“RING IN 2000” GROUP

This year saw the culmination of an enormous resurgence in ringing, both nationally and in the Guild area, where 640 new and returned ringers were recruited, forming dozens of new and rejuvenated bands, many in towers with new or augmented rings of bells. At noon 1/1/2000 virtually all the Guild’s bells rang at the same time and many Churches with one or two bells chimed in as well. The same thing happened all over the country, it even made live TV for 5 minutes.

In fact 170 Guild towers rang, almost all rang at noon and despite ’flu and other seasonal ailments all but half a dozen rang all of their bells. Some even overcame extra difficulties to join in, such as Southwick where ringing had been suspended during church repairs.

This only happened because of a lot of hard work. During 1999 the Group completed the distribution of thousands of leaflets to churches, libraries, via ringers, and at other locations and events; the display stand was refurbished and the emphasis shifted from recruitment and training to making contact with local ringers and clergy and organizing the deployment of ringers at noon on 1 January 2000. Certificates were designed and printed for presentation to all the towers and ringers that took part, in fact a reprint was required because of the tremendous response from Guild Members, potential members and many visiting ringers.

The biggest asset created by the group is the display stand which was again in frequent use in 1999 after being refitted with excellent posters by Phil Watts. The most spectacular occasion being Romsey Show with a mini-ring, which proved a great attraction and identified many potential recruits. The stand will in future be administered by the Public Relations Committee and is available for use out of doors and in large buildings. Other lasting benefits include publicity packs created by the Guild PRO and new seminars and courses from the Education Committee.

Thanks are due to all the members (listed below) who served on the “Ring in 2000” Group over the last 3 years. Those already holding Guild office became even busier, other ringers added to the variety of skills which blended into an effective body for achieving this milestone in bell ringing. Many other ringers also helped, but special thanks must go to Bob Cater who instigated the Group, hosted and chaired many of its meetings and was the Guild’s “Ring in 2000” link with the Central Council, in addition to all his other Guild duties.

The “Ring in 2000” Group has done its job and handed over its material assets, contacts and many of its people to The Public Relations Committee. It is now up to all members to build on the great surge in recruitment, public relations and education to maintain and enjoy ringing in this area, and to make the most of the events planned for the remainder of Year 2000. We did not do all this for just 5 minutes ringing, but to ensure that Church Bells continue to ring well into the Third Millennium.

Francis Mitchell