We have held two well attended and successful evening practices aimed at helping less experienced ringers improve their bell handling.
In March 10 of our members took part in the G&B training day in Cirencester (8 as teachers and 2 as students).
For the third year in succession we rang at as many of our branch towers as possible on St George's Day and this year our total was 12 towers. A group of us joined together for lunch in the Touching Soul's Tea Room between ringing at the Abbey and heading off to ring at some of the nearby villages which made for a happy and sociable occasion.
On G&B AGM day the Branch was represented in the Croome and Penn Trophy competitions and then some of us joined in the ringing at Cricklade before attending the meeting there.
In June we held our annual striking competition at Hasfield where 4 towers were represented.
We have held 4 branch practices including the spring meeting and AGM. These have been well attended.
Ringing at towers outside our branch always proves popular.
In May we rang at Dodderhill and Hanbury, had lunch at the Jinny Ring Centre and then enjoyed a walk along the canal.
August saw us hold another mini outing, this time on a Friday morning. We rang at Yarkhill and Bromyard and then rewarded our efforts with lunch at the Hop Pocket near Bromyard.
In July we rang for evensong at Gloucester Cathedral and were lucky enough to be able to see the bells and go up onto the tower roof to admire the view.
On a Friday evening in September we ventured to Cheltenham to ring on the new ring of twelve at the Minster. Those who remembered the old ring were impressed by the new bells and by the much improved ringing room.
In October we took part in the G&B quarter peal festival and firsts fortnight. We scored 7 out of the 8 quarters attempted and branch members registered 28 "firsts".
On November 11th the Branch rose to the challenge of ringing at as many of our towers as possible to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. This was a fantastic effort involving nearly all of our members, many of them ringing at more than one tower.
The last branch event of the year will see us at the Abbey joining the local practice, having a go with the bell plates and enjoying some refreshments while we chat.
Here's hoping next year will be equally successful.
Sheila Taylor, Phil Taylor, Ann Ross (joint ringing masters)
November 2018
| Jan 19 Sat | 5 pm | Ringing at Tredington followed by a fish-and-chip supper and board games |
| Feb 11 Mon | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at Ripple |
| Mar 2 Sat | Morning | G&B Branch Officers' Meeting at Barnwood |
| Mar 9 Sat | All day | Association Training Day: Cirencester area |
| Mar 13 Wed | 7:15 pm | Ringing at Twyning Branch Spring Meeting in the church (8:30) |
| Apr 2 Tue | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at Deerhurst |
| Apr 6 Sat | All Day | G&B Association AGM, Swindon Branch Penn and Croome Trophy competitions |
| Apr 23 Tue | All Day | Ringing for St George's Day (OR NOT - each tower makes its own decision) |
| May 18 Sat | Morning | Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Castlemortin* 9:00 - 10:00am and Longdon* 10:30 - 11:30am Lunch in a nearby pub (to be arranged) followed by a walk in the area (details will be given later; numbers for lunch required in advance) |
| June 22 Sat | 4:30 pm | Branch Striking competition at Bushley Bring and Share supper in Bushley village hall |
| July 7 Sun | Afternoon | Afternoon outing Ringing at Berrow 3:30 - 4:30pm and Malvern Priory (before Evensong) 5:30 - 6:30 |
| Aug 16 Fri | Morning | Morning Mini Outing Ringing at Pershore (St. Andrew's Centre)* 9:30 - 10:30am and Elmley Castle* 11:00 - noon Lunch at The Queen Elizabeth pub (numbers required) followed by a walk on Bredon Hill |
| Sept 10 Tue | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at The Leigh |
| Oct 12 Sat | All Day | Association Training Day Wotton-under-Edge |
| Oct 19-Nov 3 | All Day | "Firsts Fortnight" and Peal and quarter peal festival |
| Nov 9 Sat | 4 pm | Branch AGM - Beckford 4 pm Ringing, 5 pm Service in the church, 5:30 pm AGM in village hall & bring and share supper |
| Dec 3 Tue | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at Kemerton |
| Jan 2020 24 Fri | 7:30 pm | Join the practice at Ashchurch |
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 |
|
The central council website also provides a number of helpful guides here.
