A remarkable achievement..!
Our two newest recruits are now ringing fully solo, so were both invited to make their Sunday morning ringing debuts at the Harvest Festival service.
David and Rosemary Bezzant are quite remarkable people… because they have achieved this at the youthful ages of 90 and 86 respectively.
David originally volunteered asked learn in 2018 for the armistice centenary. Although he made good progress, he never quite got as far as regular Sunday ringing because Covid struck and like everyone his age… he had to shield. Following Covid, David decided to stop ringing.
However, he remained in contact with the team and attended various social gatherings…
So earlier in 2023, we finally persuaded David to come back and try again… and this time, Rosemary, his wife, decided she too would like to learn too. Both have subsequently made excellent progress and we were delighted to welcome them to the Sunday team and to do so for one of the big festivals.
A big thank you to Claire Penny our expert trainer who did the lion’s share of getting them to this point… So well done David, Rosemary and Claire…. a great success for all concerned!
Meet the Team...
The Pebworth ringing team are diverse group of bell ringers from in and around Pebworth. We meet on a Friday evening to practice as well as ringing for Sunday services and other important events.
In the past year, we have rung both tower and handbells for the Platinum Jubilee, played our part in the national mourning for our late Queen and celebrated our new monarch. We have rung for the ‘Pebworth in the Park’ event encouraged to villagers to try their hand at handbell ringing.
Look to!
Waiting to start ringing..
Backstroke rounds.
...and into changes.
A Farewell Quarter Peal for Scott
On 24th July 22, we rang a Quarter Peal following Sunday service as a farewell tribute to Rev. Scott Watts.
Scott is moving on to pastures new after 5 years with the benefice.
The photo was taken with Rev and Mrs Watts, just after we finished ringing. The team was jointly filled by ringers from Pebworth and our sister church at Willersey and it all happened while a celebratory reception was going on in the church below our ringing gallery.
The Platinum Jubilee
The Pebworth team was busy for the Jubilee, with all of us taking part in at least one event. This included:
ringing at 21.45 to accompany the lighting of the jubilee beacon.
Ringing handbells at the unveiling of a memorial stone and green canopy garden.
A quarter peal in honour of Her Majesty’s marvellous achievement!
The Royal Funeral
In September, we were all shocked to hear of the passing of her majesty the Queen. Within hours the ringing community implemented its part in ‘Operation London Bridge’ the national plan for the monarch’s death.
At Pebworth we did our bit to help signal the communities sadness.
The first job was to toll a half muffled bell for one hour at midday on the day following the her majesty’s death. This was also done at most towers throughout the nations…
Jacqui was on hand to complete this task and many local people listened in… including all the children at the village school, who were quite moved by the sound.
On Saturday we removed the muffles and rang open for the proclamation of King Charles III…
On the day of the funeral, we once again rang half muffled… finishing with 10 minutes tolling of the tenor bell.
We took it in turns to toll, so that all of the team got a chance to participate in the final moments before the funeral commenced.
In the video, steeple keeper Alison takes her turn in the final seconds before 11.00.
After the funeral finished we rang a half muffled Quarter Peal.
Pebworth in the Park
In September, we took part in ‘Pebworth in the Park’ an annual village jamboree…
It seemed like a good opportunity to to take the handballs out and serenade the village!
Using our screen based animated music, we were able to let the villagers have a go and most were very successful too!
We even got a visit from special guest Sunny Ormonde the actress who plays Lilian Bellamy in the BBC’s long running radio drama ‘The Archers’.
