Dear Friends,
I am sensible of the honour of being elected for a second term of office at the Annual General Meeting at Basingstoke. The rules determine that this will be my final term, and I will be working hard to further the objects of the Guild in the coming two years. You also elected Mike Hopkins Till to be the second Vice-Master of the Guild. Mike has served at many levels in the Oxford Diocesan Guild and brings a wealth of experience to his new post. One or both of us have been present at each District’s Annual Meeting: thank you for your welcome and hospitality on these and many other occasions. The two of us, together with Clare Griffiths and Michael Bubb, continue to work closely on day-to-day matters and wider issues.
Attending the recent Ringing World Centenary Celebrations in London has prompted me to think about the wider ringing scene. Yes, we can be content to ring in our own towers, and perhaps this was all we expected to do when we started in bell ringing, but there is so much to be gained by visiting practices at other towers, by taking part in District and Guild events, or by attending one of the national ringing courses. The Ringing World event was an opportunity par excellence to experience the remarkable camaraderie amongst ringers from the world-wide community while enjoying a fantastic variety of ringing activities. This was an event to inspire and enthuse, with the potential to lift us out of ourselves and feel a part of something bigger. I was pleased to meet some dozens of Guild members from all Districts during the day, all enjoying themselves.
Yet so many who are starting out in their ringing careers will be nervous of going to events outside their home towers, and may say to themselves, “Is that course really for me?” or, “I don’t think I could just turn up at that tower!” An amount of encouragement is needed from those who have passed through that stage themselves. Notices of events can posted in towers, but the invitation to attend needs to be given, “Why don’t you come to?” or, “What are you doing on?” We all have some responsibility in this process: we may need to allow ourselves to be encouraged; we may be among those who encourage; we may run practices or arrange events which must themselves be appropriate, timely, and encouraging.
I have not forgotten that many bands struggle to recruit and retain sufficient ringers to maintain Sunday service ringing, and that many bands lack the skills base needed to propel new ringers forward. I hope that members of such bands might discuss their situation with their District officers to see what assistance might be possible, and that Districts will seek out such members and encourage them into the wider ringing community. Society in general, and the Church in particular, are currently undergoing rapid changes, and this presents many challenges to the encouragement of ringing for Divine service and the cultivation of change ringing (Guild objects).
Please may I encourage you to be at the Annual General Meeting of the Guild on Saturday 02 July at Newport, Isle of Wight, the details of which are with all District Secretaries and posted on the Guild website.
David Strong