BellBoard

For the New Year

Rung in Thanksgiving for the life of Margaret Williams, Sue's Sister-In-Law

In Loving Memory of Ann Desics who rang at this Tower for over 30 Years and died on the 13th December 2019

First peal on 12: 3,5,6,8.

Fondly remembering Stephen Ivin (7/1/2010)

Rung in memory of Stephen Ivin, 1937-2010, who was very supportive of the project to install these bells in 2007. 100th together: 6 & 7

On the 65th anniversary of the first peal on these bells after restoration, in which Alan took part.

First quarter at first attempt: 1

First QP of Erin Cinques - 2,3,5,6,7,9,12 and as conductor.

Rung prior to Choral Evensong

1st quarter away from cover - 1

Best Wishes to Andy and Martin who made this happen!

Rung in memory of Ron Battams, the late tower captian at St Botolph's, Aspley Guise. If Ron had been listening his "ears, ears, ears" would have been pleased.

Rung to commemorate the life of Jan Sapiano, former chorister and ringer at this church.

3 - First Quarter

5 - First inside for 51 years

Rung for Bedford District QP week

Rung on behalf of all St Mary's ringers in thanksgiving for the life of our dear friend and regular supporter Ann Desics who died on 13th December 2019. RIP

Prior to Evensong for Bedford District Quarter Peal Week

Rung to celebrate the life of Gladys Dawson, a long time resident of the village, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018 for services to charity and the community.

Remembering John S White who died on 5th March 2020

Arranged by Ros Keech to mark the 40th anniversary of her first peal, rung on these bells (15th March 1980); with best wishes to Stan and Sheila Ashton, whose care needs prevented Ros from ringing today.

Rung for the burial of Stan Ashton, faithful ringer and former tower captain. Diminishing rounds were rung before the service, rounds and 84 Plain Hunt Minor were rung after the service.

Specially arranged in memory of Stan Ashton and Roy Webb, long-serving Bedfordshire ringers and great servants to the Exercise, who died recently.

Stan, who died on April 9, aged 86, learned to ring at Pirton in 1950 and was tower captain there from 1957 to 1959. His association with All Saints, Clifton, where he taught his daughter Ros to ring in 1973, started in 1972, and he was tower captain at Clifton from 1990 to 2017. He taught a band on the old ring of 5 at All Saints, Campton (not a task for the faint hearted) and he and his family contributed generously to the new ring of 8 in 2007.

Roy died on May 28, aged 87. He learnt to ring at Norton, Herts, in the mid 1940’s, with his first peal at Royston in February 1948. A highly capable ringer, particularly on 6 and 8, he rang 569 peals. Roy rang at Stotfold from 1968 for the rest of his ringing career. He achieved over 70 years membership of several ringing associations, including the Ancient Society of College Youths, collecting his certificate to mark his 70 years membership at last year's annual dinner.

Roy and Stan were true gentlemen who ran friendly towers that enabled others to progress their ringing and many will remember their contributions with gratitude.

The peal was rung fully socially distanced (not exactly something Stan and Roy would have wished for) and was the first peal at no 17, in the garden shed AND garden, an eclectic mix they might have quite liked.

First touch of doubles - 6

Rung prior to morning service. Wishing the Revd James Reveley and his family good wishes as James makes a slightly delayed departure for a role at Ely Cathedral after seven years at St. Andrew's.

Rung for morning service - first ringing on the bells since lockdown. All social distancing guidelines followed.

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day

Ringing for the first Sunday service at this church since lockdown. Video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Oforamcg8J0

Rung between the Sunday morning services and specially arranged to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Elstow is the spiritual home of the Bedford and District FEPOW Association.

The 5th Battalion Beds & Herts Regiment landed in Singapore on 29 January 1942 just two weeks before its fall on 15 February. 375 men lost their lives, 232 of them in captivity, the remainder surviving the notorious POW camps. Amongst their number was Sgt Peter Hartley who, following his return, succeeded his Father as Vicar of this parish (1952-1976) and served as Chaplain to the FEPOW Association. He dedicated the FEPOW Memorial Altar in the Bunyan Chapel of the Abbey on Sunday 5th May 1957.

Alternate bells were rung from two different floors, this being the first ringing since 15 March and the lockdown. Elstow is possibly the only tower where all bells have been rung while maintaining more than 2m (horizontal and vertical) social distancing and with all other safeguards in place. The ringers of 3 and 4 have learned within the last 2 years and were ringing without the benefit of ropesight for the first time. (Video clip on YouTube) https://youtu.be/UUgNkbwhzyc

With congratulations to Charlotte, a Sunday service ringer at Studham, for securing a place at Oxford by achieving an A and 3 A* at A Level.

Rung between the morning services, socially distanced on two levels.

Rung for the morning service.

Rung between the morning services (and between two floors).

Rung between the morning services (1,3,5 - up, 2,4,6 - down)

Rung for morning service (from just the one floor).

Rung after the morning communion and to mark the 80th birthday of Jackie Perrey

Rung on two floors for the Harvest Festival Service, held outdoors in the clositers.

With best wishes to Revd Guy Scott and his family as they prepare to move from Biggleswade to Midsomer Norton.

Rung prior to morning service, with best wishes from all the ringers to the Revd. Guy Scott and his family on their last Sunday in the parish prior to moving to Midsomer Norton.

A farewell to Rev Guy Scott, Kate and family, moving to St John the Baptist, Midsomer Norton. The bells at St Andrew's Biggleswade were restored and augmented during their 10 years in the parish, and a ringing centre established.

For Harvest

First ringing since lockdown 5

Rung socially distanced on the front 6, with 1,2 and 5 rung from the clock room and 3,4 and 6 from the ringing room.

Rung in fond memory of Sheila Ashton (1935-2020), a much loved local ringer and long standing Life Member of Bedfordshire Association, whose 85th birthday would have been on 20th October.

1st handbell peal : 1-2

Rung for the morning service.

Rung between the morning services. Fondly remembering Alan Smith of Biggleswade, a stalwart Honorary Life Member of the Association who passed away on Friday, RIP.

Rung for the funeral of Sheila Ashton with bells 1,2 and 5 from the clock room.

Rounds were rung before the service; rounds and diminishing rounds as the coffin moved to the graveyard.

For Sunday service. 1,2 and 5 rung from the clock room, 3,4 and 6 from the ringing room.

In memory of Alan S Smith, a Biggleswade ringer for over 70 years. He served this association as Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer during the 1960's and 1970's and was a great supporter of Biggleswade district activities. RIP

For All Saints (in lieu of the usual peal attempt)

For All Saints Day and morning service

The Tenor Bell was tolled in remembrance before and after 2 minutes silence at 11am.

Lest we forget.

Immediately preceding the act of remembrance at the village war memorial. (One blow for each year of the Whitehall Cenotaph)

For the funeral of Alan S Smith, lifelong member of the Biggleswade band and Life Member of the Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers.

Rung as the cortege arrived at the Church and again as it left and during the Committal at the Churchyard Gate.

Rung for Sunday service on bells 1,3 and 5. 1 and 5 being rung from the clock room.

Rounds to celebrate the decorating of the bellringers Christmas Tree

Rung for morning service. Bells 5 and 6 rung from the clockroom; bells 7 and 8 rung from the ringing room to conform to Tier 4 restrictions

For Christmas Eve service. 4,7 and 8 rung from ringing room, 5 and 6 from clock room following COVID-19 guidelines.

For Christmas. Socially distanced Upstairs and Downstairs