Staplehurst Bellringers Report May 2025

News from the Tower

Following several fairly quiet months, May looks to be much busier for the Staplehurst ringers.  We start on Thursday, 8th May, when, along with other churches throughout the country, we will be ringing to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.  We hope to be able to ring for the 2.45 pm commemoration service (although because it is during the working day and in term time, this may not be possible) and again from approximately 8 – 9 pm for the lighting of the beacon on Surrenden Field.

On Saturday, 10th May, we will be holding a ringers’ training day, but this will utilise the simulator, so there will be no sound outside the church. Then on May 18th, we will be celebrating the annual Bell Sunday – a day where the contribution of bells and bellringers to the life of the Church is recognised.  We hope that some of our ringers will be involved in the service, but details have yet to be decided.  Finally, on Thursday 29th May, we will be ringing for the 6.30 pm Ascension Day Service, which also includes a thanksgiving for the completion of the restoration work on the tower, something for which our ringers are particularly grateful.  

Other than this, we will be ringing for the usual Sunday Services and our normal Tuesday practice. We always try to give notice in the Magazine of any additional ringing, but because of copy deadlines, this is not always possible when ringing is arranged at short notice.

Finally, the peal on Saturday 12^th April to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Sue Bassett learning to ring was successfully accomplished, and the band also included five other Staplehurst ringers.  Thank you, Sue, for all you have done and continue to do for bell ringing at Staplehurst.

Roy Barclay
Tower Secretary