The SW District will be holding their Annual District Meeting at Chigwell Row on Saturday, 15th January. There will be ringing from 3.30 p.m. with a service at 4.30. Tea, meeting and ringing (if time available) will follow. Names for tea to Sandra (020 8555 6835)
Sandra Lee
SW District Master
(30 December 2010)
PRITTLEWELL BELLS
The dedication service for the new ring of ten Whitechapel bells at St. Mary's, Prittlewell is to be held on January 8th at 3pm. The bells will be available for viewing from 12 noon, followed by the service at 3 pm. There will be open ringing after the service and tea will be available. As Southend United are playing at home that afternoon please allow plenty of time for your journey! Car parking will be available at the old school in East Street, just past the church.
Cathryn Corns, on behalf of David Sloman
(21 December 2010)
The Course brochure is now available. An online version is here.
Mary Bone
Essex Course Administrator
(20 December 2010)
I regret to report to death on Tuesday 14th December of Barbara Fisher, Bentley Common, Southern District and Life Member of the Association.
The funeral service will be at 11.30am on Monday 10th January at Navestock. Family flowers only please but any donations will be gladly accepted in aid of the RNLI.
Alison Nash
Southern District Secretary
(15 December 2010, updated 20 December)
The Northern District Annual General Meeting will be held on 8th January at Gosfield. Ringing at Gosfield from 3:00pm. Service at 4:30 pm followed by tea and meeting. Evening ringing at Pebmarsh from 7:30 pm
Numbers for tea to Valerie Darkins 01787 477444 or e-mail .
Valerie Darkins
N District Secretary
(5 December 2010)
Please note that ringing practice at Tillingham will be suspended from 1st December 2010 to 31st March 2011. Between those dates, Bradwell-on-Sea and Tillingham will hold a practice at Bradwell every Friday starting at 7.45pm.
All welcome.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(30 November 2010)
In 2010 we elected 4 out of the 5 representatives to serve on the Central Council for a three year term starting in 2011. Nomination forms for the remaining post can be made using the attached form which should be completed and returned to me by 1st Feb 2011.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(29 November 2010)
Notices of motion for the AGM (items for debate or proposed rule changes), sponsored by at least 2 members, must be received by the Hon. Gen. Secretary by 1 February 2011.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(29 November 2010)
Nominations for Association officers (Master, Secretary, Treasurer, 3 Property Trustees and 2 Independent Examiners) must be received by the Secretary by 1 February 2011. Nominations may be made at a district meeting or can be sent directly to reach the Secretary before the deadline; please remember to include the name of the proposer and seconder. The attached form needs to be completed and returned.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(29 November 2010)
We are sorry to report the death on October 10th of Wendy Came of Maldon, All Saints. Wendy will be sadly missed by all who knew her. The Funeral took place on 28th October.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(1 November 2010)
A message from The Ringing World
Show how much ringing and The Ringing World means to you.
Our Centenary creates a unique opportunity for individuals, families, towers, guilds and associations to couple their name permanently with the exciting celebrations planned for Saturday 26th March 2011 in London. We will be publishing a souvenir programme brochure for the day, and you could have your name in that brochure listed as a Centenary Patron. We will also reproduce the list in the special Centenary issue of The Ringing World to be published in the week prior to this Grand Ringers' Day Out .Your name will be permanently associated with one of the most exciting events in ringing, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped The Ringing World start its next 100 years in style.
What to do next:
Send us a donation of a minimum of £25 for an individual or a family, or £40 for a tower, guild or association together with the name exactly as you would wish to see it published in the list of Centenary Patrons. We will list up to two names per donation e.g. Janet and John Smith; more than two names should be shown as a family, or a tower or other group e.g The Smith family, John Smith and family, St Mary's Our Town ringers etc.
Book your place in ringing history now.
Become one of an exclusive club of Centenary Patrons.
(26 October 2010)
Please note that ringing practice at Tillingham will be suspended from 1st December 2010 to 31st March 2011. Between those dates, Bradwell-on-Sea and Tillingham will hold a practice at Bradwell every Friday starting at 7.45pm.
All welcome.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(21 October 2010)
The membership application form has been revised. The new version is downloadable here. The old form is no longer acceptable and any remaining copies should be destroyed.
(14 October 2010)
The draft revision to the Rules is now available for comment: please see this page.
(10 October 2010)
A report on the Annual Dinner is here (.DOC file, 140kB)
Tracey Southgate
Public Relations Officer
(6 October 2010)
The gift aid pages have been revised and updated and a new downloadable gift aid declaration form added. See here for details.
Andrew Brewster
Treasurer
(23 September 2010)
We are sorry to report the death this morning of David Collins, of Manuden.
The funeral will be held at Manuden, at 3pm on Tuesday 28th September, preceded by general ringing for one hour and followed by a quarter-peal attempt.
Fred Bone
NW District Master
(14 September 2010, updated 15, 20 September)
Please note that Geoff Upsdell, the Tower Correspondent at High Easter has moved to:
4 Hylands Close
Barnston
Great Dunmow
CM6 1LG
Phone number remains the same.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(14 September 2010)
A report of the Association's presence at the Essex Country Show is here (.DOC file, 2.7MB)
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(13 September 2010)
This year's Essex Trophy 10 bell striking competition took place at Coggeshall. Six teams entered: Essex ACR; Kent CACR; Hertford CACR; Sussex CACR; Guildford DG and Surrey ACR. The draw took place at Christ Church as there was a wedding going on at St Peter's however, this did not stop ringing starting promptly. The test piece was a plain course of Cambridge Surprise Royal. The judges for the afternoon were Simon Rudd and Tim Peverett, both ex Essex boys! The local ringers at Coggeshall provided welcome refreshments and tea throughout the afternoon, and Paul and Anne Bray were stewards.
The results were:
1st - Essex - 116 faults
2nd - Kent - 148 faults
3rd - Surrey - 231 faults
4th - Guildford - 259 faults
5th - Hertford - 263 faults
6th - Sussex - 264 faults
The Essex band were: John Hall; John Armstrong; Katrina Bond; David Rothera; Steve Waters; Steve Nash; Colin Chapman; Jon Waters; Tony Bloomfield; Brian Meads (c).
Their ringing was described by the judges as being consistently good and had some sparkle!
Congratulations to the Essex band and thank you everyone involved in organising the day. Next year's competition will be hosted by the Hertford County Association.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(11 September 2010)
For a number of years the Association has arranged Group Personal Accident Insurance cover for Association members and those under instruction by an Association member. As agreed at the AGM in May, the benefits were increased and the lower and upper age limits on cover were removed when the policy was renewed at the end of July 2010. See here for details.
Andrew Brewster
Treasurer
(4 September 2010)
The Leyton ringers are delighted to welcome the Leytonstone ringers to their practice while St John's tower/roof undergoes repair. Practice starts at 7.30 p.m. on Monday evenings. Entrance at back door. If locked please call 07932 513268 for entry.
Sandra Lee
(3 September 2010)
Please note that the new Terling Tower Correspondent is:
Colin Cutler
Twitchers
Fairstead Road
Terling
CM3 2BU
01245 233337
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(3 September 2010)
We are sorry to report the death on 30th June, of Brian (Jim) Keeble of Maldon, All Saints. A cremation service attended by family and many ringers was held on 15th July. Jim had been a stalwart of the All Saints band since learning to ring for the millennium and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(31 August 2010)
We regret to report the death, on Sunday 22nd August, of Ruth Slater, of Sawbridgeworth.
The funeral will be held on Monday 6th September at 2:15pm, in the West Chapel at Cambridge Crematorium.
Fred Bone
NW District Master
(23 August 2010, updated 26 August)
Essex Country Show - Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th September 2010
I am surprised and delighted to tell you that following a recent tip-off from one of the ringers from Rayleigh, I have managed to secure exhibition space at the Essex Country Show, which takes place at Barleylands near Billericay. It is a surprise because I applied right at the last moment, so to have the opportunity of taking ringing to the masses in the Southern District is a great opportunity for us to go on a bit of a recruitment and publicity drive for the area. It is the first time I have arranged such a thing in the District, so it is new territory for me as well as you!
The format for the show will follow the tried and tested pattern which has been used at the Tendring Show and also WOW100 this year. If you have read my articles about those shows, you will know the kind of thing we need your help with. I have arranged to borrow the Maplestead Mini Ring and a set of handbells from Alistair Donaldson so that visitors can try their hand at 'lapping', and I will put on a small exhibition. We really need at least 12 people to help across the weekend, with demonstrations on the mini ring, supervising handbell sessions and taking note of any interest in taking up ringing as a hobby. If you can help at the show on either the Saturday or Sunday, between 9.20-12.30 and 1.30-5.30, please contact either myself on 01255-507357 or Alison Nash on 01268-490061. Alternatively, please drop either one of us an email. It would be great if you could get in touch as soon as possible.
Tracey Southgate
Public Relations Officer
(16 August 2010)
A reminder to you all that the EACR annual dinner will be held on Saturday 2nd October at the County Hotel, Chelmsford.
I’m very pleased to announce that one of the guest speakers will be Martin Cansdale. Martin used to ring at Writtle before moving out of the county, but he is currently the Master of the Ancient Society of College Youths.
If you haven’t done so already, you’ll need to book your seat by sending me payment of £32 per person, together with your menu choices. If you’d like me to send you tickets in the post, please also include an SAE.
You have until 1st September to get your choices and payment to me to guarantee your seat. Don’t delay, send it today!
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(10 August 2010)
Open day will take place in the SW District on Monday 30th August. Towers listed here (updated 14 August). If anyone can help on the day please contact Philip Denton on 07752 846118 or myself.
Sandra Lee
SW District Master
(29 July 2010)
An Open Weekend was held at Basildon on 24th and 25th July, as part of the "London 2012 Open Weekend Challenge". Read about it here (.DOC file, 360kB)
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(26 July 2010)
Please note that the address and telephone number of the SE District Deputy Master have changed to:
Nick De Keyser
26 Goodwin Close
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 9GX
01245 345554
Email address remains the same.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(26 July 2010)
An article about the WOW100 event is here (.DOC file, 150kB)
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(24 July 2010)
The NE District was represented at the Tendring Show. An article is here (.DOC file, 128kB)
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(24 July 2010)
Please note that ringing for Sunday services at Tolleshunt D'Arcy is now as follows:
Sun – 10.30am (2nd and 4th). Practice night remains the same, Monday 7.30 – 8.30pm.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(7 July 2010)
The funeral of Joan Tilley of Galleywood will take place at 11am on Thursday July 15th at HERONGATE.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(7 July 2010)
The Association Striking Competitions took place on 3rd July in the North Eastern District on a gloriously sunny day. Both competitions were expertly judged by Linda Garton and John Loveless who placed the bands as follows:
| 6 Bell at Tendring | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Band | Method | Faults |
| 1st | Chelmsford Cathedral | Plain Bob Minor | 37 |
| 2nd | Dagenham | Plain Bob Doubles | 83 |
| 3rd | Writtle | Grandsire Doubles | 89 |
| 4th | Sawbridgeworth | Grandsire Doubles | 90 |
| 5th | Kirby le Soken | Plain Bob Doubles | 105 |
| 6th | Langdon Hills | Cambridge Surprise Minor | 111 |
| 7th | Prittlewell | Plain Bob Doubles | 113 |
| 8th | Hornchurch | Plain Bob Doubles | 150 |
| 9th | Braintree/Felsted | St Martin's Bob Doubles | 179 |
| 8 Bell at Great Bentley The set test piece was 264 Gainsborough Little Bob Major | ||
|---|---|---|
| Place | Band | Faults |
| 1st | South Eastern | 75 |
| 2nd | Southern | 103 |
| 3rd | South Western | 126 |
| 4th | Northern | 149 |
| North Eastern | Did not complete the test piece | |
| North Western | Did not complete the test piece | |
Thanks to Gill Sparling for making all the local arrangements and for the ladies at Tendring for providing an excellent tea.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(3 July 2010)
The SE District is sad to report the death on 2nd July of Joan Tilley of Galleywood. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(3 July 2010)
I'm pleased to report that Harwich bells are back in action, and the refurbishment of the church has been completed in time for the 2-week annual Harwich Festival, which begins on Thursday 1st July.
Tracey Southgate
(27 June 2010)
A report of the NE District "Young Ringers Ring and Ride" day is here (.DOC file, 250kB)
It is with sadness that we report the death, on 12th May, at the age of 90 years, of the Revd. WJT Smith of Boreham. Revd Smith was an Associate Member and Friend of the Essex Association for very many years. He was the author of the hymn "Glad bells ring loud and clear". The funeral will take place at St Andrew’s, Boreham, at 2pm on Friday 28th May and will be followed by interment in the churchyard.
Boreham bells will be rung from 1.30pm and anyone who knew Revd. Smith is welcome to join us: the bells will be rung without muffles to celebrate his life and work. Revd. Smith will be interred in the old churchyard.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(22 May 2010)
NE District Officers and members manned a stand at a 2-day exhibition called ‘Leisure 2010’ during the weekend 15th-16th May.
Read all about it here
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(18 May 2010)
At the Annual General Meeting of the Association on 3rd May 2010, the following Motion was passed:
"In accordance with the Essex Association of Change Ringers' duty of care to protect young people under 18 and vulnerable adults, and in the interests of future recruitment, any person whose name appears on the Sex Offenders Register is not eligible to become a member of the Essex Association of Change Ringers. Where the Association has reasonable grounds to believe that a member appears on (or is to be added to) the Sex Offenders Register, the Association may immediately suspend their membership pending a formal investigation, and where the grounds are confirmed the named member will immediately cease to be a member of the Association. This shall be deemed to be retrospective."
The Motion was carried by a vote of 78 in favour, 55 against with 3 spoilt ballots.
Vicki Chapman
Hon General Secretary
(8 May 2010)
With immediate effect, ringing at Harwich has been suspended. This is due to a safety issue with the pendulum bob now that the church clock has been re-instated. It needs to have a new strong box constructed around the pendulum to catch it should the spring-steel support fail. If the pendulum were to fall whilst ringers were present, it is highly probable that a serious injury would occur. Unfortunately, this has happened once before (thankfully no-one was hurt), and we have the dents in the ringing room floor to prove it, so we have reluctantly decided not to take the risk. Bakers of Danbury are currently undertaking an extensive refurbishment of the interior of St Nicholas, which is due for completion by the end of June, and we are hopeful that they will construct this securing box as part of their work for the church while they are here. We will notify you once again when ringing resumes.
Tracey Southgate
(5 May 2010)
Please note that the new Springfield Tower Correspondent is:
Richard Carson
25 Candytuft Road
Springfield
Chelmsford
CM1 6YS
Tel: 01245 461355
Jo Elliott
(26 April 2010)
Unfortunately the Rayleigh bells will be out of action until early December due to major tower repair work being carried out.
(Repair work will be completed by August but advised the drying time of the lime mortar will mean another three months of closure after this work is completed.)
Simon Smith
Tower Captain
(25 April 2010)
These towers rang for St George's Day
Tracey Southgate
(25 April 2010, updated 29 April 2010)
Dear all, just a quick reminder that next Friday 23rd April is St. George's Day. If you are planning to ring whether it be general ringing or a QP or Peal attempt, please let me know urgently as I am compiling a list. Please contact me at .
Many thanks
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(14th April 2010)
2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Association will be held on May Day Bank Holiday, Monday 3rd May 2010, and will be preceded by a service at 10.30 am in Chelmsford Cathedral.
The meeting will be held in the Cathedral to conclude not later than 1.00 pm. The Cathedral bells will be available from 9.15 to 10.15 am. when an invited band will ring a Service Touch. Afternoon and evening ringing will take place in the Southern District. Tickets for tea and details of further ringing arrangements to be obtained from the Secretary by 1st May.
AGENDA
"Part A
That an amendment be made to the rules to include a paragraph in Rule 6 as follows:
"In accordance with the Essex Association of Change Ringers' duty of care to protect young people under 18 and vulnerable adults, and in the interests of future recruitment, any person whose name appears on the Sex Offenders Register is not eligible to become a member of the Essex Association of Change Ringers. Where the Association has reasonable grounds to believe that a member appears on (or is to be added to) the Sex Offenders Register, the Association may immediately suspend their membership pending a formal investigation, and where the grounds are confirmed the named member will immediately cease to be a member of the Association."
Part B
"Should the membership 'carry' the above Part A, this shall be deemed to be retrospective."
Proposed: Mrs C Brewster
Seconded: C Stirland
The annual dinner has been provisionally booked for Saturday 2nd October at the County Hotel, Chelmsford. In order for this to go ahead, a decision will be made at the AGM on 3rd May based on the number of people who confirm that they would like to attend.
This is the one occasion in the ringing calendar where you get a chance to dress up, chat with others that you haven't seen for a while, meet on equal terms where ringing ability has no relevance, enjoy a fantastic 3 course meal, some entertainment and some silly jokes that the Master has found on a website somewhere!
If you would like to attend the dinner this year, please ensure that you advise me of your intention. If there is insufficient support at the AGM the dinner will not go ahead this year.
Vicki Chapman
(12 April 2010)
Thursday — Braintree & Witham Times (Dan Smith’s Group), for next week’s issue.
Friday — Essex Chronicle (Brian Mead’s Group) for next week’s issue. Photos will be available on request from the Newsdesk, Tel: 01245-603360 or email newsdesk@essexchronicle.co.uk quoting the picture reference beneath the published photograph.
Friday — BBC Radio Essex (Fred Bone’s Group) broadcast at 4.45pm. You can listen again for the next 7 days via bbc.co.uk/essex. Here is the link, it’s about 45 mins in, so just scroll along the bar at the bottom.
Thanks for all your help and sorry for getting in the way!
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(11 April 2010)
Do you have any good photos to share or funny stories to tell from this year’s Course? If so, we’d love to know about them. For example, Mr & Mrs Duck held up the traffic in Finchingfield on their way to the pond so I was late for a practical session. And I saw a rather important person walking and talking at the same time, and then they walked straight into a car. I wished I had my camera or a video camera handy – luckily they weren’t hurt. Or, you could have heard someone say something really silly like ‘look two, treble’s going’ – when they were ringing the tenor!
Please email to
Tracey Southgate
PRO
(11 April 2010)
Please note that practice night at Great Leighs is now as follows:
PN - 4th Thursday of the month only, 8.00pm ('phone to check').
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(9 April 2010)
Please note that, due to urgent essential repairs to the Tower, the Bells will be out of action from MONDAY 12 APRIL for approximately 10 WEEKS.
The repairs do not involve the Bells or Frame, but scaffolding will be erected around the tower and both the Architect and Contractor have stated that the bells cannot be rung as any movement of the tower could affect the stability of the scaffolding.
Simon Gowler
Tower Captain
St Mary's, Maldon
(7 April 2010)
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Janet Crabb, Tower Captain of Epping Upland, last week. To those who knew her, the funeral will be at Epping Upland Church at 11.30am, on Thursday 18th March.
There will be general ringing in commemoration from 11am - 11.30am for all ringing friends. A quarter peal has been arranged to follow the service.
Carol Wilkinson
NW District Secretary
(13 March 2010)
We have been asked to run an event as part of the Essex North East branch of the Girl Guides Centenary Event, taking place at the Tendring Hundred Showground, near Lawford. The event is called WOW100 and it is for all guiding members to have a chance to celebrate their centenary without the guiders having to organise and run any of the activities. All members from Rainbows aged from 5 to Trefoil Guild members - no upper age limit - are invited to attend. The guest list will be made up of their ambassadors and people in the community who actively support them and promote them.
Alistair Donaldson has kindly offered the use of the Maplestead Mini-Ring and a set of handbells or belleplates, so that visitors can try their hand at ‘lapping’ as well, and we will be putting on a small exhibition. We have had some offers of help already, but we really need at least another 8 people to help on the day, with demonstrations on the mini ring, supervising handbells and taking note of any interest in taking up ringing as a hobby. If you can help between 09.30-12.30 or 1.30-5.30, please would you contact either myself on 01255-507357 or Alistair on 01787-463106. We have a deadline of Friday 25th June to give the organisers the names of those helping, so would appreciate you getting in touch as soon as possible.
Tracey Southgate
Public Relations Officer
(8 March 2010)
If you happen to be visiting the Capital on Saturday 27th March, you will have the opportunity to hear bellringing at its very best. 21 teams of 12 ringers will battle it out to qualify for the final of the National 12-bell Striking Contest and the competition will be fierce.
The eliminators take place at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ , St. Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames St, EC3R 6DN and St. Leonard’s Shoreditch, Shoreditch High Street, N1 6NN . Each one has an historic bell tower, yet each one has had a new ring of bells installed recently. So why not pop along to hear some excellent ringing and be inspired. Full details appear on the attached press release received from the contest organisers.
Tracey Southgate
Public Relations Officer
(4 March 2010)
Please note that the Writtle Tower Correspondent is now:
Andy Champ
155 Lodge Road
Writtle
Chelmsford
CM1 3JB
01245 422310
Jo Elliott
(16 February 2010)
A reminder that the deadline for applications for this year's Essex Ringing Course is Friday 12th February. Details of the groups on offer can be found here.
Mary Bone
Course Administrator
(6 February 2010)
The Braintree Correspondent is now:-
Lin Ould
75 Kenworthy Road,
Braintree
01376 344099
Peter Smith
(20 January 2010)
The NE ADM will now be held on Saturday 30th January at Kirby-le-Soken.
Ringing from 3.30pm.
Service at 4.30pm followed by tea and meeting.
Names for tea to Anne Bray (01255 679312) by Wednesday 27th please.
Gill Sparling
NE District Secretary
(18 January 2010)
The funeral service for John Avis will be held on Friday 22nd January at 10am at Layer-de-la-Haye Church.
Gill Sparling
NE District Secretary
Funeral arrangements for Anne Edwards
Chelmsford Crematorium on 27th January at 3.30pm, then afterwards at the South Lodge Hotel.
Family flowers only but donations to the Essex Air Ambulance and Parkinson's Disease Society would be welcome.
Vicki Chapman
(16 January 2010)
The arrangements for Mick Kennedy’s funeral are as follows:
Friday 15 January, 9.30am, Funeral service at Chelmsford Crematorium followed by light refreshments and open ringing at Little Baddow.
Saturday 16 January, 12 noon, Service of celebration of Mick's life at St Stephen's, Cold Norton. Memorabililia and refreshments afterwards at 'The Norton', Cold Norton.
All ringers are welcome at either or both services.
Wendy Godden
Little Baddow
(12 January 2010)
The meeting will go ahead as planned. Felsted and Stebbing are both on bus routes which have been gritted during the week. Tea is at Stebbing Village Hall; suggested route into the village is via the bus route over Stebbing Green.
Marian Wood
(9 January 2010)
The NE ADM (due to be held tomorrow) is postponed due to the bad weather. I will send another message once details of a new date are confirmed.
Gill Sparling
NE District Secretary
(8 January 2010)
Due to the bad weather and appalling road conditions round the church at Loughton this has been moved to LEYTON. The revised programme is as follows
3.30 ringing
4.30 tea
followed by meeting.
Unfortunately there will be no service. All welcome.
Any queries please ring either myself or Peter Rayner
Sandra J Lee
(8 January 2010)
Anne Edwards, former ringer at Chelmsford Cathedral, passed away early today at Colchester Hospital. Our sympathy goes to Anne’s family and friends.
Jo Elliott
SE District Secretary
(6 January 2010)
