Southern

Officers: Vice President: Elizabeth Davey, Treasurer: Teresa Brown, Ringing Masters: Tilly Cooper & Jenny Watson, Secretary: Deborah Margason-Baker

Contact: Secretary - smilebaker@hotmail.com

Southern District report for 2023

We are pleased to report that the Southern District is active and vibrant with an encouraging, supportive approach for people wanting to ring on different numbers of bells and call touches. We encourage ladies from different areas to volunteer organising the events so that others get to visit a range of towns, villages and towers and we welcomed visitors from other districts.

We have held a variety of enjoyable events throughout 2023. In January, our social meeting with lunch and ringing at Whitchurch, was well attended and a welcome winter break. Sixteen members attended our ADM in March, followed by ringing at Chawton and Newton Valence. A new secretary was voted in (Deborah Margason-Baker) and grateful thanks were offered to Wendy Ling (out-going secretary) for her years of service. Eighteen people attended the summer meeting at Broadchalke village hall in July (double the previous year) and twenty-two people rang at nearby Coombe Bissett and Ebbesbourne Wake. We ended the year with our very popular autumn outing in October, staying in the Fordingbridge area; over two days, we rang at St Mary Fordingbridge, St Peter & St Paul Ringwood, All Saints’ Hordle, St Nicolas Brockenhurst, St Mary Eling and All Saints’ Minstead.

We rang several dedicated quarter peals during the year. In March, a quarter peal of Plain Bob doubles was successfully rung and attributed to Wendy Ling as a thank you for 10 years’ service as secretary plus ‘Uniting with the people of Ukraine one year on’. At the King’s coronation quarter peal day in May, six quarter peals were attempted; four were successful. In September, we rang a quarter peal in memory of one of our former members, Joy Scanlan.

We have worked to develop our ringing. The Summer meeting’s ringing included tries of Cambridge minor. The autumn outing in October were nearly all 8 bell towers with call changes, Grandsire triples and Plain Bob triples on offer.

The Grandsire doubles training day at Easton in September proved very popular. Due to this success, moving to triples and major has been discussed.

We continue to strive to ring as wide a range of methods as possible. Last year we rang everything from Call changes, Plain Bob doubles and minor, Little Bob minor, Plain Bob triples, Stedman doubles and triples, Grandsire doubles and triples and Cambridge minor.

Deborah Margason-Baker

Southern District report for 2022

2022 saw the Southern District returning to pre-pandemic normality. We managed a full programme of meetings, outings, training and quarter peals.

The year started in February with our now annual ring and pub lunch. 20 members rang at St Mary’s Micheldever followed by a lunch at The King Charles in Kingsworthy.

Our ADM was held in the North East of the District with ringing at Selborne and Privett. The ringing was followed by a service in the extremely cold Privett church and we were all pleased to adjourn to the village hall for our lunch and meeting. As this was our first proper meeting since lock-down we were pleased to see a turnout of 18 members.

Our summer meeting was in the West of the District at Barford and Compton Chamberlayne. In spite of many members being on holiday, including most of the District officers, there was still a good turnout of 13 members.

The final event of the year was our autumn outing which was held in the North West of the District. Ringing in the morning was at Headington, Compton Bassett and Avebury before an enjoyable lunch in The Crown at Bishops Canning. Ringing in the afternoon was at Bishops Canning, Marsden and West Lavington. We experienced a good mixture of 6 and 8 bells and a lovely ride through the Wiltshire countryside.

During the year we have rung a good mixture of methods from call changes through plain bob and grandsire to Stedman, Little Bob and Cambridge.

The Ringing Masters organised a quarter peal day to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and four quarters were rung. A training session for Plain Bob in December (postponed from September because of the death of the Queen) was attended by 12 members and another successful quarter peal was rung at the end of it.

We elected one new member during the year and our membership was 65.

Our Officers for the year ahead are: Vice President: Elizabeth Davey, Treasurer: Teresa Brown, Secretary: Deborah Marguson-Baker, Ringing Masters: Tilly Cooper and Jennifer Watson.

Wendy Ling, Secretary

Southern District report for 2021

2021 started with us all in lockdown again so we were unable to have any real meeting or do any real ringing until quite late in the year.

We held our ADM via Zoom in March and 29 members joined the meeting. One bonus was that Val Williams, a long term member who now lives in Cornwall, was able to join us. One of our Ringing Masters, Polly Osborne, retired because she was moving out of the District and her place was taken by Teresa Brown. Apart from this change the Committee continued from the previous year. In anticipation of relaxation of Covid rules later in the year we set out a tentative programme of meetings. The first was planned as a low key meeting in the autumn with a ring at one tower and a lunch to follow. Eventually a group of 16 met in late September to ring at East Tytherley and enjoyed a lunch at The Black Horse West Tytherley.

Most members started to ring at their own towers towards the latter part of the year and we are hoping that next year we will have a full programme of meetings .

Wendy Ling, Secretary

Southern District report for 2019

The Southern District had another successful year in 2019. We welcomed 10 new members to the Guild but sadly another of our long-term members, Janet Fawcett, died during the year.

Our regular February Social lunch was due to be held at Sparsholt and Crawley but unusually heavy snow meant that it had to be cancelled.

Our Annual District Meeting in March was held in Amesbury church hall after ringing at Shrewton and Amesbury. Twenty-two members attended and the meeting was followed by a quarter peal of Reverse Canterbury.

Our July business meeting was held in Minstead Village Hall and was attended by fifteen members. Before the meeting we rang at Eling and Minstead but, as the weather was very hot, it was decided not to attempt our normal post meeting Quarter peal.

Our October outing was held in East Dorset with ringing at West Cranmore, Canford Magna, Oakdale, Wareham, Corfe Castle, Worth Matravers and Swanage. Members enjoyed another day of interesting ringing and beautiful countryside.

During the year we try to ring at a variety of six and eight bell towers with the occasional visit to a ten or twelve bell tower. We try to include a mix of methods along with rounds and call changes to enable all our members to enjoy the experience.

Our wonderful Ringing Masters have again arranged a number of Training sessions and quarter peal attempts throughout the year and in locations across the District. In 2019 we held two training mornings, a Grandsire Triples training at Eling and Plain Bob Minor at Easton. The Easton training was followed by a successful quarter peal of Plain Bob Doubles. Members taking part appear to find theses sessions useful and enjoyable.

During the year Southern District members rang eleven successful quarter peals out of fourteen attempted. These quarters provide an opportunity for someone to achieve a new goal or to celebrate an occasion. On our Quarter Peal Day in April six quarter peals were attempted of which four were successful. The methods rung in these quarter peals included Plain Bob (Doubles, Minor), Grandsire Doubles, All Saints Doubles, Reverse Canterbury Doubles, and St Simons Doubles. A total of twenty-seven members participated in one or more of these quarter peals and there were six different conductors.

One of our members, Vicki Rowse also rang in the Ladies Guild Day in St Clement Danes where she rang a Quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples.

Our officers for the year are: Vice Chairman: Judith Williamson; Vice Vice Chairman:  Liz Davey, Treasurer: Louise Gay, Secretary: Wendy Ling, Ringing Masters: Pat Davidson & Polly Osborne

Wendy Ling, Secretary

Janet’s car was a source of some amusement among her friends, who would check it out on Sunday mornings for new dents and scrapes. On a L G District outing in Dorset we arrived at a tower to ring and no sign of Janet, just as we were lowering the bells Janet arrived having had an argument with a tractor and trailer down a narrow country lane – no doubt a few more scrapes!

Janet was not from a ringing family but she soon joined the band at Canford Magna and became a member of the East Dorset Branch of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers in 1963. She was a loyal and reliable Sunday service ringer, she had come from a Grandsire Doubles tower and this remained her favourite method. On July 16th 1977 she joined the Southern District of the Ladies Guild. She was a very loyal supporter of the Guild and well known within the District, regularly attending District meetings, practices and outings. Many of those who attended the Ladies Guild annual holiday will remember Janet, she went on the  first one held and was a regular attendee until ill health forced her to give up ringing some 7 years ago. She was the Central Committee representative for the District from 1981 to 1984 and and District Treasurer from 2001 to 2004.  She rang many quarters peal and some peals, two at her home tower Canford Magna and also rang with many prominent ringers of her time.

She herself had a surprisingly dry sense of humour, which her modest unassuming demeanour belied. A committed Christian, Janet was active within the Church and the Bible Society, served in the local Fair Trade shop, rang hand bells with a local group, helped the less able with shopping and was a devoted aunt to her nephews and nieces. She never married, possibly because she was too busy. She rarely missed a practice or Sunday ringing until ill-health intervened, and never failed to apologise in advance if she couldn’t make it. Reliable and supportive at all times, she was every Tower Captain’s perfect service ringer and a model for every new learner.

Her funeral service, held at Canford Magna church, was full of her family, friends, many local ringers and   representatives from the Ladies Guild

Patricia Davidson 

Thank you to Kathryn Tyson (Canford Magna) and Ross Robertson (whose late wife Judith rang many QP’s with Janet) for much of the above information.

Southern District report for 2018

The Southern District had another busy year in 2018. We welcomed four new members to the Guild but sadly another of our long-term members, Valerie Keel, died in April. Valerie was Southern District Secretary and Treasurer for a number of years and will be sadly missed. The Ladies Guild took part in the ringing which followed her Memorial Service in Valerie’s home tower of Wonston and in September a peal of Minor methods was rung by a Ladies Guild band at the same church and it was dedicated to Valerie’s memory.

This year we hosted the Ladies Guild National AGM at Charlton near Shaftesbury. The ringing route started at Stourhead and continued via Zeals, Silton, Gillingham, Motcombe and Shaftesbury. In a break from tradition, Charlton, where the service was held, does not have bells but this was more than compensated for by beautiful handbell ringing during the service. We very much hope that members enjoyed the day as much as we did while planning and running it.

Our now regular February Social lunch started rather inauspiciously with a lockout at Holybourne but we went on to ring at Froyle. After a good lunch at ‘The Hen and Chickens’ some members returned to ring on the very pleasant ring of eight at Holybourne while others went on to All Saints Alton to ring a quarter peal of Bob Minor. This quarter was dedicated to the memory of John Williamson, late husband of our Vice President Judith Williamson.

Our Annual District Meeting in March was held in Wootton Rivers church hall after ringing at Pewsey and Wootton Rivers. Eighteen members attended and the meeting was followed by a quarter peal of spliced Plain Bob doubles and Grandsire doubles. 

Fifteen members attended our July business meeting in Privett Village Hall which was preceded by ringing at Hawkley and Froxfield. A quarter peal attempt at Steep following the meeting was unsuccessful. 

Our annual October outing was held in the far North West of our District with ringing at West Cranmore, Wanstrow, Marston Bigot, Nunney, Whatley and Leigh on Mendip. Members enjoyed a day of a interesting ringing and beautiful countryside.      

At all our meetings we try to ring a variety of methods on six and eight bells but we always include rounds and call changes for those who are less advanced or less adventurous on strange bells.

As well as the Quarter Peals following the meetings our Ringing Masters arranged Training sessions and quarter peal attempts throughout the year and in locations across the District. In 2018 we held two training mornings. The first was a 10-bell ringing session in January (for the 6th year running) - this year it was Plain Hunt and Grandsire Caters. Then in September there was a Stedman Doubles session that was followed by a successful quarter peal in the afternoon. From feedback received those who took part in these events found them enjoyable and beneficial.

During the year Southern District members rang seventeen successful quarter peals out of twenty-one attempted. These quarters were usually to provide an opportunity for someone to achieve a new goal but sometimes also to celebrate an occasion. On our Quarter Peal Day in April seven quarter peals were attempted of which six were successful. The methods rung in these quarter peals included Plain Bob (Doubles, Minor, Triples, Major, Caters), Grandsire Doubles, All Saints Doubles, Reverse Canterbury Doubles, April Day Doubles, St Nicholas Doubles, St Clements Minor, and Cambridge Surprise Minor. A total of thirty members participated in one or more of these quarter peals and there were 7 different conductors.

Officers for the year: Chairman: Judith Williamson,  Vice Chairman: Liz Davey, Treasurer: Louise Gay, Secretary: Wendy Ling, Ringing Masters: Pat Davidson & Polly Osborne

Wendy Ling

Southern District report for 2017

The Southern District was very active again during 2017 and we welcomed 12 new members to the Guild but sadly we also heard of the death of one of our long-term members, Coral Northeast, in November. 

We have managed to ring a variety of methods on six and eight bells but we always include rounds and call changes for those who are less advanced or less adventurous on strange bells. Our ringing masters have also done a sterling job throughout the year running training sessions and organising quarter peals.

We started the year with our social lunch in February. Members rang at East Tytherley and King’s Somborne before joining in a very sociable lunch at The Crown in King’s Somborne. This lunch meeting has become a permanent part of our calendar and makes a good start to our year. Following the lunch a Quarter peal of Reverse Canterbury, Grandsire and Plain Bob was rung at Broughton.

Our Annual District Meeting was held in March at Ringwood church hall with ringing at Fordingbridge and Ringwood. Twenty four members attended. Plain Bob, Grandsire, and Stedman triples were all rung as well as rounds and call changes.  

In July our business meeting in Winterbourne Kingston village hall was attended by twelve members and was preceded by ringing at Milborne St Andrew and Winterbourne Kingston. Rounds and call changes, Plain Hunt, Plain bob doubles and Plain Bob minor, Grandsire doubles, Stedman doubles, and Cambridge minor were rung during the day. A quarter peal of Plain bob Minor was rung at Witchampton after the meeting.  

Our annual outing in October was held in the Wiltshire area of our District. Ringing took place at North Bradley, Hilperton and Holt before lunch at The Old Ham Tree in Ham Green. Fully refreshed, we went on to Bradford-on-Avon, Westwood and Rode. A variety of methods was rung during the day and it was good to visit a part of our area that many of us do not know so well.

As well as the Quarter Peals following the meetings our Ringing Masters arranged Training sessions and Quarter peal attempts throughout the year and in locations across the District. 

Our first training session in 2017 was a return to Bishopstoke for ringing on 10-bells, Plain Hunt and Grandsire. The second session was for St Simon’s Bob Doubles at Easton. After lunch a quarter Peal was attempted but it ended in disaster when a rather large spider made an appearance!

A total of fifteen quarters were attempted during the year of which ten were successful. Seven of the Quarters were attempted on our Quarter Peal day in April and five were successful. Altogether twenty two members took part in at least one Quarter peal and eight members took part in the conducting of a Quarter. A band comprised completely of Southern District members rang a successful Peal at Wonston in September. 

A small sub-committee has been working throughout the year on plans for The Ladies Guild AGM in the Southern District in July 2018 and we are looking forward to welcoming many Guild members to a very enjoyable and successful weekend.

Our officers for the year are:  Chairman: Judith Williamson, Vice Chairman: Liz Davey, Treasurer: Louise Gay, Secretary: Wendy Ling, Ringing Masters: Pat Davidson & Polly Osborne 

Wendy Ling, Secretary

Southern District report for 2016                                               

2016 was another successful year for the Southern District. We held our usual two business meetings and two social gatherings together with several training days and quarter peal attempts. This year we successfully rang a peal with assistance from other Districts. We inducted 8 new members during the year.

In February we got together for lunch in the Crown, Bishops Canning with ringing at South Broom and Bishop’s Canning. A good turn out of members rang a variety of methods.

Our Annual District Meeting was held in March at Minstead village Hall with ringing at Lyndhurst and Minstead. Twenty members rang a range of methods including Stedman doubles, Grandsire triples and Cambridge minor. 

In July our business meeting was attended by 17 members and was held in Preston Candover village hall with ringing before at Old Alresford and Preston Candover. Both sets of bells were challenging in their own ways, but we managed to ring Plain Bob Minor, Plain Bob Doubles and Grandsire Doubles as well as Rounds and Call changes.

Our annual outing in October was held in Dorset. After meeting at a café at the top of Gold Hill in Shaftsbury we rang at both churches in Shaftsbury (St Peter and St James). Lunch was taken at Compton Abbas Airfield where we watched the light aircraft and helicopters coming and going. Refreshed we moved on to ring on the 5 bells at Compton Abbas followed by Durweston and Bryanston School. A range of methods were rung during the day and members enjoyed the drive through the beautiful Dorset countryside.

Our hard working Ringing Masters organised a number of training sessions and quarter peals during the year to help and encourage members.  Events were planned in different areas of our District and on different days to accommodate as many members as possible. We held two training sessions in 2016; a repeat of last year’s introduction to 10-bell ringing and Grandsire Doubles which was followed by a successful Quarter Peal.

In 2016 we attempted 17 quarters 13 of which were successful. Twenty-six members took part in at least one quarter and nine members conducted a quarter peal. Among these there were several 1sts - e.g. 1st in method, 1st inside, 1st as conductor. Six of the Quarter Peals were rung on our second Quarter Peal Day in April and the methods attempted were Grandsire Doubles x 2, Rev Canterbury Doubles, PB Minor, Cambridge Minor, and Grandsire Triples. This is now planned to be an annual event.

Although we were unable to provide a complete band, we were very pleased to take part in a successful Peal of mixed Minor methods. Two members from other Ladies Guild Districts completed the band. Also, in January, six of our members took part in a Ladies Guild Quarter Peal Day at St Clement Danes in London to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the First Peal on 10 bells by an all-ladies band.

We are now looking forward to hosting the Ladies Guild AGM in our District in 2018 and planning is well underway.

Our officers for the year are: Chairman: Judith Williamson, Vice Chairman: Liz Davey, Treasurer: Louise Gay, Secretary: Wendy Ling, Ringing Masters: Pat Davidson & Polly Osborne.

Wendy Ling, Secretary

Southern District report for 2015

The Ladies Guild Southern District continued to thrive in 2015 with attendance at meetings growing. As usual we held two business meetings and two social gatherings and our hard working Ringing Masters organised numerous training days and quarter peal attempts as well as an unsuccessful peal attempt. We inducted four new members during the year.

Our February lunch was held in the Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney, with ringing before at Micheldever and South Wonston. A good turn out of members rang a variety of methods and then enjoyed a very good lunch.

Our Annual District Meeting was held in March at Fovant village Hall after ringing at Compton Chamberlaine and Fovant. Members enjoyed a beautiful morning in these tranquil villages and a range of methods were rung including Stedman, Plain Bob doubles, Plain Bob Minor, Grandsire doubles, and Cambridge Minor.

In July our business meeting was held at Privett village hall with ringing before at Soberton and The Meonside Campanile. Rounds and Call changes, Grandsire Triples, Plain Hunt Triples and Plain Bob Triples were rung on both sets of bells. Both towers gave members a chance to ring on 8 bells and the small bells of the Campanile were an interesting change.

Our October Outing was planned for the Portsmouth area but logistical problems caused us to return to more familiar territory. Ringing at Minstead, Lyndhurst, and Brockenhurst in the morning was followed by a Pub lunch. Refreshed we then went on to ring at Fawley, Lymington and Sopley. A range of methods were rung in the mixture of six and eight bell towers.

The Ladies Guild aims to bring ringers together, to encourage new ringers, and to improve the standard of ringing amongst women. With that in mind, we held a number of training sessions and quarter peals during the year in response to requests from members. Events were planned in different areas of our District and on different days, sometimes a weekday, sometimes a Saturday. 

We held four training sessions in 2015; an introduction to 10-bell ringing, Cambridge Minor, Reverse Canterbury Doubles, and Stedman Triples. The introduction to 10-bell ringing proved very popular and a repeat was planned for 2016. Where possible we arrange a follow-on quarter after method training (same day) so that at least one student has extended practice – and sometimes scores ‘a 1st’.

We attempted 14 quarter peals of which 9 were scored. These were usually rung either to mark a special occasion or as a challenge for one or more of the ringers - a new method or perhaps conducting. Even the failed attempt provided an opportunity for extended ringing that is not possible during a normal practice. 22 members took part in at least one quarter and 10 members conducted or shared the calling of a quarter peal. Five of the quarters were attempted on our first quarter peal day - April Day doubles, Plain Bob doubles x2, Plain Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples (3 were successful). 

We rang in Salisbury, St Martin’s, to celebrate 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta and St Nicholas Bob doubles was rung at St Nicholas, Longparish on St Nicholas Day. Unfortunately an attempted peal of Grandsire Triples (repeat of 2014) failed again.

At our AGM Teresa Brown stepped down as Chairman to devote her attention to being Guild Treasurer and our long term Treasurer Valerie Keele also decided to take well earned retirement. Members expressed their thanks to both retiring officers. Another long term member Val Williams has moved to Cornwall but we were pleased to see her again later in the year and hope that she will continue to keep in contact with us.

Our officers for the year are: Chairman: Judith Williamson, Vice Chairman: Sue Spurling, Treasurer: Louise Gay, Secretary: Wendy Ling, Ringing Masters: Pat Davidson & Polly Osborne

Southern District report for 2014

2014 was another active and successful year for the Ladies Guild with two business meetings and two social gatherings and many training days and quarter peal attempts as well. The numbers joining the Guild and taking part in meetings and events has increased visibly through the year and this is due in no small part to the great effort put into training by our Ringing Masters. 

Our February lunch was held in the Royal Oak at Goodworth Clatford with ringing before at Upper Clatford and Goodworth Clatford. A good turn out of members rang a variety of methods and then enjoyed a very good lunch. 

Our Annual District Meeting was held in March at Easton after ringing at Micheldever and Easton. A range of methods were rung from Plain Bob and Grandsire to Stedman, Erin, and Cambridge. After the meeting a quarter peal of Plain Bob Doubles was rung to celebrate International Women's Day.

Our July business meeting was held at east Meon and Privett. East Meon gave many members who usually ring on six or eight bells a chance to ring on ten. Privett bells were quite challenging for many of us so we stuck to simple Plain methods. However, the sun shone and a great day was had by all. A Quarter peal was rung at Froxfield after the meeting. 

Our Autumn Outing was a gentle meander around central Hampshire with ringing at North Stoneham, Bishopstoke, Crawley, Sparsholt, and Stockbridge. Lunch was enjoyed at the Fox and Hounds in the pretty village of Crawley. A range of methods were rung and members again had a chance to ring on ten bells at North Stoneham and Bishopstoke.

Twelve quarters peals were attempted for the Southern District during the year and ten were scored. These consisted of one major, one triples, one minor and seven doubles. (Two attempts at Stedman Triples proved too much for us!). Twenty members were involved in the quarters but this represents only 25% of the membership so we will try to increase the participation next year. Four conductors were involved and one quarter shared conducting with five ringers. Three members achieved first quarters in a method and one member rang her 200th  quarter. A peal was attempted but failed at Sherfield English. 

In August six members of the district enjoyed a day out in Sussex with members from other districts, and four out of six quarters were scored. In London five quarters were rung, four at St Clement Danes and one at Bermondsey involving four members and 2 spouses of the S District. Three training sessions were held during the year all giving valuable help to the students:

• East Tytherley - Bob Minor (quarter unsuccessful)

• Seend - Grandsire Doubles (quarter scored)

• East Meon  -10 bell session 

Wendy Ling