Photos and reports 2013-2014

Handbell Day, 13th December 2014

The Ely DA Handbell Day, held on 13th December 2014, involved twenty eight ringers and eighty two bells. Thanks to Christ's College for the space and especial thanks to Adrial for organising food! If any of the participants wants to follow up, please contact me. Click Play on the control below for a composite audio of the day.

Alan Winter

Ely DA quarter peal afternoon - Saturday 29 November 2014

• Quarter peal attempts 2.30-4.00 pm and 6.00-7.30 pm

• Tea in the Guildhall, Burwell (located in St Mary's churchyard) from approx 4.00 pm.

• There will be short business meeting after tea at 5.00 pm at which it is proposed to ratify the following grants:

  • £500 to BURWELL (previously incorrectly shown as Holywell)

  • £10,000 to Bottisham

  • £15,700 plus £15,000 loan to Meldreth.

• The business meeting will also include the ratification of Robert Bramley as Bell Fund Trustee.

Over 40 ringers were at the tea and meeting, the grants were approved and the Bell Fund Trustee was elected. Quarter peals were rung at Exning, Haddenham, Over, Stretham and Wilburton, and attempted at Fordham, Isleham and Soham. Details are here.

Ely DA AGM 2014

This was held on Saturday 3rd May in the Ely District. The day started with the Inter-District 8-bell striking competition, held at Longstanton. The Huntingdon District was placed first, closely followed by the Ely District, with the Cambridge District in third place. The Cambridge District band included a good complement of Young Ringers, which is encouraging for the future of ringing in the Association. General ringing at Millcroft Campanile in Willingham was enjoyed by some ringers, and this was a first experience of a mini-ring for some Ely District members. Then we moved to Over for general and service ringing, service, tea and meeting.

Thanks to Geoff Grayton and Ruth Bramley for the photos: The Huntingdon District team for the Striking Competition, Ringing at Millcroft, and Presentation of the E H Mastin trophy to Phillip George on behalf of the winning team.

World War 1 Centenary - request for feedback

The following article, about ringing for the centenary of World War 1, was printed in the Ringing World recently. On behalf of the PR committee of the CCCBR, it is being sent out to societies, as it may be of interest to officers and members. The article includes a request for feedback of views, which would be very welcome, and can be sent to Barrie Dove, the chairman of the PR committee (barrie.dove1_at_ntlworld.com), or of course to the Ringing World letters page.

World War 1 Centenary

The centenary of the 1914-18 war is approaching, and it will generate a lot of public attention. The government has committed £50 million to make this a major event. The Culture Secretary is chairing an expert advisory panel to oversee a 4-year programme, building a commemoration ‘fitting of this significant milestone in world history’.

Other key organisations have begun to plan their response. The Royal British Legion is ‘determined that the tone will be one of commemoration, not celebration; and that Centenary activities will be available to all and kept free of partisan or sectarian bias’. Churches Together in England recognises that there will be much debate about the nature of the commemoration and intends to help churches and local communities to work together. Other stakeholders include the Imperial War Museum, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the National Archives.

A four year centenary will last a long time. The Government has already listed what it considers six key dates: the declaration of war in 1914, the start of the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, the first day of the battle of the Somme and the battle of Jutland both in 1916, the battle of Passchendaele in 1917 and the 100 days from the start of the Battle of Amiens to the Armistice in 1918.

While the nation will wish to remember the heroism and sacrifice of so many during the war, there will undoubtedly be many who are uncomfortable with the focus on so many horrific events. Some will undoubtedly think that the only event worth marking is the Armistice in 1918 (though cynics call that the start of a 20 year cease-fire until the next war). What will almost certainly generate significant interest, though not on the Government’s agenda, is when the carnage briefly paused at Christmas 1914 and the opposing troops played football together.

As ringers we will all hold personal views about the war and what should and should not be commemorated, but as the custodians of the nation’s bells we have collective responsibility to use them in ways that enhance public sentiment at such times, whether to enhance rejoicing, to dignify mourning or to support sober reflection.

The Central Council is working with the other bodies involved in planning WW1 centenary events, to ensure that bell ringing can make a full and appropriate contribution, and we will keep ringers informed of progress, especially where there are requests for widespread national ringing.

In representing the ringing community it would help us to know the thoughts of ringers at large about the emphasis and type of ringing that you would like to contribute to this centenary.

John Harrison (on behalf of CC PR Committee)

Haddenham bells and frame

The Haddenham bells and frame, shown in the photos below, were included in the Association Tower Maintenance session on 2nd March. Thanks to Sam Bramley for the photos.