Wow what a year, I have no idea where to start.
November saw us opening the tower for Carnival Day, a busy and successful day it turned out to be.
Remembrance Sunday 2018 will stay with me forever, after attending the service I walked into the tower room to be met by a sea of smiling faces all wearing their blue tops. We were all taking part in the national celebration of the ending of the Great War and ringing the bells at 12:30. This was a very moving time for us, Trish came up and said a prayer, visitors came to join us, including a couple from America, to be part of this historic event. In our normal ringers way we finished of by a glass of bucks fizz and cake.
At the end of November we had a table at the Frost Fayne in Glastonbury, another successful event for us.
We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Meal at the Great Escape, thank you to Isabel for her organisation.
In April it was a now or never moment for our project so for the third time of asking we applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund, within four weeks of our application being submitted we were successful.
We also hosted a training day for ART, Roger Booth took a course on Using a Simulator, we catered for a dozen candidates, my thanks goes to Mary and Hasu for their help.
Later in the month the Ladies and Gentlemen of the tower took part in the annual branch striking competition which was held at Fiddington, I will not dwell on who won out of our teams needless to say the Gentlemen retained bragging rights for several weeks.
We rang for St George’s Day celebrating in our usual manner.
At the beginning of June we said goodbye to Jane Cooke, who bravely lost a battle with her illness and sadly passed away. Many of us attended her funeral, we rang a quarter peal in the evening, which was Rob’s first quarter peal, Rob was taught by Jane and I know she would have been very proud of him. Jane supported us in many ways, baking such lovely cakes and making items for our craft table to name just two.
In June we had a day out visiting five local towers, some may say interesting, rounding the day off with a lovely meal at the Compass Inn.
July saw us open the tower for the Quayside festival and the start of our guided tower tours, thank you to Gina for writing the guide and leading the training.
September saw 10 of our members join the branch ringing outing to Dorset, a very enjoyable day was had by all.
Heritage Day saw the tower open on the Friday, which was usually busy with many visitors.
In October some of us visited Taylor’s Bell Foundry to see the first two of our new bells cast, what an experience, to see history in the making.
At the end of the month we opened the Tower on the Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends Fayne.
During the year we have rung for 6 Weddings, given a talk to the Bridgwater Civic Society, given private tours to Bridgwater Air Cadets, Shapwick Cubs, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s Brownies, Bawdrip History group, Bristol Civic Society and Bridgwater Homberg link group, I would like to thank those who helped.
I still find this hard to believe, as we look forward to the bells being augmented to 13, it a very exciting time for us. I would like to thank Richard for his support and hard work to get to where we are today.
And finally I would like thank you all for your support, friendship and fun over the past year and I look forward to ringing our 12 bells in the spring.
Margaret Lee
Tower Captain
November saw us opening the tower for Carnival Day, a busy and successful day it turned out to be.
Remembrance Sunday 2018 will stay with me forever, after attending the service I walked into the tower room to be met by a sea of smiling faces all wearing their blue tops. We were all taking part in the national celebration of the ending of the Great War and ringing the bells at 12:30. This was a very moving time for us, Trish came up and said a prayer, visitors came to join us, including a couple from America, to be part of this historic event. In our normal ringers way we finished of by a glass of bucks fizz and cake.
At the end of November we had a table at the Frost Fayne in Glastonbury, another successful event for us.
We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Meal at the Great Escape, thank you to Isabel for her organisation.
In April it was a now or never moment for our project so for the third time of asking we applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund, within four weeks of our application being submitted we were successful.
We also hosted a training day for ART, Roger Booth took a course on Using a Simulator, we catered for a dozen candidates, my thanks goes to Mary and Hasu for their help.
Later in the month the Ladies and Gentlemen of the tower took part in the annual branch striking competition which was held at Fiddington, I will not dwell on who won out of our teams needless to say the Gentlemen retained bragging rights for several weeks.
We rang for St George’s Day celebrating in our usual manner.
At the beginning of June we said goodbye to Jane Cooke, who bravely lost a battle with her illness and sadly passed away. Many of us attended her funeral, we rang a quarter peal in the evening, which was Rob’s first quarter peal, Rob was taught by Jane and I know she would have been very proud of him. Jane supported us in many ways, baking such lovely cakes and making items for our craft table to name just two.
In June we had a day out visiting five local towers, some may say interesting, rounding the day off with a lovely meal at the Compass Inn.
July saw us open the tower for the Quayside festival and the start of our guided tower tours, thank you to Gina for writing the guide and leading the training.
September saw 10 of our members join the branch ringing outing to Dorset, a very enjoyable day was had by all.
Heritage Day saw the tower open on the Friday, which was usually busy with many visitors.
In October some of us visited Taylor’s Bell Foundry to see the first two of our new bells cast, what an experience, to see history in the making.
At the end of the month we opened the Tower on the Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends Fayne.
During the year we have rung for 6 Weddings, given a talk to the Bridgwater Civic Society, given private tours to Bridgwater Air Cadets, Shapwick Cubs, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s Brownies, Bawdrip History group, Bristol Civic Society and Bridgwater Homberg link group, I would like to thank those who helped.
I still find this hard to believe, as we look forward to the bells being augmented to 13, it a very exciting time for us. I would like to thank Richard for his support and hard work to get to where we are today.
And finally I would like thank you all for your support, friendship and fun over the past year and I look forward to ringing our 12 bells in the spring.
Margaret Lee
Tower Captain
