
Branch Towers
Branch proficiency certificate - notes
Branch proficiency certificate - individual record sheets
Interested in learning to ring at a tower in the Tewkesbury Branch?
Ringing Notes
Tewkesbury Abbey Method List
Contact

Tewkesbury Branch Committee
Chairman Angela Cole I started ringing in the 1980s after singing at a wedding when the bells were being rung. The Twyning ringers said come and try and wouldn't let me go. Chris my husband/ringing widower, also learnt to handle a bell but he was a better babysitter than myself so only I carried on. Thus I learned at Twyning and have been anchored there ever since, occasionally foraging into Worcestershire. At one point I was Secretary for the Branch so I have some inkling as to the mechanics of how it works. Since then I have really enjoyed just ringing, learning new methods, meeting new people and visiting interesting places. Now, it appears I'm back involved with the Branch and I hope you enjoy your ringing as much as I do.
	Secretary Rosemary Mackay I lived in Canada for more than 50 years and became a professor at the University of Toronto. Having been widowed I returned to England in 2012 and took up bellringing in 2013. I am a member of the Ripple and Twyning bands and also enjoy ringing at other practices in the area.
Ringing Master Sheila Taylor I started learning to ring in 1971 at Tewkesbury Abbey and have rung there ever since apart from a period of 4 years when I lived in Nottingham and rang there. I am very grateful to the people who took the time to teach me properly the basics of bellringing and realise just how valuable this solid groundwork is for future progress. I enjoy teaching learners and helping all less experienced ringers to make good progress.
Management Committee Representative Claire Redstone One day my father said, “Would you like to become a bellringer?” “Yes, but only if my friend Bev comes as well.” That was nearly 40 years ago and I am still ringing and enjoying the challenge of ringing new methods especially on higher numbers. I am a bit of a quarter peal freak and have rung getting on for 3000 quarters, must go and get myself a life!
	Treasurer Sue Burley My father was a bell ringer at Ripple Church, learning as a young boy; but he gave up ringing in his twenties when he married my mother and a family came along. He never returned to ringing and passed away in 2014. That was when I took it up, more than half a century later! So I am very much a learner but have taken on the treasurer role as a thank you for all the branch ringers who are helping me along the path to becoming an accomplished ringer. I think it could be a long journey but they are all very patient and encouraging!

Ringing Master's Report 2015-2016

2016 has been a busy year with our usual branch ringing event each month plus ringing for 2 special occasions: St George's Day and the Queen's 90th birthday.

The December mini outing to Upton Snodsbury and Claines was a success and was followed by a very enjoyable get together and tea at Claire's house.

In January we had ringing at Tredington followed by a fish and chip supper and board games in the village hall. Thanks to Philippa for organising the food which we all enjoyed.

For the February meeting we joined the local ringers at the Leigh where we were treated to hot drinks and biscuits during the evening.

Thanks to the Twyning ringers for hosting our March practice and business meeting and for providing welcome refreshments.

We took advantage of St George's Day 2016 falling on a Saturday to join the national "Ringing for England" campaign and succeeded in ringing at all the branch towers plus Ripple and Strensham. At least 30 branch ringers took part on the day with many of us ringing at multiple towers.

The Queen's 90th birthday ringing was similarly well supported and we rang at most of the branch towers.

It was very heartening to see so many local ringers pulling together (no pun intended) to make both events such a success. Thank you to everyone who took part and to the clergy for allowing us to ring their bells.

Many thanks too to everyone for the photos that were taken on these 2 days. I have photos of all the bands which will make a fantastic record for the future.

In August we had a Friday morning outing to Hartpury and Newent followed by lunch at Trioscape and in September a Sunday afternoon visit to Cheltenham Minster and Prestbury followed by a walk on Cleeve Hill. Both events were well supported by ringers and non-ringing friends and family. Mini outings seem to work much better now for our branch than a whole day outing and are certainly far less stressful to organise.

The striking competition at Ashchurch was an enjoyable event once again ably judged by Rachel Coates this year assisted by Maddie Johnson.

During the G&B quarter peal festival we had 100% success scoring 9 out of 9 quarters. There were some great personal achievements. Well done to everyone who took part and, in particular, thanks to Malcolm who rang in all of the quarters and to those non-branch members who helped us out especially Rachel and Maddie from Much Marcle whose help was invaluable.

As a branch we continue to make progress and to keep lots of towers ringing. Well done to all the less experienced ringers who week by week are learning new skills and a huge thank you to those with more experience who tirelessly turn up at meetings and practices and are willing to help out with weddings, quarters and training and who attend extra practices and extra service ringing to keep towers active.

We really do need to try our utmost to encourage some more new recruits to our branch towers so that we can keep the bells ringing long into the future. New recruits can make use of the dumb bell at Twyning and extra help can be arranged for your tower to help learners to progress.

Thank you to everyone who has supported branch events this year. Please keep up the good work!

I hope to see even more of you at our practices and events during the next year.

Sheila Taylor
Branch Ringing Master
November 2016

Tewkesbury Branch Programme 2017

Jan 31 Tue	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Overbury
Feb 21 Tue	7:30 pm	Ringing at Dumbleton*
Mar 4 Sat	Morning	G&B Branch Officers' Meeting at Barnwood
Mar 11 Sat	All day	Association Training Day: Cirencester area
Mar 28 Tue	7:15 pm	Join the practice at The Leigh Branch Spring Meeting in the church (8:45)
Apr 1 Sat	All Day	G&B Association AGM, Cirencester Branch Penn and Croome Trophy competitions
Apr 23 Sun	All Day	Ringing for St. George's Day: to be co-ordinated nearer the date
May 13 Sat	Morning	Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Madresfield* 9.30 - 10.30am and Malvern Link* 11.00 - 12 noon Lunch at Barnard's Green followed by a walk on the Malvern HiIls (details will be given later; numbers for lunch required in advance)
June 17 Sat	4 pm	Branch Striking competition at Ripple Supper nibbles provided at The Willows in Uckinghall
July 4 Tue	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Deerhurst
Aug 4 Fri	Morning	Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Woolstone* 10.15-11.00am and Bishops Cleeve* 11.30am -12.30pm Lunch at Blooms Garden Centre (numbers for lunch required in advance)
Sept 8 Fri	7:30 pm	Ringing at Evesham*
Oct 14 Sat	All Day	Association Training Day Wotton-under-Edge
Oct 14-29	All Day	Peal and quarter peal festival
Nov 11 Sat	4 pm	Branch AGM - Tredington 4 pm Ringing, 5 pm Service in the church, 5:45 pm AGM in village hall & bring and share supper
Dec 12 Tue	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Beckford
Jan 2018 20 Sat	6:30 pm	Light-hearted evening at The Railway Inn, Ripple 6.30pm: Buy your own dinner from the pub menu (ordered in advance) 7.30pm (approx.): Play skittles

* Remember to bring £1 for each of the non-Branch towers
To download a pdf of the branch program 2017, click here

Tewkesbury Branch Towers
Branch towers with regular practices and / or regular Sunday service ringing To hear samples of some of the bells of the Tewkesbury Branch, click here
Ashchurch, St Nicholas [GL20 8JZ] 8 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 10:30 except for last when 9:00 Practice: Friday 19:30 Website Contact: Margaret Wise (01684) 772095 Entrance through church Car park at end of church driveway Toilet in church
Ashton-under-Hill*, St Barbara [WR11 7SX] 6 bells, 7cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday third and fourth 19:30 Contact: Nick Hopkins (01386) 710136 Entrance at far side of tower Park carefully on road
Beckford*, St John the Baptist [GL20 7AD] 6 bells, 14cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday first and second 19:30 Website Contact: Nick Hopkins (01386) 710136 Entrance at far side of tower Small car park at front of church
Deerhurst, St Mary [GL19 4BX] 6 bells, 11cwt tenor Sunday: second 10:30; fourth 17:30 Practice: Tuesday 19:30 confirm first, alternates with Tredington Contact: Richard Hart (01452) 780505 Entrance to right of main church door Small parking area by church gates
Eldersfield, St John the Baptist [GL19 4NP] 6 bells, 18cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Thursday alternately 19:30 confirm first Contact: Janet Peters (01452) 840211 Ground floor Entrance through church Small car park next to church
Hasfield, St Mary [GL19 4LG] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: by arrangement Contact: Garrod Davies (01684) 296305 Ground floor Entrance through church Off road parking at front of church
Kemerton, St Nicholas [GL20 7HX] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 08:30, last 10:15 (confirm first) Practice: Tuesday 18:30-19:30 confirm first Contact: Terry Onions (01684) 772548 Ground floor Entrance through church Park carefully on road
Tewkesbury, Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin [GL20 5SR] 13 bells, 27cwt tenor Sunday: 10:15; 16:00 confirm first; first 10:15 (quarter peal attempt); third 16:00 (quarter peal attempt). Practice: Thursday 19:30 Website Contact: Ruth Bagley (01684) 293764 Entrance via small outside staircase and intercom Car park at the front and in Gander Lane Toilets in Visitor Centre and Gloucester Rd car park
The Leigh, St Catherine [GL19 4AF] 6 bells, 18cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday 19:30 Contact: Phil Cotton (01452) 857180 Entrance through church Some off-road parking opposite church Toilet in base of tower
Tirley, St Michael and All Angels [GL19 4HH] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: phone to check arrangements Practice: Tuesday but must confirm first Contact: Garrod Davies (01684) 296305 Ground floor Entrance through church Off road parking at front of church
Tredington, St John the Baptist [GL20 7AB] 6 bells, 8cwt tenor Sunday: by arrangement Practice: Tuesday 19:30 confirm first, alternates with Deerhurst Contact: Jim Mitchell (01684) 296773 Ground floor Entrance through church Park away from main road which can be busy
Twyning, St Mary Magdalene [GL20 6JJ] 6 bells, 10cwt tenor Sunday: 8:45 Practice: Wednesday 19:30 Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: Mrs M Storey (01684) 299607 Entrance at far side of tower Car park to right of church gates
*Ashton-under-Hill and Beckford share a band. When there is a fifth Tuesday in the month the practice is at Overbury, Worcs, St Faith 6 bells, 9cwt Park on road near church

Towers outside the Tewkesbury Branch which are closely supported by Branch members
Ripple, Worcs, St Mary [GL20 6HA] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Sunday: 4th 10:00 and special occasions, confirm first Practice: generally 2nd Monday 19:30, Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: Joan Payne (01684) 297251 Entrance through door at base of tower and through kitchen Car park at front of church
Strensham, Worcs, St John the Baptist [WR8 9LW] DO NOT FOLLOW THIS POSTCODE WITH A SATNAV OR YOU WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER! 6 bells, 11cwt tenor Sunday: none Practice: generally 4th Monday 19:30, Please confirm in advance with tower contact Contact: David Bagley (01684) 293764 Entrance at base of tower Car parking by church
Branch towers with unringable bells
Boddington, St Mary Magdalene [GL51 0TJ] 3 bells, 9cwt tenor Chimed only
Chaceley, St John the Baptist [GL19 4EH] 6 bells, 11cwt tenor Unringable
Forthampton, St Mary the Virgin [GL19 4QW] 6 bells, 12cwt tenor Unringable
Staverton, St Catherine [GL51 0TR] 3 bells, 9cwt tenor Chimed only

Tewkesbury Branch Proficiency Certificates

Notes on Tewkesbury Branch Proficiency Certificates

The purpose of these certificates is to recognise and encourage progress among ringers (who have not already gained the Association proficiency certificate) within the Tewkesbury Branch.

Tower captains will be responsible for monitoring the progress of individual ringers. It may help to keep a register of attendance but this is entirely optional. Please date the progress chart for each individual to show when each of the criteria is achieved.

Please display the proficiency certificate criteria on your tower notice boards and encourage any members of your band who have not yet gained the G&B certificate to take part if they wish.

The number of towers visited; meetings attended and services rung for is cumulative from level to level e.g. for the silver level, at least 5 towers have to be visited and these towers can then be counted towards the total of 10 for the gold certificate.

When a member of your band has achieved one of the specified levels please pass the details to the Branch Ringing Master who will ensure that the appropriate certificate is presented at the next branch meeting.

Any ringer who has achieved the platinum level of the branch proficiency certificates is well on the way to reaching the standard required to attain the G&B Association certificate.

If an individual cannot make progress to the next level due to limitations within their local band then please contact the Ringing Master to ask for help.

As this is a new scheme there will be many ringers who have already achieved one or more of the levels. If an individual would like to be awarded a certificate for the highest level already achieved (but not all of the levels previously achieved) then please pass their name to the Branch Ringing Master.

Please contact the Branch Ringing Master if you need further clarification on any point.

Sheila Taylor
Tewkesbury Branch Ringing Master
Dec 2012

Tewkesbury Branch Proficiency Certificate record sheet
To download the spreadsheet click here

Interested in learning to ring at a tower in the Tewkesbury Branch?

Towers in the Tewkesbury Branch are always keen to recruit more bellringers. If you are interested in finding out more please email the Tewkesbury Branch or contact your nearest tower.

Ringing Notes

The following documents provide learning notes for Plain Bob Doubles and Stedman Doubles.
Click on the links to download the .doc files.

Notes on ringing Plain Bob Doubles
Notes on ringing Stedman Doubles

Tewkesbury Abbey Method List

Below is the method list for 2017 and some of blue lines as word documents.
For a website that can plot all methods, please visit www.vismeth.co.uk
Click on the links to download the files.

Thursday method List 2017

Cassiobury Surprise Major
Countesthorpe Surprise Major
Water Surprise Major

Contact

To email the Tewkesbury Branch click here

Contents

Tewkesbury Branch Committee