Leicester District

Leicester District Chairman’s Report for 2024

This year the Leicester District has held a meeting every month.

Attendances have been very good, ranging from 15 to over 40 at the Cathedral meeting. The range of ringing has also been good, varying from rounds through Doubles and Minor methods to Surprise Major, and on higher numbers at the Cathedral. There has been something for everyone to enjoy and benefit from. We also organised the Guild Quarterly meeting in January at Wanlip and Birstall, with pub lunch at Birstall, which attracted 40 people. Thanks to all the local ringers and incumbents who have allowed us to ring, and provided refreshments.

We have elected nine new members to the Guild from our District this year, from three different towers with two unattached. This is good to see, and although fewer than in 2023, still shows a pleasing number of new ringers within the district. There were also four new members elected from the Loughborough District at one of our meetings, as the Loughborough District does not presently have a secretary to handle the membership forms.

Sadly, I have to record the deaths of several District members and former members during 2024: Rev Peter Blackman (Aylestone 1950s, Ratby 1960-1993) January 2024, Rev David Cawley (formerly St Mary de Castro and bell historian) March 2024, Michael Read (formerly Saint Mary de Castro) 5th June 2024, Ann Brown (Anstey) June 14th 2024, Steve Paimla (Groby) May 2024 and Richard Carter (All Saints Wigston Magna and a founder member of the Guild) August 5th 2024. Richard was able to come and listen to Wigston Magna’s bells being rung at the district practice in May 2024.

Ringing achievements within the District this year, which I would like to mention, include the continued success of the ringing school at St Mary de Castro on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in the month, ably run by Garry Mason and Lewis Benfield. Rebecca Odames organised a ringing up and down course in May, and a listening and striking course in November, both held at Knighton. I would like to thank my fellow District officers, first and foremost Rebecca Odames our District Secretary, who has worked very hard behind the scenes organising all of our meetings in 2024. I would also like to thank Garry Mason and Lewis Benfield, the joint District ringing masters. Lewis has decided to stand down from next year. In addition, other District members hold Guild Officer posts and have worked on the three standing committees, Bells, Recruitment and Education, and BRF Fundraising.

I would also like to thank all the District members, and visitors from other districts, who have supported the Guild and the District during 2024. I hope that you have found the ringing opportunities useful and enjoyable; please speak to me or Rebecca with any comments or suggestions about the District’s activities. I look forward to welcoming you to more District and Guild ringing in 2025.

Anthony Haywood,
November 2024.

Melton District

The Melton District has had three meetings over the past quarter, October was at Sproxton, the District AGM and November meet was at Somerby. Our December meeting was at Thorpe Arnold; although this is only a 5 bell tower we had a great turn out and it was nice to see so many of our ringers just before Christmas.

Some of our ringers were involved in providing an interesting event in mid-October – One of our local Vicars in Somerby is very keen to ensure that the children in the local primary school see the church as an interesting and inviting place to visit. As part of this, the Vicar is showing the children all the things that happen in churches and she asked the local ringers if we could do a session for the children on bell-ringing. The children were very young (between 4 and 11) and so we tailored some information about bell ringing as an introduction and then split the group (of around 40) to do three activities; drawing a bell from a working model, ringing hand bells and chiming the church bells (with a little help from the instructors!)

I was amazed at how enthusiastic they were and we can only hope that this sort of introduction at a very young age will help to plant seeds for future ringers. The event got a lot of coverage on social media and in the Melton Times so well worth the effort for the positive publicity about bell ringing.

If you see a similar opportunity in your area and could use some help, please feel free to contact me for additional support and resources.

Pete Brown,
Melton District Secretary.

Hinckley District AGM

The Hinckley District AGM was held on Saturday December 14^th at Hinckley. We welcomed many from our District and some visitors with all eight bells ringing from the onset. The first session culminated with three leads of Bristol. Very encouraging.

The business meeting took place before the tea to accommodate Mick Angrave who had a family meal to attend at 6-00pm. The time proved to be welcomed by all who were there, a short meeting in order to get to the tea.

The reports from the officers were all positive recalling a successful year although with some meetings not so well attended. The annual picnic and outing both took place and were well attended at The Sence Valley Country Park and St Neots, Cambridgeshire respectively.

All the officers were reappointed to posts and we are looking forward to 2025. Martin has produced a provisional tower list for the year, and we will hopefully have several traditional meetings with tea provided as well as out of District meetings and an outing in June. Please feel free to join us throughout the year, everyone is always made welcome.

Mick Angrave
District Chair.