It was a wonderful to welcome a group of friends into the bell tower on 1st November who successfully rang a Quarter Peal. It was the first Quarter peal together for two of the members since 1992, 45 minutes of glorious ringing. Rung in memory of the step father and sister of the conductor, whose birthdays were 31/10 and 1/11 respectively. What a great story. It was a privilege to ring, with half muffled bells, for George Johnson's funeral on Friday 7th November and for Remembrance Sunday. I find the sound very moving and feel blessed that Sharow Ringers can show their respect in this way. David Bell and I were delighted to give Rev David a tour of the tower, explaining why the bells need to be renovated and what that entails. One of the ideas is to open up the archway, allowing the ringing chamber to be linked to the body of the church. An example of this can be seen at St James Parish Church in Boroughbridge, so an outing has been proposed for Sharow PCC to visit St James to see how this works. As we go to press, final edits are being made to Sharow Bellingers new promotional leaflet, which will be launched at the Gala Dinner on 28th November. A new logo has also been produced, which combines the traditional (an old bell), with the modern ( the colours and the type face). We're all very excited. Katerina Guilbert has worked wonders and we're very grateful for her help, guidance and knowledge. Unfortunately, I've pulled a muscle in my back, so can t do my fundraising Wild Swim in November and I'll have to postpone my dips into the cold water for the time being. Coming up in December, we'll be ringing on Sundays, Monday evening and silently on Wednesdays as usual. There'll also be ringing before the Green Fare, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and during the day on 31s December, from 111am till 12 noon, to ring in the New Year. To support Sharow Bells Restoration or to keep up to date with news of the bells here are the links. Sharow Bellingers on Facebook - https://rb.gy/44gwkk Give to St John's Bells - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/appealforapeal
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It's been an exciting time for Sharow Bellringers since the last newsletter. Joyfully, St John's bells continue to ring out on a Sunday to call to church, for services and by occasional visitors. Silent practice on a Wednesday enables Sharow Bellringers to growing in confidence and skill, all under the excellent guidance of our Ringing Master David Bell. The photo shows David silencing the bells for our practice on Wednesdays. Over the weekend of 24th - 26th October, it was a wonderful to welcome David's old band from Tysoe in Warwickshire. On Friday evening the bells were rung silently, but on Sunday 26th with the help of the extra ringers, it was possible to ring all 8 bells for call to Church. A wonderful sound. It's always good to welcome visiting bands to Sharow and on Friday 10th October St John's hosted ringers for the Wensleydale First Friday initiative. 24th September saw a visit from Sir Julian Smith our MP. He made his way up the bell tower and had a trial at chiming a bell. It was great to hear him offering to write a letter of support for Sharow Bells Restoration.  Unfortunately, the flag that's been flying since February had got rather tatty, sothis month was taken down and replaced. If you like seeing a flag flying on St John's tower and would like to help fund the replacement, please let me know. It was a great privilege for Sharow Bellringers to ring a Quarter Peal for the licencing service of Rev'd David Paton-Williams. It involved ringing no stop for 45 minutes, and was a real achievement for Wood and Charles. Many thanks to all involved. Thanks must also go to Ripon Cathedral Ringers. We're every grateful for the donated 5 replacement ropes that have been given to St John's. David and Chrales have recently been busy replacing the old ropes in the tower and adjusting the rope lengths. The old ropes will be turned into draft excluders and sold at St John's Green Fair.
Also on the fundraising front, Christmas cards featuring Queen Victoria's Memorial window, are on sale at the back of church and tickets for Sharow Bellringers Gala Dinner on 28th November are available. My Wild Swim in October at Pool Bridget Farm York was a bit chilly, but very enjoyable. The next swim will be on Tuesday 25th November in Whitby.
Coming up in November, in addition to regular ringing, there will be visitors ringing a Quarter Peal on Saturday 1st November from 11.15amtill 12noon. Before the Gala Dinner on 28th the bells will ring from 6.30pm till 7pm. Happy Listening.Bridget Taylor-Connor, Tower Correspondent, 07752981346 Give to St John's Bells - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/appealforapeal Sharow Bellringers on Facebook - https://rb.gy/44gwkk Church was full to bursting on Saturday 20th September for a joint fundraiser for Sharow Bells and the Half Moon Pub Group. The Roosters Ceilidh Band played some cracking tunes, the refreshments were fantastic and the church was decorated with bunting and fairy lights. A really brilliant community event that raised the profile of the bells project and vital funds. On Saturday 13th September St John's held a wonderful Heritage Open Day event. Inviting folk up the bell tower to try out the bells and learn about ringing. We had nine visitors. A mother and son, a Cathedral bell ringer with her sister and husband, a couple of St John's congregants and an intrepid young mother with her baby! I've been Wild Swimming, attending funding training course and writing grant applications. It's all go! The next fundraising event is a Gala Dinner on Friday 28th November. A 4 course dinner, with soprano Charity Schofield. (See the poster in “Save the date” below for details.) I've met with the architect Ian Hayton, Alison Gilchrist a stain glass window specialist and Ian Johnson a carpenter. All resulting in moving the project forward. Slow, but steady progress. We've been ringing too. Highlights have been ringing half -muffled bells for VJ day and Wood's successful Quarter Peal, rung for David and my 10th wedding anniversary. Wood has written a piece about activity in the tower, which continues to grow in various directions. " Our numbers at Sunday morning Call to Church vary from 3-7. Our Monday Practices attract anything from 7-15 and our Wednesday morning Silent Practices typically hold 5-7 ringers. What a joy, this Summer, to ring for two village weddings. On 21st September, thanks to two visiting ringers, we had 8 bells ringing for Call to Church. Our number of learners has increased. Izzy (aged 9) has been coming since midsummer. Her mother reports that she really enjoys it. Izzy is now ringing both strokes (hand stroke and backstroke) together and practicing to ring in rounds 1,2,3,4,5,6. Charlie has also joined us. He wanted a new hobby. Saw the info on the ceilidh flyer and got in touch. Our regular ringers are making progress too. We are a short distance away from having our own band who will be able to ring Plain Bob Doubles. A method of ringing that involves all the ringers changing the place that their bell rings following a fixed pattern. Since launching @sharowbellringers on Instagram, 23 reels (short films) have been released in the past 10 weeks. One piece involving a dice was the most viewed! Our intention is to upload other, longer films, on YouTube. David Bell, our Ringing Master, and myself continue to ring at other towers, including Pickhill, Kirklington and the Cathedral. I arrange and visit ‘First Fridays’ of most months at other towers in Wensleydale. On 10th October from 7pm till 8.30pm visiting ringers will be coming to St John's. I also attended a gathering at Knaresborough tower organised by the Leeds Branch of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers. In short, our ringing at Sharow is strengthening as we attract new ringers, while we continue to increase the ability and skills of our regular band." There are some special days coming up, most excitingly ringing for the Licencing Service of our new Priest Rev David Paton-Williams on 14th October, 7.30pm . Information when the bells are to be rung is displayed on the noticeboards inside and outside church and on St John's Website. If you'd like to know more about the bells, how we're progressing on the marketing strategy or join us up the bell tower, please get in touch. Best wishes and happy listening. Bridget Taylor-Connor Tower Correspondent 07752981346 [email protected] https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/appealforapeal Sharow Bellringers on Facebook 
St John’s band goes from strength to strength. Ringing on Sunday to call to prayer, Open Ringing on Monday and Silent Practice on Wednesdays. Izzy aged 9,continues to come when possible and we are joined by Rob, aged 90, from Kirby Hill. Our crowning glory in June was to enter and win the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers Fun Striking competition. Our aim was not to come last! Many thanks to David Bell, our Ringing Master, for coaching us and to John Lewis who came back especially to take part. Through my initial Wild Swim in Otley was postponed due to high river levels, I managed a dip on 9th June. I have to say the water is getting noticeably warmer. My next swim is on 8thJuly at Mill Gill, Askrigg. The water fall beckons, but we do need some rain! I will hopefully also be joining the ringers at their practice. Local bellringers are being very welcoming and generous. At the end of May I attended a practice at Knaresborough and am due to go to Otley soon. We continue to work with the architect to progress Sharow Bells Restoration and were very pleased that the Reverend we interviewed in June was very supporting, when he visited the bell tower. Many thanks for all your continued support. Best wishes Bridget and St Johns Band To support Sharow Bells Restoration please visit our JustGiving page http://justgiving.com/campaign/appealforapeal or send a message to [email protected]  |
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