G&BDA Tewkesbury Branch

Branch Firsts Fortnight March 2020
Message from the Branch Ringing Masters
Tewkesbury Branch Committee
Branch programme 2020
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

Branch Firsts Fortnight March 2020

Following the success and enthuasim ofthe association First Fortnight, the Tewkesbury branch decided to hold our own in March, to encourage our ringers to try something new.

Name	Tower	Date	First
Steve	Ashchurch	Sunday 8^th March	First time ringing for Sunday service (at Tewkesbury Abbey)
Steve	Ashchurch	Friday 13^th March	First call changes
Steve	Ashchurch	Saturday 14^th March	First time attending the G&B training day
Marie	Ashchurch	Saturday 14^th March	First time attending the G&B training day
Corinne	Tewkesbury	Saturday 14^th March	First time attending the G&B training day
Alex	Tewkesbury	Sunday 15^th March	Standing still on the box while ringing
James	Tewkesbury	Sunday 15^th March	First leading on 10
James	Tewkesbury	Sunday 15^th March	First leading on 11

Message from the Branch Ringing Masters

The Tewkesbury Branch of the G&B (Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers) is a small but very active and friendly group of bellringers.

All members ring regularly with their own church band but also at neighbouring churches with other members of the branch.

We have at least one meeting or event every month including joining the local practice at one of the branch towers; mini outings to a couple of towers a bit further afield (usually followed by a pub lunch or visit to a cafe); and the branch striking competition and bring and share supper.

Bellringing is a fascinating hobby, costs very little, needs no special clothing and the equipment (bell and rope!) are provided free of charge.

If you are a bellringer visiting the area and would like to ring at some of our towers please get in touch via the contact link. You will be made very welcome.

If you are a non-ringer and would like to find out more about bellringing in the Tewkesbury area and/or are interested in learning to ring, please get in touch via the contact link.

Sheila, Phil and Greg (Branch ringing masters)

Tewkesbury Branch Committee
Chairman Ann Ross I started to ring in the late 60's at Twyning. My week was spent visiting surrounding towers for their practice night and rang on a Sunday at Twyning and Tewkesbury Abbey. After getting married in 1975 I gave up my favourite hobby due to clash of priorities. About 20 years later I returned and haven't looked back since. I now visit towers most nights and have started to relearn the methods I rang years before.
	Secretary Rosemary Mackay I grew up with the sound of bells in Cranford, Northamptonshire, where our small village church had a keen band, but I never imagined I would ever be a ringer. I left England to begin a career overseas, with more than 50 years in Canada. I returned as a widow in 2012 and began ringing in 2013 at Ripple and Twyning. I now practice regularly at several local towers, and ringing is an essential part of my week.
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.
	Ringing Master Philip Taylor I learnt to ring at Tewkesbury Abbey at the age of 10, the fifth generation of my family to do so. As well as actually ringing, I enjoy maintaining bells, and had plenty of opportunity to help out from a young age. I continued ringing whilst at university in Bath, where I helped hang a new ring of 6 and enjoyed teaching a new band. Since my return I have continued ringing at the Abbey and Ashchurch.
Management Committee Representative & Ringing Master Gregory Jones I started ringing in 2010 at Tewkesbury Abbey. I took up the ropes out of interest, a few years after my Grandad, who was a ringer himself, passed away. I went to university in Portsmouth and was able to continue ringing and meet new ringers, the 3 years I was there. Now I have finished my degree, I am back in Tewkesbury wanting to be an active member of this branch.
	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!

Tewkesbury Branch Programme 2020

Jan 24 Fri	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Ashchurch
Feb 29 Sat	Morning	G&B Branch Officers' Meeting at Barnwood
Feb 29 Sat	6:30 pm	Supper followed by skittles at The Railway Inn, Ripple. Menu will be circulated beforehand; meal choices and numbers will be needed
Mar 7-22	All Day	Tewkesbury branch "Firsts Fortnight"
Mar 10 Tue	7:15 pm	Join the practice at Tredington Branch Spring Meeting in the church (8:30)
Mar 14 Sat	All day	Association Training Day: Cirencester area
Apr 23 Thur	All Day	Ringing for St George's Day (OR NOT - each tower makes its own decision)
Apr 25 Sat	All Day	G&B Association AGM, North Cotswold Branch Penn and Croome Trophy competitions
Apr 27 Mon	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Strensham (now with 8 bells!)
May 8 Fri	All day	Ringing to celebrate 75^th anniversary of VE day
May 16 Sat	Morning	Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Saintbury* (8) 9:30 – 10:30am and Blockley* (10) 11:00 – 12:00 Lunch at Batsford Arboretum café (where admission is free) followed by an optional walk in the Arboretum (when there will be a charge)
June 13 Sat	4:30 pm	Branch Striking competition at Tirley Bring and Share supper in Tirley village hall
July 11 Sat	Morning	Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Westbury* (6) 10:00 – 11:00am and Newnham* (8) 11:30 – 12:30pm Lunch to be arranged; numbers for lunch required in advance
Aug 7 Fri	Morning	Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Horsley* (8) 10:00 – 11:00am and Woodchester* (6) 11:30 – 12:30pm Lunch to be arranged (numbers for lunch required in advance) followed by an optional walk (possibly in Woodchester Park)
Sept 29 Tue	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Overbury*
Oct 10 Sat	All Day	Association Training Day Wotton-under-Edge
Oct 17-Nov 1	All Day	"Firsts Fortnight" and Peal and quarter peal festival
Nov 14 Sat	4 pm	Branch AGM - Ripple 4 pm Ringing, 5 pm Service in the church, 5:30 pm AGM in village hall & bring and share supper
Dec 10 Thur	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Tewkesbury Abbey
Jan 2021 12 Tue	7:30 pm	Join the practice at Beckford

* Don't forget to bring a donation for out of branch towers
To download a pdf of the branch program 2020, 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 (01684) 274197 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: Dave Devereux (01684) 850329 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
Notes on ringing St Simons Doubles

The central council website also provides a number of helpful guides here.

Tewkesbury Abbey Method List

Below is the method list for 2020 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 2020

Cassiobury Surprise Major
Countesthorpe Surprise Major
Water Surprise Major

Contact

To email the Tewkesbury Branch click here

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