Tower Captain Report 2022-2023

 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 3^rd 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

Tower Captain’s Report 2018/ 2019

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

Ringing for England - and Tower Open Day!

 

We had a lovely time - and a lovely cake - Ringing for England on St George's day!

We joined towers aross the country at 6pm on April 23 ringing in honour of the patron saint. A delicious cake break followed, then more ringing before finishing up an hour later. As you can see, a strict dress code was enforced!

Then on Saturday we welcomed visitors young an old to our tower as part of the Bridgwater Food Festival.

The incredibly windy weather was certainly magnified on the parapet at the top of the tower, but the views were definitely worth it for those who braved the centuries-old spiral staircase.

Thank you to all our visitors for letting us share our tower with you.

Tower Captain's Report 2017/18

Tower Captain’s Report 2017 /18

This has proved to be a year of highs and lows.
Our project is moving ‘slow but sure’ in the right direction; in July the PCC stopped us fundraising locally but still allowed us to continue with our craft table in the Church. November saw the crafty members have a table at the Glastonbury Frost Fayne, we were blessed with a dry cold day so many
visitors to the town. Jane made Christmas decorations which were a overnight success. In September Gina opened her house as part of Somerset Art week and raised a brilliant amount for our project.
In November the tower was open for Carnival Day, what a fun day that turned out to be, I lost count how many times we climbed the steps and to finish the day Kate, Richard and I had a celebratory supper in the Blake Fish bar.
We have rung for six weddings during the year and marked the wedding of Prince Harry to Megan Markle. St George’s Day saw us celebrate in the normal way and our picture can be found on the Ringing for England website for all to see.
On a very hot day in June we had a tower outing visiting five towers locally finishing at a pub for a evening meal.
In September we opened the tower for Heritage Day which was a success more visitors climbed the steps than in other years.
We have welcomed new ringers from the national campaign ‘Ringing Remembers’ and from our recruitment week.
So I am pleased to say we have more highs than lows this year.
This year Keith has decided to stand down as secretary, I would like to thank him for his hard work and support over the years, he will still stand as Deputy Tower Captain, Tower Correspondent and a valued member of the team.
Next year looks like an exciting time for us all in St Mary’s with new and old friends hopefully enjoying our new bells.
Together we can achieve anything.
Thank you all, I am very proud of you.

Margaret
Tower Captain

Tower Captain Report 2015-17

When I look back to 2015 it seems a long time ago and you may ask what have we
achieved in this time? We have seen the launch of our appeal ‘and 5 makes 13’, more
about that later, the Church has been reordered and after returning in May of this year, we
have held a successful recruitment week and started the stand alone group from U3A. We
have also held a tester session for two pupils from Blake School, along with their teacher
an existing ringer from Brent Knoll.
While the Church was closed for the reordering we joined local towers for their practice
nights and to keep our spirits up we were known to meet for the odd pint, or two. In
October we marked Keith’s 80 th Birthday by throwing a party in his home, some of the
members rang in a quarter peal which was interesting ringing in semi darkness because
the electricity was off.
Our appeal got off on a brilliant start having 3 out of the 5 new bells been donated, we
have received grants from our Association, the Central Council of Bellringers, the Town
Council and Sedgemoor District Council. Our fundraising have seen us holding a Jazz
Supper, a Quiz, Car Boot Sale, Opening the tower and providing refreshments for the
Quayside Day, Heritage Day and a steady stream of sales from our Craft Table – I do
apologise if I have forgotten anything.
So as you can see we have achieved quite a lot.
I would like to thank you all for your help, support and laugher over the past two years and
I look forward to moving our ringing forward, it is a very exciting time for us in St Mary’s.
Together we can achieve anything.
Margaret Lee
Tower Captain
November 2017

Ringing Remembers

St Mary's band joined towers across the country in ringing at 12:30pm on Armistice Day in remembrance of ringers lost in the First World War.
Newcomers from the nationwide Ringing Remembers campaign to recruit 1,400 people - the number of ringers lost in the war - and experienced members of the team all played their part. The event followed the church's remembrance day service, where the stories of the three St Mary's ringers lost were told.

Tower Captain Report 2015

Tower Captain Report 2013 – 15

'How did these Australian ladies come to visit us? Richard chatted them up'

Is it really two years since my last report? So what have we achieved? It may feel like very little but we certainly have kept the bells ringing.

In no particular order we have marked many national events, St George's Day, Our Queen's anniversary of longest reigning monarch, VE Day, Magna Carta, rang 349 changes at the start of the anniversary of the first World War this being the number of lives lost from Bridgwater,

Locally we rang for the institution of the Rev Trish Ollive, Bath and Wells Association of Change Ringers 125 years celebration attending the service and delicious lunch, with the Bishop, which followed, it is worth noting that many ringers commented how our tower came to support an association event, Georgina read at the Town Carol Service, Mayor Making, Light up a Life service, Weddings and the late Peter Cattermole's funeral.

We have taken part in our branch striking competitions and had two tower outings.

Richard has set up the Branch Training Centre here with the help of our Association providing the simulator and local ringers donating the lap top and speakers. The centre is used weekly for ITTS tied bell teaching sessions and have proved an assets for our tower.

Practice nights can only be described as busy attracting ringers from neighbouring towers, it is structured which seems to work with slots for learners and new methods to learn which in turn advances our ringing.

One member of the Church family commented to me that what ever the ringers do in seems to involve cake, well not to disappoint under the direction of Jane Cooke, we have provided teas at three Vintage Fayre's, held Coffee Mornings and provided the refreshments for the Deanery Synod when it was held in St Mary's and not forgetting celebrating Ben's 18^th.

In April of this year we opened the Church for our second recruitment week where we had several people interested and the result is that Mikolaj Baj has joined our team and he is doing very well and is now ringing with us on Sunday mornings.

So what for the future? In September Rob, Richard and I went to the PCC meeting where we presented our vision for the bells after which we received permission to have the repairs done and augment to ten bells. So I have a couple of targets for you – ideas on how we are going to achieve this and to have 20 bellringers by 2020.

I would like to thank you all for your help, support and laughter over the past two years and I look forward in moving our ringing forward, it is a very exciting time for us in St Mary's. Together we can achieve anything.

Margaret Lee

November 2015

Tower Captain Report 2012/13

Tower Captains Report 2012/13

'Let's hold a recruitment week to encourage new or lapsed ringers' little did Richard know how successful it turned out to be, more about that later.

An AGM was not held last year because of changing our year to run from 1st November to 31st October which is in line with the Association year.

So what have we achieved in the past two years?  It has been a time of change where we have lost 6 of our ringers for various reasons but gained 8 not counting our associate members of Ben and Emma.  Rob and Georgina joined us in May, Karole, a lapsed ringer, joined us during the recruitment week and I would like to welcome Carol, Frances, Kate, Emma, Donna, Cliff and Eric who have come into ringing as a result of our very successful Recruitment Week, one of these only came in to see what it was all about with no intention to become one! Which leads me on to the Recruitment week -  I would like to thank the ringers who made cakes, teas and coffee and generally welcomed visitors into the Church, a special mention to Richard, who mastermind the event including appearing on the radio,  and to Keith and Sean who also came in every day.

We have rung for St George's Day, where we appeared in Ringing World and Mana magazine, Forces March, Diamond Jubilee, Olympics, Richard's special birthday, Mayor Making Ceremony, Open Tower Days,  the birth of Prince George of Cambridge, hosted Coffee Mornings, rung for several weddings, Light up a Life Service, Carnival Day, Town Carol Service and sold Home-made sweets and biscuits at the Church Craft Fayre.

Practice nights have been successful with regular visiting ringers who have become 'honorary' members of our tower, namely Keith, Jane, Sean, Bob, Belinda and Melinda.  We are now progressing on to having a 'Method of the Month' to advance our ringing.

As many of you know we had 4 bellhangers visit in 2012 to check on our bells and to investigate the possibility of  augmenting our bells to 10, this is an ongoing discussion which we will revisit next year.

I would like to thank you all for your help and support over the past two years and I look forward in moving our ringing forward, it's an exciting time for us at St Mary's.

Margaret Lee
Tower Captain
2013

Tower Captain's Report 2011

Tower Captain Report 2011

There has been many highlights for me this year, we have all progress with our ringing as a team which enabled us to take part in the striking competition at Wembdon in April, the taster day in May which was a very successful day in the interest it generated but unfortunately we did not get any new members may be next time, we celebrated John's special birthday in June, ringing the handbells at North Newton for a wedding in July, thank you to Viv for master minding this for us, the opening of the Association Library and we had an enjoyable Christmas meal at the Captain's table, thank you Richard for organising this.

The bells were rung for the Royal Wedding Day, 9 Weddings, Light up a Life Service and the Town Carol Service. Some ringers joined other members of our branch to ring at Wells Cathedral in July and some went on the ringers outing to Lacock area in September. Richard and Keith attended a training day at Lydeard St Lawrence where they are being trained on the new way of teaching also Keith has been appointed as the branch tower maintenance officer. In addition the tower has hosted two training days for the branch, organised by the branch education officer, Richard, of which I would like to thank Steve and Keith for their help and support in making it a successful day,  we have hosted two coffee mornings for the Church funds.

I would like to thank the British Flag Carnival club for coming to our rescue in sorting out one of our stays.

We welcomed back Keith Lane after his operation and have welcomed many visitors to our practise nights which has helped us to progress our ringing.

We look forward to what promises to be a busy ringing year nationally with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.

I would like thank you all for your support, friendship and sense of fun over the past year but in particular I would like to thank Steve for being my helpful assistant.


Margaret

Tower Captain's Report 2010

Tower Captain Report 2010

This year can only be described as having highs and lows. 

The lows were the stressful time over the issue of CRB checks and losing our title in the Branch Striking Competition but there is always another year.

The highs, I am sure you will agree with me, far out number the lows.  In March we had the Bell Simulator installed and it is proving a hit with our newest recruit Ben.  In April Steve became a member of the Association, we also welcomed back Keith Petersen.  In July four of us joined other members of the branch  to ring at Wells Cathedral.  In September some of us enjoyed going on the Branch outing to Seaton which included the Tower Table football tournament, the final was between Keith and Richard and I can not tell you won.  As well as hosting our Coffee Mornings for  Church  Funds we welcomed members of the branch to the AGM which was held in October.  In February we celebrated Christmas with a delicious lunch at the Tudor Restaurant, our thanks to Richard for organising this successful event. 

In addition to  ringing for 9 weddings, Town Carol Service and the Light up a Life Service we have been able to ring all 8 bells most Sundays and achieve one of the targets I set last year which was to ring Plain Hunt on 7.

Housing the Association Library in the clock room as turned out a positive for us as once a month David Bromage, the librarian, joins us helping us to progress with our triples ringing.

2010 was a busy year personally for six of us, one reaching ' Life begins at' two reaching half century, one a Golden Wedding and two taken early retirement which we celebrated along the way and by a quarter peal in December.

At the quarterly meeting in January Richard was elected as the Branch Education Officer, for which I wish to congratulate him. 

There is so much I would like us to achieve this year so these are my targets for us all

1    Recruit new members to the art of bellringing

2    To achieve ringing plain hunt on 7 on another bell and a plain course of St Mary's Treble Place Doubles

3    To have a Ringing Day Out

4    Master raising and lowering the bells in peal

Finally I would like to thank you all for your support, fellowship and sense of fun in such a remarkable year

Margaret