North West

Officers: Ringing Master: Jane Lynch,  Treasurer: Carole Hallam, Secretary: Dawn Neville

Contact: nwdistrictladiesguild@gmail.com

North West District Report for 2023

The North West District covers a large geographical area. We have 35 members; membership has doubled since 2019. We enjoyed our usual four ringing meetings, added more variety of ringing, attempted regular QPs and kept the handbell group going.

29th April - a grand day out in Yorkshire/Cumbria. 21 women, five towers: Sedbergh, Orton, Shap, Bampton and Penrith. We survived the risk of being hit by cricket balls (sign at Sedbergh), altruistically supported a local business (chocolate shop in Orton), had afternoon tea (Bampton church hall) and avoided being fined for milking cows between dusk and dawn (sign at Penrith!).

29th July - ‘Not a train tour’. The plan was to ring at towers along the Airedale Train Line. Alas, strike action meant we had to drive instead. We rang at Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire (World Heritage Site), Gargrave and Skipton. It was a wonderful day out to ‘Gods Own Country’ (Yorkshire for those of you not in the know!).

30th September - Samlesbury then the seaside on the Fylde, ringing at St Peter’s Lytham, St Cuthbert Lytham, St Anne’s on the Sea. Lunch was fish and chips, of course!

We are proud that six district members rang in nine of ten successful quarters during the Guild QP weekend. This was despite a broken stay at one tower (member remains nameless!) and the conductor (NW District Secretary, Dawn) needing to make a quick change from Grandsire triples to refocus on Plain Bob minor. Just weeks later we were saddened to hear the CofE had decided to close the church to public worship; we’ve been assured our ringing had no influence on this decision!

26 November - a new targeted 10/12 bell practice at Preston Minster was a huge success. Twenty-two members/prospective members enjoyed the afternoon, tried something new or worked their way round to a heavier bell.

30th December - ‘Bored with the Box?’ practice. Despite cold wet conditions, 20 members rang at Blackburn Cathedral. District ringing master, Jane Lynch, suggested learning Bastow Little Bob caters, to enable members to practice dodging on higher numbers. In the afternoon we rang at Silas, Blackburn. District member, Alli Devine, has done a sterling job of promoting us, getting no less than four district articles published in the Ringing World.

The NW District rang seven quarters involving 18 members in 2023, including nine firsts and one of caters, making 2023 our best year yet.

Dawn Neville, District Secretary

North West District Report for 2022

The North West District covers a large geographical area. We continue to grow and now have 34 members. There is a good variety of ringing available to members, tower and handbell, methods and tunes, quarter peals and calling. Plus plenty of lunches, tea and cake along the way!

We enjoyed several outings during 2022. On 30th April we had a day out organised by our Ringing Master, Jane Lynch, with a focus on calling touches. Ringing took place at four towers: Bolton by Bowland, Gisburn, lunch at The Punchbowl Earby, Thornton in Craven, Barnoldswick. The incumbent Guild President Alison Williams joined us for the day.

On 25th June the District was delighted to host the National AGM. We offered a ‘hat trick’ of 10 bell towers to members able to commence the weekend on the Friday evening. Aside from a lock out at Parbold the ringing went really well. District members ran towers, prepared the meeting room setting out tables, served tea and did the washing up. Anne Pettifor led the worship, having designed and printed the order of service and Donna Jones played the organ. The District tunes handbell ringers gave a performance at the start of the service and looked resplendent in their Polo Shirts. The District secretary Dawn Neville co-ordinated the day, provided the day tickets, collected the buffet tea and even managed to attend a wedding blessing in between the LG service and the AGM!

At the meeting Alli Devine was proposed and voted in as a Guild CC representative. It is good to have NW representation at this level.

Several emails were received afterwards thanking or congratulating the District for such a well run day and the warm welcome we gave from Friday evening onwards. Thank you to those of you who took the time to write, it was much appreciated.

On 17th July 22 we attempted two Quarter Peals. The first at Goosnargh was unfortunately lost but provided good practice. The second at Bamber Bridge was scored. It was the first quarter on eight for over 30 years for Alli and was also a 60th Birthday compliment to Alli for Thursday 14th July. It was also the first NW District quarter peal since August 2019.

On 30th July 22 members enjoyed a four tower meeting in the Peak District, organised by Carole Hallam. 11 members rang at Buxton Fairfield, Burbage, Chapel-en-le-Frith and New Mills. Lunch was at the Buxton Pudding Company cafe which was featured in the Hairy Bikers TV programme.

We were delighted to score another first for the District on 4th August 22, a quarter peal of Plain Bob Caters. Rung at Grappenhall, a lovely 10cwt ten, as a belated 60th birthday compliment to the conductor, our ringing master Jane Lynch. The quarter was also Jane’s first as conductor on 10. It was also a first on 10 for Debra Holmes, Carole Hallam and Joan Houghton.

Over the weekend of 21 – 23 October 22 the District hosted the National Ladies Guild Quarter Peal weekend based in Bingley, Yorkshire. Organised by Jane Lynch this was another successful weekend for the Guild. QP attempts took place on Friday and Saturday, with service ringing on Sunday. There was the usual fellowship, support and encouragement and members from across the country enjoyed eating together on the Saturday evening.

On 1st December 22 we rang a Quarter Peal in memory of Margaret Perrott, tower captain at Northowram, West Yorkshire and member of the Ladies Guild, who died in November 2020.

On 3rd December 22, 14 members rang at Blackburn, St Jude and Oswaldtwistle with lunch in between at the Duckworth Hall pub. It was lovely to have two new members join us: Sue Carpenter who had transferred from another district and Lynne Sydes who is new to the Guild. After lunch nine members returned to Oswaldtwistle to ring tunes on handbells, encouraged and tutored by Jane Lynch, District ringing master, who kindly provided bells, music, tea, coffee and cake.

Unfortunately we lost a QP attempt at Newchurch on 4th February but went on to enjoy lunch and open ringing at Ramsbottom in the afternoon. There were 14 members for lunch and afternoon ringing.

Three NW District members took part in the National 10 bell Quarter Peal Day at St Clement Danes on 25th February 23.

The District attempted a QP on 8th March 23 for International Womens Day. Whilst the attempt was lost everyone agreed that it was good practice and we aim to make regular attempts throughout the coming year

The method handbell group, Celia Hughes D’Aeth, Viv Clayton and Kate Warren, have continued to meet once a month throughout the year and have rung plain courses of Kent minor and also spliced plain, little, double and reverse bob. The band's numbers have been swelled towards the end of the year by Sue Carpenter who is working on Kent and Sheila Bloomfield who has completed a course of plain bob minor. The group has a halfway brew break and take it in turns to supply the cake!

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Jean Barnes on 2nd March 2023. However this was also mixed with immense gladness that we were blessed to have Jean in our ringing lives. Jean was District ringing master for many years and encouraged and supported so many of us. May Jean rest in peace and rise in glory.

Dawn Neville, District Secretary

North West District Report for 2021

The North West District covers a large geographical area and has 24 members.  

After 18 months physically apart we met with joy and thankfulness in July to ring together at Hoghton.  Working up from rounds and call changes, to touches of Grandsire and Plain Bob and a plain course of Cambridge Minor.  Most members had a go at calling or starting and stopping and new member Alli Devine rang methods for the first time in 25 years.  Members enjoyed a picnic lunch followed by handbell ringing in the afternoon.

In October, 12 members rang at Tarleton and Southport, Emmanuel.  We successfully got a grip of our special method for the day: Little Grandsire Triples.  

We had wild weather but a good turn out with 17 members attending our meeting at Padiham and Burnley in January 2022.  We managed several courses of our special method, Platinum Bob Triples, and a good course of Grandsire Caters too. 

Handbell ringing has taken place throughout the year.  6th June hosted by Joan,  4th July hosted by Debra, 22nd August, hosted by Liz, 19th September, hosted by Joan, 28 November Christmas tunes, hosted by Joan, 20th March hosted by Donna.  The band would like to formally record their thanks to Jane Lynch for bringing the bells, the music and the good humour to guide the band.  

Viv, Kate and Celia have been meeting monthly for the past 6 months to ring changes on handbells, progressing to touches of PB minor and plain courses and three leads of Kent. The band have offered to run a beginners session this coming year.

Many members have also been sustained through joining online ringing sessions.  The District has also been busy making arrangements to host the National AGM in 2022, third time lucky having originally been due to host in 2020!

In non ringing news, our Ringing Master Jane Lynch celebrated her 60th birthday in February 2022.

Despite the challenges we have faced owing to Covid, our District continues to grow and offer a variety of ringing opportunities to our members. 

Dawn Neville, District Secretary

North West District report for 2019

The North West District covers a large geographical area including Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria and our friends over the border in Yorkshire. During 2019 members took part in a variety of Guild ringing activities with the amount and quality of ringing noticeably improving. This is in no small part as a result of the work of Jane Lynch who was voted in as Ringing Master at the ADM.

17 members met for ringing and our ADM on 23rd March. Ringing took place at Chorley, St Lawrence commencing with a QP attempt of Yorkshire Major which, unfortunately, wasn’t successful but it was still felt to be an achievement to assemble a LG District band capable of ringing Surprise. After lunch we rang at Westhoughton, Bolton.

Chris Silkstone joined members from across the country and rang in three of the successful Quarter Peals at St Clement Danes on 27 April.

14 members visited York for a walking and ringing tour on 28th September. The weather was glorious, and we had a good day ringing at St Wilfrid, St Olave, Spurriergate and All Saints. We enjoyed tea and cakes at the Perky Peacock before heading home. Thanks to Angela for her excellent organising and to everyone who contributed to the conducting.

Four NW District members took part in the QP weekend in Peterborough, enjoying general ringing, quarter peal attempts and great company.

Jane Lynch has run a highly successful conducting course for the National Ladies Guild and we applaud Chris Silkstone for calling her first quarter for the Guild and Carole Hallam for calling her first quarter with new confidence gained on the course.

Other news Dawn Neville was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, also receiving the Dean of the Business School’s award for academic achievement and excellence.

Quarter Peals The District has benefitted greatly from Jane taking on the role of Ringing Master, the number of QP attempts increased in 2019 as has our success rate; details here.

Dawn Neville, Secretary

North West District report for 2018

The North West District covers a large geographical area and has 15 members.  During 2018 members took part in a variety of Guild ringing activities but unfortunately didn’t meet in the District as often as in previous years. We held a meeting on 29th September in the Stockton Heath area, organised by Wendy Fryer.  NW District members took part in the 10 bell QP day at St Clement Danes and the QP weekend at Halifax.

Other news

• • Liz Turner celebrated her 60th birthday with a QP of Grandsire Caters, the first on the newly installed 10 bells at Kirkham St Michael, our Guild members were in the band.

  • Angela Collins celebrated her 50th birthday.  

  • Helen Knight enjoyed her first Ladies Guild QP.

  • Melissa Villiers passed her driving test but stayed environmentally friendly and cycled the 30 miles to Halifax where her bike ended up locked in the Minster! 

Quarter Peals We rang two successful Ladies Guild quarter peals in 2108 (and attempted several others):

Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, Immanuel 15 November 2018  1344 Plain Bob Major. 1  Catherine Wilding, 2  Jane M Williams, 3  Donna Jones, 4  Christine Silkstone, 5  Melissa Villiers, 6  Laura Robinson, 7  Jane Lynch (C), 8  Andy Cope. By members of the NW Ladies Guild. Thanks to Andy for standing in at the very, very last minute when a member was unavoidably stuck in rush hour traffic..!

Middleton, Greater Manchester. St Leonard Thursday, 19 July 2018  1260 Plain Bob Triples (details here)

Dawn Neville

North West District report for 2017

The North West District covers a large geographical area.   We have 14 members and met three times during the year and enjoyed some successful ringing and good companionship.   

Meetings 

• • 28th January.  Ringing took place at Todmorden St. Mary's and Todmorden Unitarian, with lunch at the White Hart.  Organised by Christine Silkstone.

  • 29th April.  Following a QP at Bilsborrow and lunch at Galgate Marina, members joined the LACR AGM ringing at Lancaster Cathedral, Lancaster Priory, Cockerham and Pilling.  Organised by Dawn Neville.

  • 29th July.  Ringing at Standish and Parbold was well attended.  Organised by Celia Hughes D’Eath.

The District hosted a National Guild weekend in Liverpool in September.  Members joined the practice at Pier Head on the Friday evening.  Four Quarter Peals were scored at Penny Lane on the Saturday and members then joined the Liverpool Cathedral practice.  An evening meal was taken at the Philharmonic Dining rooms and the weekend was rounded off with members joining service ringing on the Sunday morning.  The event was such a success there are plans for another in Halifax in October 2018.  NW members taking part were Celia Hughes D’Eath, Christine Silkstone, Jane Lynch, Catherine Wilding and Dawn Neville.

Other news

• • On 21st January 2017 Dawn strapped the tenor (82cwt) at Liverpool Cathedral for a quarter peal of Little Bob Maximus.

  • Chris Silkstone celebrated her 60th birthday in February, a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples was scored, four members were in the band. 

  • Viv Clayton celebrated her 60th birthday in September, two quarter peals were scored: Grandsire Triples and Plain Bob Major.  Three members were in the band and the Grandsire was conducted by LG member Dawn Neville, something she attributes to fellow member Jean Barnes for encouraging her to have a go at conducting all those years ago! 

  • Debra Holmes celebrated her 60th birthday in September.

  • Dawn Neville celebrated her 50th birthday in November with a quarter peal of Yorkshire Major, three members were in the band.  

Quarter Peals We rang one successful Ladies Guild quarter in 2107, details here.

Dawn Neville, District Secretary

North West District report for 2016                                     

The North West District covers a large geographical area. We have 14 members and met three times through the year where we enjoyed some successful ringing and good companionship.

We met on 30th January 2016 and visited three towers, Eccles, Salford Sacred Trinity, lunch and Manchester Cathedral where we also held our ADM. There was no change to our District officers, I had tendered my resignation due to increasing commitment elsewhere however our members rallied round and offered to organise our meetings and I would take a single point of contact role and continue to prepare our Annual Report entry.

We had to forego our 30th April meeting as it clashed with the LACR AGM and instead met on 30th July. Viv organised the day out and writes: It was a lovely sunny day when 12 of us met up on 30th July 2016 in Bronte country. Our towers in the morning were Haworth and Keighley, and ringing was enjoyed by all. We had a lovely lunch at the Dog and Gun, Oxenhope. (considerable research had taken place prior to this date to find the best eating place in the area!!). The only drama of the day was at Keighley, where two of us forgot to duck going in the low doorway, and arrived in the ringing room rubbing our heads! We were informed that nobody has ever done that before - typical! The afternoon ringing was held at Oxenhope and finally Heptonstall, where nobody wanted to leave as the bells were so good to ring.

Our next meeting should have been in October, Chris who organised it writes: Unfortunately the planned meeting around Chester on 29th October did not take place as too many members had other commitments. Given that the next fifth Saturday was New Years Eve, it was decided that was not a good date and therefore a meeting was arranged for 28th January. Ringing took place at Todmorden St. Mary's and Todmorden Unitarian, with lunch in between at the White Hart. I understand that the day was a success but unfortunately I was ill and spent the day in bed!

We rang two successful quarters in 2106 (at Blackburn and Standish, listed here) and made a valiant (but failed) attempt at Julie McDonnell Doubles.

Dawn Neville, Secretary

North West District report for 2015

The North West District covers a large geographical area and therefore presents some challenges, in terms of choosing suitable venues without too much travelling, for members at our furthermost points. That said, we have met four times through the year and had some successful ringing and good companionship. We ring at two towers either side of lunch during the winter months and have full day outings at four towers during the summer.

Meetings : 

• 31st January 2015, Padiham and Burnley. 

• 30 May at Penny Lane, SFX, Tuebrook (nearly a lock out, but local knowledge and a sprint to the vicarage saved the day!) and Bootle. At SFX we rang three leads of Bristol Major – a huge achievement for us! 

• 29 August at Goosnargh, Ribchester and Whalley. Ribchester was where the NW District held its first ever meeting.

• 29th November 2015 at Brindle and St Silas, Blackburn with an option to join the Blackburn Branch meeting afterwards at Darwen, with 5 members doing just that.

Other news

The Ladies Guild holiday was based in the NW in May and several of our members were made most welcome and able to join in the ringing. The lower of all 12 at Preston Minster was most pleasurable and a first at that location for me.

Three of our members were able to attend the AGM in June and were made most welcome by fellow Guild members in Leominster.

Our Treasurer Anne Pettifor was ordained as Priest on 28th June 2015.

Members of the Guild entered a scratch band in the Lancashire Association 8 bell striking competition at Ramsbottom on 3 Oct and successfully completed our test piece despite a few wobbles during the practice!

I called my first Quarter Peal, Grandsire Triples on 5 Sept. Unfortunately not for the Guild (although there were 4 Guild members in the band) but hopefully I will put my new found skill to use as we aim to ring regular NW District Ladies Guild Quarters throughout 2016.

It feels like we’ve had a successful year in the NW District with several new members and lots of enthusiasm. 

Lancashire Association, Blackburn, Lancashire Cathedral Sunday, 15 March 2015. 1296 Cambridge Surprise Minor. 1. Janet E Stockton, 2. Barbara D Murray, 3. Donna Jones, 4. Anne E Pettifor, 5. Jean Barnes (C), 6.Dawn R Neville. Rung for Evensong on Mothering Sunday by a band of mothers: 9 daughters, 2 sons, 9 grandchildren. First of Treble Bob - 1.

Dawn Neville, Secretary

North West District report for 2014

The North West District covers a large geographical area and therefore presents some challenges, in terms of choosing suitable venues without too much travelling, for members at our furthermost points.

During the year we changed our meeting format for our quarterly meetings. Having previously met on a Monday evening once a quarter, we changed to the 5th Saturday in the four months which have one. This has proved very popular and numbers attending and membership have subsequently increased. Our ringing master stood down from the role and at our March 2014 ADM we agreed to run a democratic system for ringing master duties. This has given different members the ability to try the role and in turn grow in confidence. 

• In March 2014 we visited Langdale and Hawkshead

• In May 2014 the sun shone on us and we enjoyed an outing to Cheshire ringing at Bowden, Mobberley (where the ringing room is split level) Nether Alderley and Stretton.

• In August we had yet another gloriously sunny day for our outing to Yorkshire ringing at Skipton, Addingingham, Kildwick and Kirby Malham.

• Even our meeting in November was blessed with good weather as we rang at Higher Walton, Walton Le Dale and Preston. Members of the Guild along with two guests, female members of the Lancashire Association, went on to take part in the Lancashire Association 10 bell striking competition that afternoon, coming a creditable 3rd place. (Manchester 102 faults, Preston 104 faults, Ladies Guild 142 faults). We more than exceeded our aim, which was to complete the test piece!

There were many things to celebrate in the District during the year. On 29 June our Treasurer, was ordained at Carlisle Cathedral. On 27 July one of our members married  a fellow ringer whom she met in the Tower at Hoghton. We are pleased to register ringing two quarter peals, one of which was rung for the service of celebration for the ordination of women.

It feels like we've had a successful year in the NW District with several new members and lots of enthusiasm for the new meeting format. Let's hope the sun holds out for the Ladies Guild holiday which visits the North West in May 2015. 

Dawn Neville