Author: wimborneringers

Bell Ringing

SW Bellringers’ Competition Results

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Wimborne Minster ringers took part in the South West 12-bell competition at Truro Cathedral on Saturday 10th October. Together with several supporters, the twelve members of the band made the long trek to Cornwall several days in advance and took the opportunity of a warm-up Quarter Peal at St. Stephen’s in Brannel on the Friday afternoon.

Nine bands from Bristol St. Stephen’s, Bristol Redcliffe, Exeter, Llandaff, Trowbridge, Midsomer Norton, Chilcompton, Truro and Wimborne entered the competition which required successfully ringing a test piece of Grandsire Cinques lasting about 12 minutes. In addition to ringing the method accurately, the challenge included mastering control of the ropes and bells (which are a very long way above the ringing room) and hearing the bells distinctly. Only 10 minutes of practice is available to each band immediately before the performance which further increases the pressure. We were drawn to ring 3rd, allowing us the opportunity to hear the bells rung by two other bands and give some idea of the speed and sound of the bells. The performance went well and everyone in the team rang with confidence and conviction. 

After the final band had rung, there was a brief service in the cathedral followed by the adjudication. 

The judges required an extra half hour to reach their conclusions – evidence that the result was going to be very close. Wimborne came third with a score of 83% – the winning team from Bristol achieved 85%, and the 4th placed team scored 75%.

The picture below shows the Wimborne band in Truro Cathedral immediately after their ringing.

Belfry News, Bell Ringing

Wimborne band wins the East Dorset Branch 6-bell competition

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6 members of the Wimborne Minster Band took part in the East Dorset Branch 6-bell striking competition on Saturday 30th May 2026.

The results were as follows:

1st: Wimborne Minster (See photo below)

2nd: Wareham

3rd: Blandford

4th=: Worth Matravers and Poole/Hampreston

6th: Canford Magna

7th Corfe Mullen

In the novice competition, there were 2 entries, and Lytchett Minster came in first ahead of Lytchett Matravers.

Audio, Bell Ringing, Quarter Peal

Listen to the bells of Wimborne Minster in Dorset

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The first recording is a 5 minute excerpt from a Quarter Peal rung half-muffled following the Royal British Legion Remembrance Service.

The second one is part of a Quarter Peal rung prior to the Festival of Lessons and Carols and in thanksgiving for the life of Brenda Redfearn godmother of Hilary Child.

The ringers in the Grandsire were:

1 Esther Davey (First Quarter Peal on 12)
2 Louis Suggett
3 Holly Kilgour
4 Hilary Child
5 Philip Rioch
6 John Riley
7 Barbara King
8 Flick Warwick
9 David Warwick (Conductor)
10 Mariko Whyte
11 Harry Blamire
12 Jonathan King

The ringers in the second performance were:

1 Rosalind Martin
2 Hilary Child
3 Rosemary Duke
4 Lucy Taylor-Warwick
5 Holly Kilgour
6 Graham Duke
7 Robert Child
8 Felicity Warwick
9 David Hilling (Conductor)
10 Adam Kilgour
11 David Warwick
12 Timothy Martin

Audio, Belfry News, Quarter Peal

Wimborne Minster Ringers’ Summer Outing 2025

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The Wimborne Minster Ringers’ Summer Outing 2025 was a weekend affair based in St. Columb Major. Fourteen members of the band headed to Cornwall at different times and from different directions, firstly for a peal attempt at Phillack on the Friday afternoon. Sadly, a surreptitious swap caused the attempt to fail, but there was time to complete a successful quarter of Cornwall Surprise Major on these delightful Taylor bells – followed by even more delightful refreshment at The Bucket of Blood. The area has plenty of attractive and varied accommodation available after the summer throngs have departed, and everyone found somewhere to suit their preferences.

Saturday’s ringing began at the lovely six in St. Erme, followed by the two towers in Truro – Kenwyn and the Cathedral where we were joined by locals Jo and Andy, and a very accomplished ringing quartet who happened to be holidaying in the area. After quickly getting accustomed to the long draught and distinctive acoustics of the Cathedral ringing room we rang some pleasantly fluent Stedman, Cambridge and Bristol Maximus – and a helpful foretaste of the bells for the 2026 SW 12-bell competition.

Lunch was enjoyed in several places around the city, before we all headed to Probus, St. Stephen in Brannel and finally St. Columb Major for three excellent eight-bell towers where we were able to practise a special touch of Grandsire Triples for the forthcoming Guild Striking Competition as well as exploring a variety of other methods – including a successful attempt at a ‘scat’ raise. The evening was rounded off with a lovely relaxed supper at The Ring O’ Bells and a presentation to Harry as thanks for organising a wonderfully efficient, enjoyable and successful outing. 

Bell Ringing, Other Activities

National Youth Competition 2024

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On Saturday 6th July, four of our younger ringers enjoyed an exhausting but fantastic day in London for the Ringing World National Youth Competition (RWNYC).

The SDGR team, Go Bellistic! was placed joint 7th out of 13 teams in the 8-bell call changes competition at St Olave, Hart Street; Esther rang the 4th, Ben the 5th and James the tenor.

As well as ringing in the competition, everyone had a great time ringing at other churches in the City: St Dunstan in the West, St Vedast Foster Lane, St Magnus the Martyr, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary le Bow. The results ceremony was held in the magnificent surroundings of St Paul’s Cathedral, after a photo of all the groups was taken on the steps outside.

As we came out, the bells were being rung by the St Paul’s Cathedral Guild of Ringers – an awe-inspiring end to a memorable day.

All the competitors on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Wimborne Ringer Lila appeared on the publicity banner for the day
The Go Bellistic! Team
Belfry News, Bell Ringing, Other Activities, Video

Wimborne Ringers’ Day in Devon

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The Minster bell ringers took their skills to Devon for their annual outing on Saturday with ringing at six churches.  An early start was made at St Nicholas Sidmouth where the ten melodious bells cast by the Taylor bellfoundry in 1972 were rung well.  Following ringing the nearby cake shop offered a tasty allure.

The centrepiece of the day was Exeter Cathedral which like the Minster has twelve bells although Exeter’s are heavier providing a deeper tone, the largest bell, the tenor, weighing 72 cwt.

Visits followed to St Mark’s Exeter (10 bells), Ottery St Mary (8) one of its famous sons being Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sidbury (8) and finally Axminster which has ten bells that are untypically loud in the ringing chamber.

Most of the 24 Minster ringers rounded off the day with dinner near Axminster and on Sunday morning were  back in action on the Minster ropes for pre Eucharist ringing – and later for Evensong ringing.

Videos of ringing at Sidmouth and Axminster and in the ringing chamber at Exeter Cathedral.

and the Sidbury churchyard entrance.

Sidmouth

Exeter Cathedral

Axminster

Band photo at Exeter Cathedral

Quarter Peal

Alan Bentley 16th December 1947 – 10th July 2024

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Alan retired to Verwood in 2015 following a successful career as an engineer in Buckinghamshire. He had learnt to ring as a teenager, became Master of the Southampton University Guild where he met his future wife Kathy, and they were both mainstays of the Aston Clinton band during their working life.

Alan’s ringing skills and experience were a great asset to us and he quickly established himself as a full-time member of the Wimborne Minster band. He relished the challenge of ringing on twelve bells, was an enthusiastic and committed teacher of our learner ringers, and sought out opportunities to support ringers further afield – notably the newly-formed band at Lytchett Matravers and at Ringwood where he became Tower Captain.

He rang in four peals at the Minster – including the ones to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday in 2016 and the birth of Prince Louis in 2018 – and also 88 quarter peals which were mostly for Sunday Choral Evensongs, the final one being in August last year.

Alan’s quiet manner, self-effacing personality and gentle humour were particular characteristics, as was his willingness to help anyone at any time. A keen member of the Wimborne Camera Club, Alan and Kathy mounted an exhibition of Ringing for Royal Events which is displayed in the Baptistry at appropriate times during the year, and they also organised a memorable ringing weekend for the Minster Band around churches in the Chilterns last September. This turned out to be one of the last times Alan rang with us.

Sadly, an illness first diagnosed in 2008 returned and despite the best of care from Bournemouth and Poole hospitals he was unable to recover and passed away peacefully with his family close by in July. A Service of Thanksgiving was held in the Minster on the 8th August, attended by his family and many ringing friends from around the country. We will miss him.