Tower Captain Report 2022 – 2023
Every time I write my report I wonder what have we done and what have we achieved.
Since we have been a 12 bell tower we have become popular with experienced ringers around the country so much so that we have peals booked up until Spring 2026, our reputation is going before us for being a lovely peal of bells of which we are very proud of. The first peal was rung by a band from Taylor’s in March 2023. We open the cafe on these days and are surprised by the amount of ringers and locals who enjoy coming to hear our bells and raise money for the church. Also the first quarter peal was rung on the middle six for Richard’s special birthday, the first one on the 12 was rung by a band from St Mary’s Redcliffe.
The Tower attracts visitors for tours which included a military group researching the Battle of Sedgemoor, Bridgwater Rotary Club and children from local schools including St Mary’s which is always a joy to do.
We have hosted Bridgwater Branch of Bellringers on various occasions
including the AGM in 2022 where Isabel Kennedy was awarded the Best Improver Award and the traditional Christmas practice which includes mince pies and mulled wine is always well attended. Some of us enjoyed taking part in the Branch Picnic – shame the weather was not kind to us.
Nationally we marked the Platinum Jubilee and the passing of Queen Elizabeth ll, Proclaiming the New King, King Charles lll, also we rung for his Coronation. Not forgetting all arriving to ring for service on St George’s Day dressed in red and white – I’m not sure what the congregation thought. At the start of 2023 we rang the New Year in and became part of the National Bell Festival which connected us with bellringers in the USA. In May we celebrated Bell Sunday by enjoying a delicious lunch at the Tudor Hotel.
Locally we rang for the thanksgiving service for Sedgemoor District Council. On Carnival Day we opened the tower to give tours to the numerous visitors. We also opened the tower on the Flower Festival weekend and Christmas Craft Fayre Day.
We did experiment with having a monthly 12 Bell practice which varied on numbers which sometime meant we didn’t ring all our bells.
As a tower we have welcomed new members and last year we took part in the Branch Striking Competition coming 3rd which was a brilliant result. Enjoyed a Christmas Lunch together at the Tudor. We hope that the congregation and locals enjoyed our rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on Christmas Day and Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve.
There has been 2 highlights for me over the past 2 years, firstly the flower festival to mark our augmentation of the bells, the dedication service by Bishop Ruth – seeing Richard giving her a lesson and you all telling her that she will be saying ‘Hands up, Hands down, Thumbs to the floor’ in her sleep was a special moment. And secondly the fact that as a team we have achieved ringing a course of Plain Bob Doubles with no outside help it makes me feel very proud of you all.
I would like to thank Richard for coming up with different ideas to keep us on our toes and Gerry, with Richard, for keeping the bells in order.
Finally I would like to thank you all for your dedication and fun in making ringing here such an enjoyable time.
Margaret
