R for E wishes bell ringers throughout the country a Most Happy Christmas and an exciting New Year.  Here is the church of St. Mary the Virgin of Great Bickhill in Milton Keynes with its seasonal coating.  It will be looking forward to the New Year when it will have two new bells added to the refurbished 6 which hopefully will all be ready for their first ring at Easter.

Rob Palmer, the Steward of the Guild and Tower Captain of Lilbourne gave the great news that the GUILSBOROUGH Branch of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild will be attempting the ‘Rolling Ring’ competition in 2016 to celebrate St. George’s Day. Guilsborough is not only a village, not only a Parish but also a Hundred in the county of Northamptonshire – in the heart of England.

How to get more ringers and perhaps engage with suppliers of their chief sustenance after ringing their hearts out – beer.  These were the reasons why Richard Harvey, the SE representative for SIBA, a consultant brewer of much experience, who also happens to be a bell ringer, kindly agreed to meet Libby Alexander of RforE in Salisbury recently.   It was an excellent meeting celebrated with a photo of St. Thomas’ within the city in the background where Richard can be found most Thursdays ringing out on its 8 bells.

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