Welcome to the website for the Wisbech District of the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers.

Bell ringing is a team activity that stimulates the brain and helps keep you fit ... it also makes a glorious sound!

This website is primarily intended to keep local ringers informed of news and district events. We hope other ringers will find the details of towers, practices and the district ringing programme useful.

About Bell Ringing

Dates for the District

Here are dates for the District, the Association and the Stretham REC shown in a Google Calendar. A larger calendar, showing these dates and dates for all the Districts and for the Young Ringers, with space for more entries at a time, and with options to view a whole week or month, is available on the Ely DA website here.

To receive emails about Wisbech District events, please contact the District Secretary (wisbechsec_at_elyda.org.uk).

Ely DA AGM 2022 on Saturday 21st May, hosted by the Wisbech District

All welcome to the Ely DA AGM on Saturday 21st May. Inter-district 8-bell striking competition at Terrington St Clement. General ringing at Emneth, March and Wisbech. Service at St Peter & St Paul, Wisbech. Tea in the Wisbech Church Hall, followed by AGM.

Nick Elks gives notice of a proposed rule change to be discussed at the AGM.

'I wish to propose at the AGM the following change to the Ely Diocesan Association Rules, in summary, that Association peal fees are either abolished or reduced to £0.

Rule 12 (b) to be changed from:

b) The conductor of the peal shall be responsible for providing the Peal Secretary with the Peal Fee, and the following details: the method(s) rung, the number of changes, the composition, names of ringers, and any other information necessary to check the validity of the peal. All peal fees for the previous year shall be provided by 31st January.

to be changed to:

b) The conductor of the peal shall be responsible for providing the Peal Secretary with the following details: the method(s) rung, the number of changes, the composition, names of ringers, and any other information necessary to check the validity of the peal.

Rule 12 (c) to be changed from:

c) The Association may choose not to accept peals if the details and/or the peal fees are not received in accordance with Rule 12 (a & b). The Association General Committee shall make decisions about acceptance of such peals on advice from the Ringing Sub-committee.

to be changed to:

c) The Association may choose not to accept peals if the details are not received in accordance with Rule 12 (a & b). The Association General Committee shall make decisions about acceptance of such peals on advice from the Ringing Sub-committee.

In association with this proposed change, the Subscription Rates under General Notices would also be changed with reference to Peal booking fees, to either make it £0 or to strike the booking fee out completely.

Also that any other reference that there may be regarding Peal Fees or Peal booking fees be struck out or amended accordingly'

Ely DA Roadmap to Ringing Recovery

The Ely DA Roadmap to Ringing Recovery has been launched! Available here . The roadmap, which has been compiled by the RATS Committee, has information as to what bell-ringers can do and where to find support based on each stage that the Government have provided for coming out of Lockdown.

Ely DA AGM 2021 on Saturday 8th May at 2 pm via Zoom

From JoAnne Rutter, General Secretary Ely DA

The Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers 2021 AGM will be held at 2 pm on Saturday 8th May, via Zoom.

Details on the AGM page of the Ely DA website, here.

Ely DA Annual Report

The Ely DA Annual Report for 2019 (Handbook for 2020) is available as a pdf file to Ringing Members, Junior Members and Honorary Members of the Ely DA. The file is dated 21/05/2020, which corresponds to when the Annual General Meeting would have been held. Please request a file from the District Secretary (wisbechsec_at_elyda.org.uk) or the Report Editor (elyweb_at_elyda.org.uk). Paper copies will be available. We will print one copy for each active tower and copies for individual members by prior request.

Lockdown Bellringing Activities

Dee Smith, as RATO for the Association, has provided a summary of suggested activities. The current list, dated 23/04/20, is here, and Dee will provide updates as new events arise.

Contents of the summary: Cambridge District Webinars; Drop-in and Help sessions on Saturday mornings; Ringing Room.

Summary dated 23/04/20 is here.

CCCBR advice on Coronavirus covid-19, 16/03/2020

See https://cccbr.org.uk/2020/03/16/coronavirus-covid-19-update/

New updates on the Coronavirus have been issued by the UK government today, which include avoiding any “non-essential” travel and contact with others and avoiding pubs, clubs theatres and social gatherings. If you haven’t already decided to cancel ringing activities, it seems that now is the time to do so.