At the upcoming Annual District Meetings, your CCCBR (Central Council of Church Bellringers) reps will probably be updating you about the Council's recent activities, and asking for your feedback. But what does the Central Council actually do, and why is it needed? The President, Simon Linford, has recently written the following article on this topic.
Have you started learning to ring in Sussex this year? Does your teacher think that you're ready to become a member of the Sussex County Association of Change Ringers? You can join NOW, online - no need to pay until January. To apply, you’ll need the names and email addresses of the two existing Association members who are proposing and seconding your membership; this could be your tower captain and tower secretary, for example. Find out more about membership benefits, and have a look at the guidance notes on what level you should be ringing at to become a member.
Applying for membership online now helps us to reduce paperwork and data processing effort in January. New members will start receiving newsletters and invitations to events immediately - no need to wait until the tower forms arrive! Membership fees for new members applying now will be due in January along with renewals for existing members. Please direct any questions to the membership coordinator via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
As has become traditional, the last Northern District Saturday Gathering of the year was ringing with mulled wine (or mulled juice!) and mince pies. We received a warm welcome at Hartfield, and made the most of the new kitchen area and loo there, not to mention the lovely ring of 6 easy-going bells. By the end of the afternoon there were 16 ringers, from 9 different towers. Ringing was rounds onwards and included rounds and call changes, Cambridge (both a plain course and a touch), Kent, Beverley and Surfleet.
The committee is currently putting together the programme of Saturday events for 2020 – do get in touch (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you have any requests or suggestions, or if your tower would like to host an event. Maybe you would like a practice focused on a particular method, or have an idea for a social event, or you’d like to host a Pickled Egg session at your tower… Let us know! The first Saturday Gathering of 2019 will be ringing and brunch on 4th January.
Read more: Northern District Wraps Up 2019 Events with a Festive Practice
As part of its annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign, Ecclesiastical Insurance will be giving 120 different charities an early Christmas gift of a £1,000 donation, with 10 winners announced each weekday from 5 to 20 December.
GO TO https://www.ecclesiastical.com/12-days/ and complete the nomination form quoting “Central Council of Church Bell Ringers” registered charity number 270036 – it only takes a minute or so, and we could win £1,000 to help us keep bellringing flourishing. We’re all volunteers and give our time for nothing but can do more with funds!
Ecclesiastical is encouraging everyone to use their social media channels to ask people to vote for their favourite cause to give them the best possible chance of winning – look for Church Matters @Ecclesiastical and use the following hashtags #bellringing #12days #movementforgood – spread the word!
