The 2024 Summer Meeting for the Guild took place in North Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire during the extended weekend of Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May 2024. We are very grateful to Ted Steele for organising this for us.
There was an opportunity for some to ring a quarters peal on the Thursday evening. A band rang a quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Triples at St Andrew, Epworth.
Our base for the weekend was the Holiday Inn Doncaster, just of the A1M, and this was very convenient. After days of rain, we were also very lucky that the sun shone on us all weekend. The methods for the weekend were Yorkshire Surprise Major and Conisborough Delight Minor and both were successfully achieved on a number of occasions.
The first tower of the day was the 6 of Babworth, a small church prettily located down a narrow lane and associated with the Pilgrim. Fathers and has Robert ‘Mouse -Man’ furniture. Next was the 8 of East Retford, an impressive church with entrance to the ringing chamber via a short walk across the transept roof. This was followed by a lunch break with members finding their own venue and a few visiting the open-air market there.
The first tower of the afternoon was the 10 of St Anne Worksop build in 1910 with Taylor bells which were transferred from Pitsmoor in Shefield. Next was the 8 of the Priory Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert, Workshop. This has two 90 feet high towers and the north-western tower houses the 1953 Taylor bells. The last organised tower of the day was the 6 of St Mary and St Martin, Blyth, another former priory with Taylor bells. However, during our travels in the day we did receive an invitation to the practice night at the 12 of the Minster Church of All Saints, Rotherham so some members travelled straight on to there. The majority returned to the hotel or nearby accommodation for a quiet night.
Refreshed and with the sun still shining, the Saturday began at the 8 of St Mary Tickhill. This is a grand church with bells of mixed origins some of them having been cast in the churchyard. Here we set the standard for the wedding band to follow. Next was the ground floor eight of St Mary Magdalene, Whiston from where we could view the local cricket team at work. We had our group photograph here in front of the 13th century tower.
Next was the lovely complete Taylor ring at St Peter Conisborough. The steps here were a challenge to out fitness and preparation for those going on to Doncaster the following day. Out final tower of the day was the popular light Taylor 8 at Sprotbrough where the trebles needed a light extra experience.
Some members had joined us just for the day on either the Friday or the Saturday and some left us at this stage. It had been lovely to welcome some new members for this outing. However, 27 of us then went on to diner at the Holiday Inn at Doncaster. Dinner was preceded by a short business meeting detailed below. It was great to chat around the dinner table and the evening ended in its customary manner with hand bell ring.
Many members made their way home on Sunday after breakfast but 7 were please to make their way up to join the normal 12 bell Sunday band at 10.00am at the Minster Church of All Saints, Doncaster.
It had been a successful and very enjoyable weekend and our thanks particularly go to Ted Steele for organising all the towers (and the weather!) and to our Ringing Master Peter Robson for keeping us in order.