Our regular Sunday morning help Jane is moving - we wish her luck in her new area but her morning visits will be greatly missed.

The tenor bell at St Leonard’s, Over Whitacre, was tolled on Sunday 2nd June, 2019 to mark the occasion of re-dedication of family graves. The church was packed for a simple service of remembrance led by Marjorie Walton. The bell was tolled from 10.45 until 11.00am. Tolling is ringing slowly and stately a single bell. Usually the tenor it is associated with funerals and remembrance. 

Once again we managed to welcome 2019 with bells. This year we had a few more than usual which allowed us to ring some nice rounds and some methods too. For once we made the effort to properly muffle the old year out and then after a swift change welcome the new year with open ringing.

Tonight we rang all three bells for the Carol Service. Ringing for the first time in two years the front two bells especially took a bit of time to "warm" up. Xavier managed to ring here for the first time contrasting Dick who was also ringing. Nearly eighty years separate them - not many places where you can witness this now.

On the exact anniversary of the 1918 armistice our tower was full. Half muffled ringing this morning and then open ringing as part of the "Nation Remembers" event. This morning ringing was half muffled in respect for those who have died whilst this evening ringing was open as a celebration. Our two ringing remembers recruits both rang for both events and thus fulfil the aims of part of the 1400 recruits to replace the 1400 bellringers lost in WW1.

Our two learners Sharon and Xavier have received their badges and certificates this week as part of the commemorations around the Armistice 2018 - A Nation's Thank you. Our ringing is registered with this nationwide celebration and is also posted on the central ringing councils BellBoard list of events planned.
The 11th of November is getting closer and both our learners are now able to ring independently in the basic ringing of rounds keeping their bell reasonably in the right place and independent of help and supervision. Quite a task especially which needs a proper well done if you seem them in person. Both received their exclusive badge pictured here.

A beautiful day for walking was celebrated at St Giles with a short service which we managed to ring for. If you are interested in the walk please click here but it was nice to still  be able to raise five ringers on a record breaking warm Bank Holiday.

Mike, Quentin, Jane, Roy, Ian and Dick ring the New Year in maintaining the tradition for another year.

Sunday ringing for a very full church with the bells half muffled. One muffle did disgrace itself and come loose but after adjustment we continued. Thanks to Steve for finding time to put them on.

We welcomed a number of Coleshill ringers tonight to welcome Rev Becky Stephens, as their loss is our parish's gain. We rang several times covering some very good rounds and call changes as well as a few courses of Plain Bob Doubles. It was lovely to have a choice of ringers. The service was well attended with a lot of visitors including the Bishop of Aston. During the service the new Rector has to ring a bell and the number of times it rings is reputed to be the number of years that she plans to stay. So watch this space in eleven years time.....