 Bugle player Peter Tonks The bells rang out half muffled for the service of Remembrance on Sunday 15th November. There sombre sound ushered all to church to listen to Peter, the bugle player, call us to our memorial silence. All the four parishes read the names of all the fallen from both world wars and then wreaths were laid.
The ringers rang the bells for the Dick Dale memorial service. The service reminded us what a kind gentleman Dick was with plenty of reminders of his wry sense of humour. Refreshments afterwards allowed more memories to be shared. The order of service contained some lovely photographic reminders of both Dick and his beloved wife Mary. Our first practice tonight for over eighteen months, ready for a wedding on Saturday. We rang some call changes and then even managed some Plain Bob Doubles. We had a bit of sweep up of the floor of all the spiders and dead flies to make the ringing room a little more habitable.
Church services with the bells calling all to worship are distant memories to the village at the moment but today the bells were back. For the first service since COVID regulations dictated the bells welcomed our congregation into the church today and practices have been arranged from the Thursday July 29th 2021.
With a wedding to ring at yesterday it was realised that the majority of the ringing at Shustoke is now undertaken by the same group of parish wide ringers. In light of this, a section of this website is now being developed to show the history and achievements completed on these interesting bells. All of our parish wide bells are very different and memorable!
The bells were rung at midday on April 10th 2021 for ten minutes half muffled to commemorate the life of HRH Prince Phillip who passed away yesterday aged 99. The country had been asked to mark the occasion with ninety nine tolls or ringing but as we had a large family bubble we were able to ring in a COVID safe manner, missing the fifth out.
A bell in each of the parish churches rang out today to mark the anniversary of the first COVID lockddown and to commemorate those who have lost their lives due to the pandemic. Thanks to Sharon at Over Whitacre, Roy at Shustoke, Mike at Nether Whitacre and Steve at Lea Marston for ringing at 12.01 just after midday.
 Regretfully for our band, Dick Dale has passed away on Friday 13th Novemeber in his 90th year, after a short period in George Elliot hospital. Dick has been a member of our band since the installation of the bells in 1977 but had learnt at Shustoke beforehand. He was actively ringing with the band right up till the beginning of lockdown and celebrated his 90th birthday in August. His funeral will be on Tues 1st December with a simple graveside burial. Mourners are asked to socially distance line the road between his home and the church entrance only.
The ringers all celebrated Dicks 90th birthday with a socially distanced party. Originally planned to be on the lawn of his house an illness hiccup forced us to be creative. Each ringer was delivered a piece of cake and a scone baked by Helen and Sharon respectively along with a card to remind them to toast Dick. We hope that Dick enjoyed his cake, scone, card and present and had a lovely day. Shame we could not celebrate and ring the bells too. In line with advice all further ringing is suspended till further notice.
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