Monthly update – November 2023

Buckle up for this month’s Guild updates which includes information relating to the Guild AGM in January and the Henry Johnson Dinner in February.

Firstly though, thank you to everyone that supported and ran towers for the City Centre Ring and to Phil for his arrangements. A huge success! We’ll include an article in the next Guild Newsletter.

100 Club results
The results for October’s 100 Club:
1st No. 96 David Ingram £49.00
2nd.No. 97 Rebekah Horton £14.70
3rd No. 86 Angie Wakefield £4.90

Guild Newsletter
As you know, we’re always looking for your news about what’s going on in your patch. Don’t wait for the next deadline, get your updates written and photos submitted while events are fresh in your mind. So, if you have anything to share, please forward it to Andrew via avb@btinternet.com. Much appreciated.

Peal Boards Project – Request for photos from Guild towers
Richard Andrew is working with the Central Council’s Historical & Archive workgroup (H&A) who in turn are working on a project to record as many photos as possible of peal boards from around the UK and also from abroad, and then load them to the Peal Boards section of the H&A workgroup’s historical database, which can be found via the following link: – https://history.cccbr.org.uk/perf_boards_search.php

We’d love St Martin’s Guild to lead the way on this, with Guild members submitting photos of all the peal boards at the towers that we ring at. If you would like to offer to get involved, please contact via the project email address: – pealboards@cccbr.org.uk . You can send photos to this address or submit direct to BellBoard through the ‘Add photo’ option from the main menu on the left, but remembering to tick the box to ‘Allow sharing with the Central Council’s peal board database’. The team will then be able to view and load them to the H&A workgroup’s historical database.

ART Awards
Do you know someone who’s making a difference and making things happen? Then don’t be shy. Say thank-you by nominating them for an award, and if they win, they’ll receive a substantial cash prize to spend on a ringing related activity or product.

It doesn’t matter if they are an ART Member or have never even heard of ART, anyone can apply, anyone can be nominated and anyone can win. If you already have someone in mind, then fly over to: https://bellringing.org/art-awards-2024/ and download an application form. You have until 31 December 2023 to get your nomination in

Sheldon Special Practices
As Sheldon are due to have their clappers rebushed in mid-November, there are no plans for a Special Practice this month. Dependent on the completion of the work, Margaret Burling envisages that the next one could be January 2024.

Upcoming Events
Surprise Practice
7:30pm Saturday 4th November – Edgbaston St Bartholomew
The special method will be Glasgow. The spliced repertoire could include anything from the Core Seven (Cambridge, Yorkshire, Superlative, Lessness, Bristol, London, Cornwall), Double Norwich, Deva, Lancashire and/or Glasgow. London and Bristol are always rung as single methods.

Basic 6 Bell Theory Workshop
7:30pm Wednesday 8th November – online session
Separate mail sent from the Mojo workshop email group. Please get in touch if you’d like to come along or would like to know a bit more about the evening.  Phil Ramsbottom via smgcbr@gmail.com

Midweek Open Ringing
10:15am – 11:45 Thursday 16th November – Moseley St Mary
All members welcome, ringing from rounds and call changes upwards depending on who attends. Tea/coffee and cakes at half time so please bring a donation with you.

Higher Numbers practice
7:30pm Wednesday 22nd November – Solihull
All welcome, come and explore ringing on 10+ with lots of support for those less experienced. At last month’s practice, amongst others we managed to get to Little Bob Royal, Erin Cinques and Grandsire Cinques. Simon Linford has very kindly agreed to look after us this time round.

Connections, or ‘if you can ring that then try this’ –  Workshop
7:30pm Wednesday 22nd November – online session
Separate mail sent from the Mojo workshop email group. Please get in touch if you’d like to come along or would like to know a bit more about the evening.

Surprise Practice
7:30pm Saturday 2nd December – Solihull  CARE – note the change of location for this practice
The special method will be Glasgow. The spliced repertoire could include anything from the Core Seven (Cambridge, Yorkshire, Superlative, Lessness, Bristol, London, Cornwall), Double Norwich, Deva, Lancashire and/or Glasgow. London and Bristol are always rung as single methods.

Looking slightly further ahead…
Guild AGM  
Afternoon of Saturday 13th January 2024 – Coleshill
The meeting will be held during the afternoon at Coleshill with a light lunch, meeting and open ringing. Further details to follow.

The proposed rule changes were shared with members 4th October 2023, drop me a mail at this address if you need me to send a reminder.

We have two Officers of the Guild standing down this year Phil Ramsbottom, Ringing Master and Tracy Stevens, Treasurer. We are sorry that they feel it is time to move on but understand that they want to encourage others to become involved. We are immensely grateful for all their work with the Guild.

If you have any nominations for these roles, please let me have them at this email address by 2nd December 2023 in accordance with rule 3.4.

Henry Johnson Dinner
Saturday 24th February 2024 – Burlington Hotel, Birmingham
The dinner will once again be held at the Burlington Hotel. Tickets will be £46.50 and £35 for students in full-time education. Tickets will be available online as last year and, we will share details very soon. Real ale will be available at the venue this time round. There will be a limited number of rooms at a concessionary rate which will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, which might be helpful if you are looking to stay overnight.

To book a room at the Burlington please call 0121 643 9191 and quote GUIL240224. Rooms will be charged at £160 Bed and Breakfast single occupancy and the double occupancy rate will be £175.00. Full pre-payment will be required at the time of booking, all rates are nontransferable and non-refundable. These discounted rooms, if not already snatched up, will only be available until 13th January 2024.