100th Peal at Staplehurst

The 100th peal was rung on Staplehurst bells on Saturday 18th April. This is a landmark for any tower but, to make it even more of an achievement, it was rung by the local band. On the right is a picture of the very happy ringers just minutes after the peal successfully came round.

Further details can be found on Bellboard.


Bearsted proves popular

It was pleasing to see 30 ringers at Bearsted for the Spring Quarterly Meeting on Saturday 11th April. This enabled us to have several successful attempts at both the special methods, St Simon's Bob Doubles and Surfleet Surprise Minor as well as plenty of call changes and some plain hunt.

At the business meeting we elected one new member to the Association and one returning member. Our thanks go to the Bearstead ringers for providing tea and cakes - quite a feast for mid-morning!


Wrotham ringing again

We are pleased to report that Wrotham bells are backing ringing again. Having joined neighbouring Ightham for practices in recent months the Wrotham ringers have decided to continue to have joint practices at Ightham on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays, and at Wrotham on the 2nd and 4th Mondays.


Congratulations Tom Barlow - new KCACR Vice-President.....

County AGMs come and go, but this year's was something special (apart of course from the fact that our District organised it!). Firstly the highlight of the day was the election of Tom Barlow as a Vice-president of the KCACR - an honour only bestowed in recognition of outstanding service to the Association. In a very moving moment the citation was read out by one of the youngest members of the Association, before retiring Chairman Mike Little presented Tom with his certificate to a standing ovation.

Pictured right is a rightly proud Tom showing off his certificate.


.....and Daniel Brady - new County Chairman

And it didn't end there. The new County Chairman is our own Daniel Brady who was elected by a majority vote. At 26 years of age Daniel is probably the youngest ever to chair the Association and, with some progressive ideas, we can look forward to some interesting times during his triennium. On the left is Daniel receiving his chain of office from outgoing chairman Mike Little.

A full report of the AGM will appear in the next issue of The Belfry which will be available shortly.

Staplehurst make it a Striking Competition double - again

After the success of the belated 2014 combined Striking Competitions it was rather disappointing that only two bands entered the 2015 Call Change section and two plus a scratch band the Method Section.

For the third successive year Staplehurst won both shields, with a combined Ightham/Wrotham band coming close runners-up in both. The latter also won the trophy for the band having the most ringers not having rung in a striking competition before. Pictured right are members of the winning bands showing off (from left to right) the Call Change shield, the Striking Competition shield and the "competition virgins" shield.

Full details will appear in the next issue of The Belfry.


District Practice at Barming a great success

The first District Practice of 2015 on Saturday, 14th February was a great success with 34 ringers experiencing the newly refurbished ring of six at Barming (not exactly the same 34 who went to Birling last month!). This enabled several successful attempts at both special methods - Beverley Surprise Minor and Winchendon Place Doubles - along with a variety of other methods from call changes upwards.

There was general agreement that the refurbishment has resulted in a vastly improved go of the bells and David Earl and the Barming ringers, along with bellhangers Whites of Appleton, are to be congratulated on a job well done.


New Year starts well at Birling

The winter Quarterly District Meeting is normally well attended and this year was no exception as 34 ringers came to the first event of 2015 at Birling on Saturday, 10th January, despite the late change in timing from morning to afternoon. We were able to ring both special methods, Grandsire Triples and Lincolnshire Surprise Major, as well as Kent, Stedman, Erin, Bristol, and of course plenty of Rounds and Call Changes and some Plain Hunt. At the brief Business Meeting four new members were elected to the Association, and their names will appear in the next issue of The Belfry. To see the draft minutes of the Meeting click here.

Our thanks to the Birling Ringers for the use of the bells and particularly to Sue Wallis who, almost singlehandedly, provided us with tea and biscuits.



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