The Winchester & Portsmouth Guild youth ringing group is comprised of young ringers up to the age of 18. The upper age mirrors the age limits for youth ringers participating in the Ringing World National Youth Contest, although we have some recent retirees from the group (aged up to 22) who continue to support the younger ringers.
Youth ringing in the Guild is currently in a very strong position, with 38 youth ringers participating in at least one youth event during 2024. Eleven general practices were held in different towers around the Guild, attended each time by between 15 and 20 young ringers. Ringing included rounds / call changes, up to Stedman Caters and Surprise Major. It was impressive to see a band of W&P YOUTHS ring some well struck Stedman Triples at Romsey Abbey with no adult help.
We have welcomed several new ringers to the group, some only just handling, but with the support of the more established youth ringers we hope to see them make some great progress in the next few years. These are the ringers of the future, and will be supported by the established youths and adult helpers.
The guild youth ringers entered two competitions during the year. In April, the W&P YOUTHS band travelled to Bushey in Hertfordshire for SEECON (South East England Contest). We were the only band who rang a method on 8 bells (Plain Bob Triples), and came away with first place, winning the newly established Broken Stay Award.
In July, two W&P YOUTHS band entered the Ringing World National Youth Contest (RWNYC) in London, along with other 34 bands from across England, Scotland and Wales. Our 8-bell call change band managed to be placed joint 9th. Our 8-bell method band came a very creditable 2nd to the Yorkshire Tykes (who achieved the first ever 10/10 score in the competition). In addition, our band got to ring at St Mary le Bow, St Magnus, Hart Street, Spitalfields and St Dunstan in the West, joining with youth bands from other parts of the country.
As we look forward to 2025, the majority of our ringers are of an age to continue to ring with the group, so we go into the year with a strong (in numbers and ability) and experienced group of youths. We look forward to taking W&P YOUTHS bands to SEECON in April (being held in Berkshire) and to RWNYC in July (being held in Birmingham) - we may even have 3 bands this year!
Andy Ingram