I would like to express my sincere thanks to Tony Smith for his generous support during the transition into my new role. His extensive knowledge and guidance have been invaluable as I have settled into the post and, quite literally, learned the ropes of being Secretary of the Guild. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the District Secretaries for their continued dedication and the considerable work they undertake in supporting and informing members across their respective Districts.
I was elected to the office of Secretary at the AGM in June 2025, kindly hosted by Ropley. I am sure all who attended, appreciated the tremendous effort that went into providing the excellent Ringers’ Tea. It was rewarding to witness the culmination of many years of fundraising and to see the community’s resilience, coming together to rebuild from the ashes and hear the bells ring out once again at Ropley.
As is tradition, the Inter-District 8-Bell Striking Competition took place on the morning of the AGM, hosted by New Alresford. First place was awarded to the Portsmouth District for their Grandsire Triples, achieving only thirteen faults.
I have had the opportunity this year to meet many ringers from around the Guild and to see the encouraging growth in membership across the Districts. Recruitment remains a key priority, aligned with the Central Council’s objective to increase national ringing numbers by 2030. It is heartening to see the enthusiasm with which Guild members have embraced this challenge, including the establishment of after-school bell ringing clubs for primary-aged children and the planned dedicated ringing school and training hub at St John’s, Winchester.
The success of these recruitment efforts is reflected in the achievements of our young ringers. In 2025, the W&P entered two teams into the RWNYC hosted in Birmingham. The W&P Youths achieved an impressive 2nd place in the Eight-Bell Method Ringing with 90%, and 4th place in the Six-Bell Method Ringing with 75%, a truly inspiring accomplishment for all involved.
Since also becoming a trustee of the Bell Restoration Fund (BRF), I have gained a deeper appreciation of the importance of working collectively to preserve our bells for future generations. It is encouraging to see the number of current and planned restoration and augmentation projects underway. These endeavours highlight the continued need for donations to the BRF. It is only through the generosity of our members that we can sustain this vital work. If you would like to make a donation beyond your annual subscription or consider leaving a legacy gift to the BRF, please do get in touch so we can support you through the process.
One of the more recent tasks I have been asked to lead is the exploration of how the Guild might appropriately recognise and celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2029. Plans are already taking shape, and I look forward to sharing more details with you in due course, so please watch this space.
The Guild is also seeking to reinstate the quarterly newsletter, and we need your help to make it a success. We are looking for creative and engaging content from across the Guild. The newsletter will only be as vibrant as the contributions we receive. Examples of material we would welcome include; District updates and news, upcoming event announcements, reports from recent outings, fundraising and restoration project updates, training opportunities, Quarter Peal and Peal congratulations, in memoriams, poetry, artwork, or anything else you feel would be of interest. Please send submissions to hon.secretary@wpbells.org.
In reviewing previous Guild reports for inspiration, I came across the following reflection; “The greatest lesson I have learned in life is that I still have a lot to learn”. This sentiment resonates strongly with our shared art, where no matter our level of experience, there is always something new to learn. I wish you all every success in your ringing throughout the coming year.
Alex Blissett