Once again the bells welcomed the New Year in with a full team and some spares. We stuck with tradition as well with the bells half muffled before midnight and then with the ties removed welcomed the New Year with open bells. Happy New Year to you all

A visiting band from Lincolnshire scored two quarters one at Nether Whitacre and the other at Shustoke today. The bells were heard by the villagers and reported back to your correspondent. Details of the performances can be found in our records or on bellboard.

The bellringers have sponsored a tree as part of St Cuthberts Shustoke Christmas tree festival. You might spot some of the local ringers on the tree! Do come along and visit the event which runs to December 7th.

The trapdoor immediately below the third bell which gives access to the actually bell frame fell apart some years ago. With the winter weather coming a replacement has been made - in sections of course so it can be got up the staircase - this not only stops the third bell from shouting down the tower but also should cut down the draft which rises up the staircase.

Xavier once again has proved his worth becoming a quarter peal conductor whilst still under 16. A quarter was rung after we met as a five on practice night and the suggestion that he should conduct a Plain Bob Doubles quarter was put into action. A well struck and reasonably quick quarter peal was scored just within the time restraints of the practice night. The quarter was dedicated to the Remembrance of the Duchess of Kent.

1260 Plain Bob Doubles
Rung in 41 minutes on the front five
Treble - Hazel Herschell
    2nd - Anne Jackson
    3rd - Quentin D Howell
    4th David Jackson
    5th Xavier D Howell (first as conductor)

Xavier was part of the "Three Spires" team which scored top marks in the Advanced Call Change category beating eleven other teams to the title. With their score of 9.5 out of 10 they also came away with the Whitechapel Trophy awarded to the best call change band overall from the basic 6 and Advanced 8 bell teams (17 teams) The group had a very busy day ringing at some towers over the Birmingham area including St Paul's Jewellery Quarter bells which had two mini rings on site as well and trying out some handbells in a tutorial at St Martins.

Nine ringers gathered to ring some nice Stedman, Plain Bob doubles and lots of rounds to see out the old and then welcome in the New Year.

​July started with an excellent performance of the Three Spires team entered by the Lichfield Guild in the Ringing World National Youth Competition held in London on July 6th. The team, including one of our youth ringers, Xavier, came third out of the fourteen teams competing. Well done!
The midsummer bellringing season began with rather a small turnout on our Thursday 11th July practice with only six ringers turning up. As those present were all familiar with ‘Grandsire Doubles’ the band concentrated on polishing up their grasp of this basic method.
Saturday 13th saw a depleted band of four ringing at St Cuthbert’s for the memorial service for Mary and Maurice Woodward, previously the Tower Captain at St Cuthbert’s, Shustoke.
Those at our Thursday 18th practice were held in awe by a very young ringer, 10 years old, who very shyly, but competently rang ‘Grandsire’, ‘Bob Doubles’ and a more complicated method, ‘Stedman’ faultlessly.
Roy, Doreen and Catherine from Kingsbury joined us on our last two sessions in July.
The resident band with an invited conductor,  Michael Chester, rang a Quarter Peal of 1260 Stedman Doubles in 43 minutes, before the induction service held on Tuesday 30 July, for Rev Mark Waterstreet as he took up the post of Rector of the Whitacres, Lea Marston, and Shustoke churches and Vicar of Dosthill, with other local ringers taking us up to the start of the service.
Newly inducted Mark, was ceremoniously handed the keys of the church and invited to chime the church bell which he did eight times.- Traditionally, this is the minimum number of years the new vicar can be expected to serve the congregation. 
On Friday 2nd August the group were pleased to be invited to ring for the wedding of Margaret and Simon. We wish them much happiness in their future lives together.
Our August Thursday night sessions were well attended with Jonathan progressing to ringing rounds and called changes and ringing his first full public performance for the Sunday service on the 25th August.  Well done!

A quarter peal of 1260 Stedman Doubles was rung before the induction service for Rev Mark Waterstreet as he takes up the post of Rector. The local team had a little outside help in support and conducting but a decent quarter of Stedman was scored and then more general open ringing was completed before the service. This is the service in which the new Rector chimes a bell and superstition suggests the number of chimes is how many years they will stay. Mark chimed at least six with a gap and then one more so we shall see...