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In 2024 the Peterborough Diocesan Guild will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its creation.
During the year a number of events are being planned, there will be some aims and challenges for members to aspire to, and merchandise for sale.
The events are taking place one in each month, and usually on the second weekend, mostly Saturdays. The full list of events are:
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| Date | Location | Event | |
| Sunday 14th January 2024 | Peterborough Cathedral | Guild Choral Evensong | |
| Saturday 10th February 2024 | Moulton Village Hall | Social Event | |
| Saturday 9th March 2024 | Nene Valley around Thrapston and Oundle | Nene Valley Challenge | |
| Saturday 13th April 2024 | Guilsborough Branch | Spring Festival | |
| Saturday 11th May 2024 | Across the Guild | Guild Open Day | |
| Saturday 8th June 2024 | Northampton | Guild AGM Day | |
| Saturday 13th July 2024 | Stanwick Lakes | Day Out | |
| Saturday 10th August 2024 | Rutland | Tour and Picnic | |
| Saturday 14th September 2024 | Daventry | Summer Festival | |
| Saturday 12th October 2024 | Kettering Park Hotel | Guild Centenary Dinner | |
| Saturday 9th November 2024 | Syresham Village Hall | Quiz Night and Fish & Chip Supper | |
| Saturday 28th December 2024 | Towcester | Carol Service |
Here is more information about each event:
| Sunday 14th January : Guild Choral Evensong Following ringing, we will be joining the 3:30 Choral Evensong at Peterborough Cathedral which will incorporate hymns related to bellringing and the lesson will be read by one of our members. Afterwards there will be a reception in the South Transept where tea and cake will be served. Pre-ordered anniversary clothing will be available for collection. This event will be open to all. An idea of numbers will be appreciated for catering purposes, and the production of a souvenir service book, so please express interest. For more information, and to register interest for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 10th February : Social Event An evening social will be held at Moulton Village Hall. There will a barn dance led by a live band – Kelly’s Eye – and a separate room set aside for a less physical activity e.g., a beetle drive. A ploughman’s supper will be provided. There will be a bar available. Tickets will need to be purchased in advance. For more information, and to book for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 9th March : Nene Valley Challenge This will be a fun mini outing/tower grab with space for many ringers of all abilities. Held in the morning, it will culminate in a ringers’ lunch with hot drinks at Thrapston. Please note that this event is also suited to less experienced ringers (who may like to bring along a mentor). The Challenge: Ringers may have aspirations, they want to challenge themselves a little. Could you ring plain bob or call changes on different rings of bells on the same day? Or would you just like to confidently ring at three different towers without assistance? Come along to the Nene Valley and get a certificate to prove that you can…. Participants should register in advance with their personal challenge so that they can be assigned to a particular route, and to allow assessors in each tower to have a list of who to expect. Bookings for lunch will also be required. For more information, and to book for the lunch, please contact |
| Saturday 13th April : Spring Festival This is one of the regular Guild events where as well as the Spring Meeting there is the 6-bell striking competition for the Weaver Trophy. For 2024 a new trophy is being commissioned for those bands who ring call changes to be called the Centenary Trophy. There will therefore be two trophies to aim for, one for method ringing and one for call changes. For more information please contact |
| Saturday 11th May : Guild Open Day Around 30 towers across the Guild will be open for a set period during the day to allow ringers from within and outside of the Guild to ring. Each tower will have a steward to collect ringing fees and an experienced ringer to supervise the ringing. Day tickets will be available in advance and at the first three towers of the day. There will be several opportunities to stop for refreshments and buy anniversary merchandise during the day. For more information, and to buy advance tickets, please contact |
| Saturday 8th June : Guild AGM Day This is one of the annual Guild events. To mark the centenary, all towers in Northampton Town Centre will be open, with a service at All Saints. A professional photographer will be present to take large group photographs to mark the occasion. For more information, and to register interest for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 13th July : Day Out This is a totally new venture for the Guild. We will be at the popular Stanwick Lakes - a 750-acre nature reserve and countryside attraction. We will have a mini-ring sounding out from time-to-time across the park, with handbells and the Wombell for members of the public to have a go at ringing and ringing themed activities. Branches will be asked to fill a time slot during the day when they will provide the personnel to demonstrate bellringing. Whilst this is an excellent publicity opportunity, we also hope that members of the Guild will take the chance to come and enjoy a day out at this location. For more information, and to register interest for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 10th August : Tour and Picnic Centered on the scenic location of Rutland Water, a ringing tour will be arranged around Rutland Water, starting with a tower in the morning, then a pub lunch. More ringing in the afternoon and finishing at one of the tourist sites on the banks of Rutland Water where ringers can enjoy their own picnic tea with other Guild members. Numbers will be needed to set a fee for the tower donations, and lunches will need to be booked in advance. For more information, and to book for the lunch, please contact |
| Saturday 14th September : Summer Festival An annual Guild event, this year held in the Daventry Branch. The intention is to hold a ten-bell practice in the morning before joining together in the afternoon for the inter-branch 8-bell striking competition for the Harry Wooding Memorial Trophy. For more information please contact |
| Saturday 12th October : Guild Centenary Dinner This will take place at the Kettering Park Spa Hotel, close to the A14 on the outskirts of Kettering. A formal dinner, with speeches and entertainment, it will be a wonderful chance to spend the evening in good company, enjoying good food and mark the occasion. A professional photographer will be on hand to create a visual record of Guild members in their finery. Tickets will need to be purchased in advance. For more information, and to book tickets for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 9th November : Quiz Night and Fish & Chip Supper The wonderful Syresham Village Hall has been booked for an evening of friendly rivalry. It is hoped that each branch will enter at least one team, although scratch teams can be made up on the night as well. Eight rounds of questions (so we don’t end too late), including an interval round during which fish & chip suppers will be delivered. A trophy and other prizes will be awarded to the winning team. Booking and pre-ordering of your supper will be essential. For more information, and to book tickets for the event, please contact |
| Saturday 28th December : Carol Service To avoid the busy pre-Christmas period, the last Saturday of the year has been chosen for the final event of our centenary year – a Carol Service to be held at Towcester Church with tea and cake served afterwards. An idea of numbers will be required for catering purposes. For more information, and to register interest for the event, please contact |
