Hinckley District

The Hinckley District took its first tentative steps to hold a District Meeting back in October at Earl Shilton. The next few planned meetings didn’t take place due to lack of support. We held our Annual General Meeting in December on Zoom and only 9 joined the meeting.

The meeting in March took place at Barwell with some 14 people in attendance. April saw us meet at Sapcote where a tea was provided, this may have been the draw to encourage more people to attend. 

Traditionally the May meeting is the Picnic and Walk, so ringing took place at Sutton Cheney and then we moved to Shenton Station and walked to the Bosworth Battlefield Centre where we enjoyed our picnics in the warm afternoon sunshine. The first time for a number of years where the weather was on our side. We then went on to Market Bosworth for evening ringing. 

June is normally outing month so, again not knowing who may attend, 3 localish towers were arranged. North Kilworth (5), South Kilworth (5) and Welford (8). There were the usual issues associated with outings including nearly a lock out in two senses. One, because the key holder had forgotten we were coming and, two because he couldn’t get the key to turn in the lock! The afternoon concluded, for some, with refreshment at The Wharf Public House in Welford.

There will not be a meeting in July as it is the Guild Summer Social.

A date for your diary will be August 13th when it is hoped to hold our meeting possibly at Claybrooke.

Martin Mellor

Leicester District

We have had five District Practices since returning to ringing this year. These started on 12/2/22 at St Denys – Evington (19 attended), St Margarets – Leicester (23 attended), St James – Birstall (22 attended), All Saints – Newtown Linford (15 attended) & St Marys – Anstey (14 attended).

It has been lovely to be able to meet face to face again and the practices have been well attended. As always we are very grateful to Garry Mason for leading the practices and to other experienced ringers for giving advice and encouragement, as well as helping members to practise new methods. 

We’ve collected a total of £76.65 for the BRF at these meetings. This has been transferred to our Treasure Margie Brimacombe. 

We have the Guild Summer Social coming up on 9th July, and this should be a lovely afternoon of Summer ringing at some of our most beautiful South Leicestershire towers.

Details of this are on the website, and anyone can email Leicester@leicesterdg.org.uk if they would like any more details. 

Below is the itinerary for the day;

If the weather is good, there’s a lovely square green in the next village along called Shearsby, which is a great place to have a picnic. There’s also a pub next to it called the Chandlers Arms, which is open for drinks 12-2 and has a very nice beer garden.

Ringing will start at 1pm as follows:

1.00pm St Peters, Arnesby – LE8 5WJ
2.20pm All Saints, Gilmorton – LE17 5LR
3.40pm St Leonards, Misterton – LE17 4JP
5.00pm St Marys, Lutterworth – LE17 4UJ

There are a few pubs in Lutterworth, but the best suited would be The Fox (for drinks only) or The Man at Arms in Bitteswell for food. Please feel free to book a table yourself, for your family or small group if you are interested in eating afterwards, around 6.30pm.

The Man at Arms has advised to book as soon as possible and if you would like to sit near other Guild Members, please let them know you are with the Leicester Guild of Bell Ringers when you call to reserve.

Rebecca Odames

Melton District

With most of the Covid restrictions being lifted at the end of Feb 2022 the Melton District committee decided to start our district meetings again in March whilst trying to keep them as safe as possible for our ringers by using ground floor well ventilated rings etc.

The monthly meetings have gone well with new ringers joining us from Pickwell and many guests from other districts, many thanks to all who have supported the meetings.  The new venues for the second half of 2022 have just been published given that there have been no more Covid restrictions announced.

The highlight of the ringing so far was the Queens Platinum Jubilee, members of the Melton District rang a peal in 7 doubles methods at Ab Kettleby many firsts achieved here – the first peal on the bells since augmentation, the first peal for the treble, the first peal for the tenor, the first peal inside for bell 4 and the first peal from a Melton District team for many years.

Members at Twyford rang a quarter for the Queens Jubilee on Monday the 13th, this was a second attempt as the one on the 3rd of June blew out at about 32 minutes…… so near and yet so far ! 

Many towers rang their bells in celebration over the Jubilee weekend, these included : Hoby, Harby, Allexton, Tugby, Skeffington, Pickwell, Ashby Folville, Somerby, Burrough and Great Dalby.

The Melton District meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. The meetings are open to everyone – visitors from other districts, new ringers and non-members are always welcome.

DATE	TOWER
16th July	Asfordby (6)
20th August	Sproxton (8)
17th September	Buckminster (6) – To be confirmed
15th October	Twyford (6)
19th November	Long Clawson (8) and AGM
17th December	Stathern (5)

Peter Brown

Loughborough District

We have now recommenced practices post-pandemic.  We have held two practices, one at Prestwold and another at Belton, where we welcomed a goodly number of members and visitors.  As always, we have accommodated all ranges of ability at these practices and ringing has ranged from rounds and call changes to surprise minor and major.  A two-year gap has, however, taken its toll on the Ringing Master’s (this author) ability to be able to ring a ‘bob at one’ in Stedman Triples.  It took him 3 attempts at Prestwold!

We were delighted to elect new members from Whitwick and Packington at these meetings.  There were 10 members elected from the newly reformed band at Packington at the Prestwold meeting which is certainly a record in recent years.

In addition to the new band at Packington, it is pleasing to note that there is further good news in relation to three other of the district’s towers. There appears to be greater certainty over the future of Grace Dieu’s light ring of 6 and Lewis Benfield has continued to maintain and develop relations with the National Trust at Staunton Harold, which included being allowed to toll for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year.  Finally, ringing at Heather is once again possible, following a long gap where it was not permitted due to concerns about the tower.  With the developments at Heather, the Ringing Master’s aspiration to complete the currently ringable district towers looks more possible and who knows, one day maybe even he’ll be able to tick off Staunton Harold.  He has not given up hope!

The meeting at Prestwold was, in effect, our delayed 2021 AGM.  We re-elected many posts but were unable to fill the vital position of District Secretary and the second committee member position.  Until we can find someone to fill this position, district events will have to be less frequent than previously.  We do, however, look forward to our next meeting at Packington in July when we can visit what was for many years a silent tower but which now has its own new burgeoning band.

Richard Bimson