Bellringers

The Buckland Newton Bellringing

Team (together with those at

Mappowder) are affiliated to the

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers.

We welcome new recruits to the

Bellringing Team - please contact the

Tower Captain, Nick Baker on 01300

345386.

Restoration of the Church Bells

Restoration of the bells and mechanisms, which has taken in total some six years, is now complete; they are back in situ, ringing and sound truly amazing. Looking on from the side lines, the restoration of the Buckland Newton church bells has taken hours and hours of mental and physical effort in some shape or form. After endless paperwork, submissions and discussions — and finally permissions, the bells were taken down from the church tower in January 2012, handed over to the bell hangers (Nicholson Engineering) in Bridport, retuned, refurbished and finally returned to the bell ringing chamber for everyone to enjoy. There were of course the unexpected hiccups on the way, like the extra requirement for a sound proofed ceiling and essential welding of the third bell in Newmarket, so that it did not break in use. All the problems were overcome, thanks to the willing and hardworking team who wanted to ensure that the project would succeed to benefit the village with a harmonious new sound. This now means that the bells will be up to scratch and available for use by our local and visiting ringing teams until the next major overhaul in 2100! The local team (Nick, Chris, Andy, John, and Jane accompanied by Sue who was visiting the village) gave the bells a test ring on Saturday 9th June. Jonathan rededicated the bells after the morning service the next day and the congregation listened to the peal outside in the inclement June weather. A special thank you to everyone who has voluntarily given their time, energy, expertise and patience — it would not have happened without you. Those who enjoy the bells are indebted to you and it is certain that Grace Hunt would have taken great pride in the outcome, being such a dedicated bell ringer. Thank you also to the local team who ring regularly — happy ringing and may you encourage lots of new enthusiasts! It may be of interest therefore to know who actually rings the bells. The leading light is Nick Baker, the Tower Captain. Nick has been ringing for 20 years, since he was 11. Bridget, his mother, introduced him to the team and he has enjoyed bell ringing ever since.  He is currently Assistant Ringing Master of the Dorset County Association of Bellringers, a committee member of Bradpole Ringing Centre and Steeple Keeper of Sherborne Abbey. Bradpole is one of the centres specialising in teaching, including the use of a simulator, to introduce new ringers and improve the standards of teams across the county.  Nick is one of a very select group of experienced ringers in Dorset who practice the 'surprise' methods of change ringing, the most advanced. If you didn't know it is "a treble bob method in which an internal place is made every time the treble is going from one dodge to another."  Nick rings generally between 4 and 6 days every week. He thoroughly enjoys the very sociable company and says the friends he makes is what it is all about.  He is also very keen on training and helping new team members. He never has been a churchgoer and cheerfully admits he would be just as happy if the bell tower was in the middle of a field! Practices are held on Wednesdays at Buckland Newton church, except for the first Wednesday of the month at Map-powder. If you have been a bell ringer and are interested in joining us or would like to learn, please give Nick a ring on 01300 345386 to arrange to join us on a Wednesday evening. You would be very welcome. For some more background on the bellringing team, click here.