It’s been quite strange at Loughborough Parish Church since New Year’s Eve, when ringing was suddenly halted after the Diocesan Bells Advisor (Andrew Higson) noticed some unusual tower movement. Whilst our bells have been out of action, “Loughborough on Tour” has been welcomed at a variety of venues including Prestwold, Barrow on Soar (where we relocated our drinks and nibbles and rang the New Year in), Loughborough Bell Foundry and Leicester Cathedral. After a visit from a well-respected structural engineer and bell ringer, Adrian Dempster, we have now been given the go ahead to start ringing again. The church were so pleased to hear us ringing for Sunday Service again. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us whilst we’ve been homeless. 

The annual Guild Dinner was once again held at the Leicestershire County Cricket Club. It was nice to see Lesley Belcher, Chairman of the Association of Ringing Teachers, return to her home county and for her to share some great local memories. The evening had many highlights, but for me it was when, following our handbell performance, we managed to get all of the young waiters to have a go at ringing handbells. They managed to successfully ring plain hunt on 12 and their performance featured in a Leicestershire County Cricket Club newsletter. Some of the youngsters have contacted us to say that they would like to learn to ring. What a result! 

Ring for the King! Several of us were recently involved in an interview on BBC Radio Leicester that had been organised by our Guild Public Relations Officer, Mick Angrave. The reporter, Ben Jackson, did an excellent interview at Birstall which was broadcast on March 20^th. This was superb timing as we held a recruitment event for Birstall on Sunday, March 26^th. After a lot of local publicity and the radio programme, I’m pleased to report that the event at Birstall was a huge success. Lots of interested potential recruits came along. I gave an introductory talk, after which the attendees all had their first bell ringing lesson. This was an excellent opportunity for several of our ART trained teachers to teach some pupils. By the end of the session, we had a lot of promising recruits including a few returning ringers. We even managed to get Amanda, the vicar, to have a lesson. A huge thank you to all the ringers who turned up to help, and to Rev Amanda Digman and her helpers of the fabulous welcome and the refreshments and cakes. I am really looking forward to starting training sessions so that Birstall and Wanlip will once again have a band of their own. 

Following the success of selling badges to commemorate ringing for the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, I have now embarked upon a campaign to sell badges to mark ringing for the Coronation. The badges have once again been expertly designed by Rebecca Banner and I’m being overwhelmed by the number of badges that have already been ordered. If you’d like to order badges, please email me at bellbadges@gmail.com for details. The badges are £5 each and profits will be donated to the LDG Bell Repair Fund and other local bellringing projects. 

It would be lovely all of our church bells ringing over the Coronation weekend. Many local teams will be joining forces to ensure that bells in their area ring out. Please get in touch if you know of churches that may need assistance. 

I am now in my 4^th year as Leicester Guild President. I am enjoying the role immensely, but don’t want to outstay my welcome! Please start thinking about who should take on this role next. I’d be very happy to talk to anyone who’s interested about what the role involves.  

Sally Brown