Posted on by Tim Hayward

Return to Service Ringing – CCCBR update

03/07/2020

We had a further update from the Church of England Recovery Group last night that Public Health England (PHE) now wants to issue specific guidance about bell ringing but they will not be able to publish it until next week. They expect it to be based on what we have produced. Although the Church has published guidance, which we shared, they are understandably nervous about ringing this weekend in advance of PHE publication, especially if it gets into the press.

We had a conference call with Brendan McCarthy and Mark Betson of the Recovery Group this morning and whilst they stressed that anything published is guidance not instruction, they would really appreciate us waiting to restart ringing until after the PHE guidance is published. Given this is a new relationship that could be very important to us, we do not want to rock this boat for the sake of a week and some disappointment.

In the meantime, we have accumulated all of the questions we have received from ringers on the current guidance into a set of FAQs which we have publish on the website. This will include such things as why the guidance is still 2m rather than 1m, and whether family members can ring on adjacent bells. That can be found here:

We are studying the Scottish, Welsh and Irish guidance but in all cases church opening appears to be on a slower timetable than the Church of England.

Simon Linford

President, CCCBR

 

26/06/2020

An update on the ringing situation has been published here:
https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/06/25/returning-to-service-ringing/

Posted on by Colin Newman

Ringing World YouTube competition

The Ringing World of last week saw the launch of a YouTube competition that will run from now until Christmas. Details can be found here https://cccbr.org.uk/youtube-competition/, where there is also a link to a YouTube video on how to make a YouTube ringing video (should we be back in our towers before Christmas).

This competition could be of particular interest to those ringers who do not use traditional media for their ringing news, particularly young ringers.

Posted on by Katie Lane

Covid-19

To all our ringing friends in the ODG and across the country.
Following the announcement from the Government, all ODG ringing activities are suspended until further notice. 
Bells throughout the country will become silent for the first time in 75 years.
We know that our ringing community will support one another during this perilous time, keep in touch with one another and ask when help is needed.
It may be many months until we can ring again, but we will.
May you all keep safe and well.
Katie

 

Posted on by Ken Darvill

Message from the Hon General Secretary

At the Guild General Committee meeting yesterday, the effect of the Covid-19
virus was discussed at length. As you will be aware many people are
self-isolating and we are also conscious of needing to avoid putting our
more vulnerable members at risk. We therefore decided to cancel the Radley
course scheduled for 4th April. We will also reschedule the Guild AGM and
eight-bell striking competition from 16th May to a date later in the year –
we will advise you on the new date as soon as possible.
Also Colin Newman has postponed the Training Meeting that was scheduled for
next Saturday for the same reason. It will be held in the autumn. PLEASE
NOTE THIS POSTPONEMENT URGENTLY – DO NOT GO TO COWLEY NEXT SATURDAY.

Posted on by Tim Hayward

ODG on Twitter

As part of the website update project, I set up an ODG twitter account. At the time, there was no way to integrate this with the first attempt at the website update. Now we have ownership of the development, I have integrated our twitter account with the website. This means that as soon as a new news article is published, a tweet will also be sent. If you’re not already, why not follow us @ODGCBR? You’ll see all the latest news as it comes in!

A few questions have been asked of the Facebook page recently, and I acknowledge that this is under-used. At the time of its creation the development of the website was being done by a contractor, leaving time for me as Webmaster to look after the social media. Since then, and in the absence of a Public Relations Officer, I must admit it has been sat there not really doing much. I intend to look into its role and whether it can be made less restrictive in its use. Once I have an update, I’ll be sure to post it.

In the meantime, please do follow @ODGCBR on twitter!

Posted on by Susan Read

Young Ringers February half-term outing 2020

Young Ringers visit Newbury Branch

Wednesday 19th February.

Any young ringers from the ODG who can handle a bell safely by themselves will be welcome. Parents, ringing teachers and more experienced ringers are welcome too.
Donations of £5.00 per young ringer will be collected.
Please let us know if you are coming and any special dietary considerations.
Please complete and bring a 2020 permission form if not already provided.

13:00 St Mary, Speen (tbc) (6, 12-2-12, RG14 1SA) ring and walk to Shaw
14:15 St Mary, Shaw (6, 7-01-12) ring and walk to Central Newbury
15:15 Church Hall, St Nicolas Newbury (10, 1-2-21, RG14 7WH)
Refreshments, ringing
16:30 Event ends

Contact: training-officer@onb.odg.org.uk

Young Ringers February HT poster

Child Registration Form 2020

Posted on by Alan Marchbank

2020 Leap Year Sponsored Ringing

The Oxford Diocesan Bell Fund AGM celebrated its 45th anniversary in September 2019.

Since its inception it has been able to assist bell restoration in the Diocese by granting over £400,000 to more than 200 projects. Better still because it is a capital fund, all the money that has been raised is still invested and the grants have been paid from interest and dividends generated by the capital,

Every year there are activities, which generate new money for which the Trustees are very grateful as only by increasing the capital can the Fund keep pace with rising costs, We are keen to ensure the 2020 Leap Year Sponsored Ringing Event, is a resounding success.

First organised in 1979 when Branches were encouraged to organise a sponsored Peal or Quarter Peal and donate the money raised to the Bell Fund. A special Shield was provided by Bill Butler and inscribed by Ted Gosling for presentation to the Branch raising the largest amount of money. Bicester Branch won, raising over £231. We don’t expect peals and quarters (but by all means ring them if you like), any ringing can be sponsored, so presents a great opportunity to involve all levels and abilities and to introduce new members to the work of the Bell Fund.

In 2020 the Sponsored Ringing “Week” will be the 22nd to 29th February, The Shield will be presented to the Branch raising the greatest amount per head of membership. Sponsorship money can be Gift Aided to benefit from recovery of Income Tax.

Sponsor forms are both attached below, and available from the Secretary – Katie Lane (email kt.catchmole@googlemail.com)

Ringing Sponsorship Form 2020

Bell Fund Sponsored Ringing