Kildwick Ringers

1953 was quite a special year – but its significance this month is that (so far) 1953 bell ringing performances have been recorded as rung on VE Day-80.  If you include all performances, rung for “VE Day-80” on other days, the tally rises to 2259.  Two of those were at Kildwick!

On the day itself, we rang alongside towers across the world, who rang at 18:30 local time to mark the end of the war in Europe.  (VJ Day, when the war effectively finished with the capitulation of Japan did not happen till August 15th.)
It was lovely, at Kildwick, to ring for a short time with our two youngest recruits.  Two ex-MiniRingers; one aged 11 and one who hasn’t quite reached that exalted age had just enough experience to ring (with assistance) among the rest of the band.
Welcome, Sydney and Georgia.  I hope it’s the start of a lifetime of ringing!

During a fabulous day on 5th, somthing just short of 50 folk braved the winding stairs to marvel at our magnificent clock and be amazed at our awesome bells.
The tours were headed up by our younger ringers whose knowledge, leadership and enthusiasm made many of our visitors (as well as the adult ringers) stand back in amazement.

Stationed at the bottom of the stairs, I don’t think I saw a single person emerge without a smile on their lips!

And it’s not all over yet!  On Thursday this week (15th May) we are holding an open practice where we will welcome anyone who wants actually to have a go at pulling the big bells.  Just turn up – and we’ll fit you in!  (Unless there’s an unmanageable crowd, when we’ll have to think of a Plan.  But I don’t expect that!)

We’re excited to be celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day!

We  are going to open the tower for visitors on the Bank Holiday (Monday 5th May) – you can climb the stairs and see the bells and watch the clock that make such a significant contribution to the soundscape of an English village.
There’s lots more!

During the day you’ll find Craft Stalls in the Church, a demonstration of bell ringing, children’s 1940s games, live 1940s music, 1940s-style cake, sweets & pop stall.
Bring your picnic blanket, dress the part, and enjoy a truly nostalgic community day.

In the evening there will be a special 1940s Supper in the Kildwick Parish Rooms with a themed menu, music and dancing.  Tickets from Coffee and Crumbs.

You’ll find more details of the day on our VE-80 Page as they are finalised.

On VE Day itself (Thursday 8th May), we will be joining bell towers all across the country as they ring out at 6:30pm to celebrate the ending of the war.  Provided the weather is suitable, we will hold the doors open so that you can watch as the band swing a total of three tons of metal in a dizzying arc, all timed to a fraction of a second.

We’re excited to welcome Sydney who has started to learn our ancient and traditional skill of bell ringing.

Sydney is quite small at the moment (she’ll grow!) so most of her learning for now is on our small “Wombel” simulator but she is already controlling that very satisfactorily.  Once comfortable with that, she’ll graduate to one of our smaller “big bells”.

If you fancy learning this historic art, come along on a Thursday evening and suss us out.

Tower Captain Chris has retired

Back in 2016, the small band of ringers decided to leave.  Chris alone was left and, with a lot of help, particularly from Jane and David, a new team was recruited and taught.  We hoped that the fact that we (nearly) began on April Fool’s Day wasn’t a harbinger of doom!

Nine years later, and the band is still ringing, still learning, still growing.  Some ringers have come and gone, but a core of people, young and old have grown to a state where it’s not only possible for Chris to hang up his Captain’s Hat – but it is important for the growth of the band that he does so.

At this year’s AGM, Gill Berry was elected Tower Captain and Ed Askew has taken on the role of Ringing Master, while Theresa Clark continues as Tower Secretary.  Chris isn’t disappearing into the sunset – and will continue to act as Treasurer as well as helping with some of the teaching.

It’s exciting to be entering a new era for the Kildwick Ringers!

St Andrew’s Church is closed throughout July and August while the roof is repaired.  There will be no ringing!
In addition, if you tried ringing just now, you would hear little apart from the clatter of the ropes because the bells have no clappers – they are on their way to the bellhanger for refurbishment.

(Fun Fact:  All together, the eight clappers weigh almost exactly the same as I do – just under 100kg.)

During July and August, the Kildwick band are delighted and grateful that the people of St Andrew’s, Keighley have welcomed us – so come along at 7:30pm.

(If you’ve not been before, be sure to notice the amazing peal boards, some carved in stone!)

This Thursday (9th May) is Ascension Day and there is a service in church.
There will, therefore, be no practice that night

(The Parish Annual Meeting is on Thursday 23rd.  Depending on just who is available, it is possible we’ll need to cancel the practice that day)

From 1st July, the church will be closed for two months for roof repairs.  There will be no ringing until the beginning of September