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St Giles Nether Whitacre Bellringers

Visiting ringers

14/2/2024

 
The Browning Society visited both Over Whitacre and Lea Marston churches today before travelling on to sample other three bell delights at nearby Wishaw and Middleton. The opportunity was taken to record the bells in their frame in action.

February newsletter

1/2/2024

 
​We started the winter season with a couple of us muffling the bells on Thursday 9th at St Giles in preparation for Remembrance Sunday which was on the twelfth. 
A band of seven, led by Hazel, grandma of the tower, performed the solemn muffled ringing very well. Even the church clock, which we had forgotten to silence, struck dead on cue, just before the bugler sounded the last post.
The Tuesday group which meets at St Cuthbert’s at 8pm to wind the clock,  rang at least three of the six bells after carrying out the weekly winding and tower maintenance tasks during November and December.
On Tuesday 21st we unloaded the stands ready for the Christmas tree installation and we were  joined by ‘Wooly’ who successfully chimed a bell….  Perhaps we have a new ringer?
On the 2nd December we joined the fieldpath team installing the trees in St Cuthbert’s.

Because of illness and family commitments we weren’t able to provide full bands for all of the Christmas Carol services, however, we rang the two bells at St Leonard’s and rang two bells at St Cuthbert’s before their Carol services. We did better at St Giles and rang five of the six on the Tuesday evening. A band of five rang at St Cuthbert’s on Christmas Eve at midnight and the year finished with a good turn out with a band of eight at St Giles to ring in the New Year.

New Year 2024 ringing

1/1/2024

 
The bells were rung to ring out the old year and to welcome the new year in. Xavier rang the midnight tenor for the first time tonight and the band rang a rang from very good rounds and called changes to Stedman doubles as well as a super lower in peal at the end. For once after many years it was lovely to have more than six ringers present. Happy New Year to you all.
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Quentin, Helen, Xavier, Hazel, Steve, Andy and Mike ring in the New Year

RIP Maurice Woodward 1933-2023

21/12/2023

 
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Maurice was a keen ringer with our band but was also in charge of Shustoke for many years. Whilst he has not rung with us due to ill health since before Covid prior to this he was a regular attender to both practice nights and service ringing at Whitacre. Our thoughts are with his family as they mourn his passing.

December newsletter

1/12/2023

 
After a busy year which included the Royal Funeral ringing tributes, the ‘Ring for the King’ campaign to encourage new ringers, the subsequent Coronation ringing which included a number of celebration ringing half marathons   -  (Quarter Peals) and a handful of weddings, - we had a rather quiet month in October. 
We took advantage of the lull to carry out essential inspections and repairs in the four Parish Church belfries.
At St Leonard’s, the two bells and ringing gear were checked and the clock bell hammer mountings were tightened.
At St John’s the three bells and gear, headstocks, bearings wheels and ropes were checked and it was noted that further attention to exclude crows was needed. Minor mechanical maintenance is required to the bearings and sliders.
The wheel and headstock to the tenor bell at St Cuthbert’s were braced and bolted to remove the backlash caused by the loosening of the wheel centre. Further clearing of nesting debris is to be undertaken.
St. Giles’ bells were found to be in good order.

The usual Thursday night practices at St Giles’ are eagerly attended by an increasingly skilled ‘masterclass’ band, but there is ample time and enthusiasm for more beginners. Spectators are welcomed.
The Tuesday night clock winding/ ‘bell turning over’ group at St Cuthbert’s manage to ring three or more of the bells most weeks and welcome any interested visitors. Access is by ladder.

We are now preparing for the solemn muffled ringing for Remembrance Sunday and in contrast, are looking forward to the Christmas ringing frenzy. We hope to ring for most Carol services in the parishes and then look forward to ringing in the New Year. 

Rememberance

12/11/2023

 
Seven ringers were able to ring for the service with some excellent rounds being completed and Hazel back ringing on a bell for the first time in a while after an operation. Well done to all.

Coronation weekend - quarter peal 2

7/5/2023

 
1440 Plain Bob Minor
On Sunday 7th May 2023 in 50 minutes

1    Anne Jackson
2    Hazel Herschell
3    Xavier Howell
4    David Jackson
5    Helen Howell
6    Quentin D. Howell (c)

Rung to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on May 7th.
First quarter of minor for Third

We also rang a short calling of rounds immediately afterwards so Ruby Howell could ring at the church having been one of our new learners to ring properly for the first time over the weekend at Kingsbury, Drayton Bassett and Tamworth.

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Coronation quarter peal

13/4/2023

 
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1260 Plain Bob Doubles
​On Thursday 13th April 2023 in 45 minutes
1    Steve Collins
2    Helen Howell
3    Xavier Howell
4    David Jackson
5    Quentin D. Howell (c)
6    Mike Miller

Rung to celebrate the forthcoming Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on May 7th.
First quarter inside for Third

History find

1/1/2023

 
Got passed two photographs today which have helped to illustrate the history of our church and bells. The first is an interior shot showing the rear of St Giles church before when the bells were rung from the downstairs. Although the image shows the newly installed electric lighting probably dating from the 1920's or 1930's it clearly shows the three bell ropes and the area as it was when the six bells were installed in 1977. The second shows a "swiftways" lorry collecting our bells from their original home church of Hampton in Arden circa 1975. This lorry was paraded around the village to show the inhabitants the new bells, hence the loudspeaker attached to the lorry cab. Interesting the bells still have their cannons and wooden headstocks so this shows the bells before they went to Taylors to be tuned and machined. My thanks goes to those who both loaned and found these photographs which have been added to the history area of this website too.
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Rear view of St Giles circa 1930 showing new electric lights and rear belfry area
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Bells with cannons being collected from Hampton in Arden circa 1976
A show showing the six bell ropes in the downstairs bell chamber is still sought after. If you have such an image dating from circa 1977 to 2002 please contact us.

New year ringing

1/1/2023

 
Once again a local band met to ring the New Year in as is tradition. Some good ringing was had especially the final leading down and our youngest ringer rang her first New Year in as a capable member of the band.
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    St Giles Bellringers

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