Celebrating WWI ringing at Longstock, 19/08/2018

Celebration of women ringing during WWI, at Longstock, 19th August 2018

From Anthea Longo, Programmes and Events Officer at Big Idea

Dear Ladies' Guild,

My name is Anthea and I am the Programmes and Events Officer at Big Idea, an organisation that creates programmes which encourage community participation, inclusion and cohesion across the arts, heritage, science and sport. For more information please visit our website www.big-ideas.org.

One of our key projects for 2018 is Ringing Remembers, the national campaign to recruit new bell ringers in memory of the 1,400 ringers who died in World War One. On the 19th of August, we will be at St Mary's Longstock to commemorate and celebrate ringers of Longstock, and more broadly women taking part in ringing across the country during WW1. We would be delighted if you were able to join us for this very special moment.

The idea for this event sparked from the following photos (shown below): 

• • “THE WOMEN'S WORK IN SERVICES, 1914-1918. Girls of Longstock village in Hampshire replacing the male bell ringers who joined the armed forces. They are assisting the local vicar in ringing the bells.” Photo below - © IWM (Q 109790)

  • And “THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN BRITAIN, 1914-1918” - © IWM (Q 31122)

We have found the descendants of the Vicar in the photo; his great grandson, great granddaughter, and three great-great-granddaughters. They are all ringers today. On the 19th, they will be involved in the ringing event to commemorate this historical moment alongside new Ringing Remembers learners.

Current campaign learners are invited to come along to mark the moment with ringing, and new potential learners can try ringing during a taster session.

For any more information, on either Ringing Remembers or the event in Longstock, please email bells_at_big-ideas.org.