Melton District

The Melton District meetings have been at Branston, Bottesford and Somerby this quarter. The first two were well attended but unfortunately the Somerby meeting on 20th December was competing with the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ final and lost !  However, there were enough of us to ring some nice doubles and minor on the challenging bells at Somerby. 

In October it was the Melton District’s turn to host the LDG AGM. We had a ring at the newly rehung bells at Tilton followed by the excellent 8 at Ashby Folville with a great turnout at each venue. Many thanks to our Vicar (and ringer) Rev. David Harknett for delivering a great service geared to the bell ringers (including a poem using Bob Singles as it’s basis) and to Richard Perry (also a ringer)  for playing the organ with a piece that he had composed using Bob Doubles as the bass line. 

The AGM went very well with over 60 members in attendance. Huge thanks to the bell ringers from Hoby and Kirby Bellars who picked up the task of catering and did an excellent job of feeding and watering us. 

This year has seen the 150th anniversary of the Society of Framland Ringers which rings on a number of towers in the Melton District. To celebrate the occasion the Framland ringers set out to ring a quarter peal on every church with 5 or more bells in their area. Starting at Twyford on 3rd January, the Society completed the last of 28 quarters at Harston on 20th December. It was a great achievement and the Framland ringers would like to thank their friends from the LDG who helped out on a number of these quarters. 

Finally it was great to ring the three ancient bells (2 and 3 are circa 1400) at Little Dalby for their Carol Service this year. Not having been rung for around two and a half years, it took a little TLC (and a few drops of 3 in 1 oil) to get them going but they rang very well and it was lovely to see Sue Stimpson, one of our Life Ringing Members, at the Carol Service where she was overjoyed to hear the bells ringing again. Sue and her husband Mick had been instrumental in restoring the bells many years ago when they moved to Little Dalby. 

The Melton 2026 ringing venues are out now and on the website – we look forward to ringing with the District Members through 2026. 

Pete Brown,
Melton District Secretary. 

Loughborough District

Monthly Loughborough district practices have continued to be well supported, with over 20 members attending each practice. Thank you to everyone who is making the practices such a success and attending. There continues to be a battle of the cakes, biscuits and sweet treats in each tower and everyone has enjoyed all the calories that have been on offer. Funds have also been raised for the tower funds and the Bell ringing fund – £80 sent to BRF since we restarted the district practices in April.

Next year’s practices are getting confirmed but so far we have confirmed Loughborough Bell foundry for 27th January, Ibstock for 20th February and Shepshed for the 24th March. Once all are confirmed the full year’s calendar will be circulated to all.

Susie Scales
Loughborough District Secretary