Bellringing at Holy Trinity Church Llandudno North Wales UK

News and information 2010

Tuesday 23 November. One of our older former ringers, John Grocott (85, died peacefully in hospital. He rang in the tower in the late 80s, 90s and early 2000s together with his daughter Janet. We extend our condolences to Janet and the family.

Funeral at St Trillo's Parish Church, Rhos on Sea on Friday 3 December 2010 at 11am.

Saturday 20 November. The handell ringers performed at the Parish Christmas Fair, playing a selection of Christmas carols and songs.

Sunday 14 November. Remembrance Sunday. The bells were rung half muffled prior to the Civic Remembrance Service held as usual at Holy Trinity. Photographs of the parade after the service can be seen on the Holy Trinity Events 2010 page.

Saturday 13 November. We welcomed visiting ringers on a mini tour of North Wales towers arranged by Ben Gooch. Eight members rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples on the half muffled bells - they were Pat Phipps, Julian Lees, Phil Butler, Rosemary A Maddocks, Morley Bray,Roderick K Bickerton, Gerald V Skelly (C), and Mervyn A Arscott.

Friday 12 November. Following the funeral of Brian Blythe earlier in the day at Eglwsbach, a quarter peal of Plain Bob Doubles was rung half muffled at Holy Trinity. We were pleased that Brian's wife Betty and other members of the family were able to be present.

Back row lest to right: Jason M Walker, David Raggett (C), Stan Whittaker, Christopher Wheatley.
Front row left to right: Ellen Jenkins, Brian's wife Betty, and Lynne Ferriday.

Wednesday 3 November. We were saddened to hear of the death today of one of our former ringers, Brian Blythe. Brian suffered a stroke nearly four years ago and had not been able to ring since.

Our sympathy and condolences to his wife Betty and the family.

Sunday 31 October. The St Mary's Church, Tadcaster, bellringers visited North Wales this weekend and concluded their visit by ringing our bells prior to Evensong. We hope you all had a pleasant time in North Wales and especially in Llandudno where there will always be a warm welcome if you would like to come again. Good to have three members of the Raggett family with us, one of whom (David) is one of our own regular ringers.

Sunday 3 October. Members of the HSBC Guild of Ringers led by Richard Danby, rang our bells before the morning service. Some 26 members had visited North Wales for the weekend and rung at other towers across the region.

It was a pleasure to see you all and we hope you enjoyed your visit to North Wales and Llandudno in particular (despite the rain). It's a good job that bellringing is an indoor activity and not affected by the weather unlike the Ryder Cup!

Please feel free to come and visit us again in the future.

Members of the HSBC Guild of Ringers at Holy Trinity Church

Bell ringing at a Friday practice during September.

Saturday 11 September. A team from Holy Trinity competed in the North Wales Association Striking Competition held at Hope. The winning band was Welshpool and they go on to represent North Wales in the All Wales Competition later this month. As for Holy Trinity, we will try again next year and hopefully improve upon our performance.

Wednesday 18 August. A group of visiting ringers rang a quarter peal of 1250 Yorkshire Surprise Major in 46 minutes after the funeral of James Todd (aged 21).

The ringers were: 1. Denise Hughes, 2. Greg Morris, 3. Christopher Hughes, 4. Christine Broadley, 5. Clive R Calton, 6. David N Collins, 7. Raymond H Daw (C), 8. Matthew J Jones.

"Only the bell ringers are at home!"

This photograph was kindly sent to us by a Dutch visitor who came to see the bells being rung on a Friday evening practice during August.

Friday 25 June. We were all very saddened to hear of the death of Alison Greenhalgh, a member of Bangor's tower and who lived in Colwyn Bay. We extend our condolences and sympathy to her husband Paul and family. Alison was until the last 12 months or so a regular visitor to our tower especially the first Monday monthly gatherings.

Saturday 5th June. A visit by members of the Open University Society of Change Ringers was arranged by Denise Hughes. It was a pleasure to see you, and we hope you all enjoyed your visit to North Wales and Llandudno in particular.

Sunday 30th May. A quarter peal of 1320 Cambridge Surprise Minor was rung for evensong, by members of the North Wales Association (including our own David Raggett who also conducted). The ringers were:- 1. Ron Miers, 2 Jason M Walker, 3 Tony Diserens, 4 Chris Wheatley, 5 Martin J Brown, 6 David Raggett (C). The quarter peal was rung for the Patronal Festival of Trinity Sunday and in memory of David Banks.

Saturday 29th May. The Branch Striking Competition was held at Holy Trinity. The competition was won by Bangor with the two Llandudno teams coming 3rd and 4th. The Llandudno teams comprised: David Raggett, Stan Whittaker, Becky Anderson, Lynn Ferriday, Elizabeth Curtis, Gillian Blackwell, Robin Marsh, Neil Kirkham, John Horsfield and Adam Wilson.

April: One of our ringers, Sue Calvert ran the London Marathon and raised nearly £600 for MacMillan Cancer Support - well done Sue.

Monday 15th February. A quarter peal of 1296 Cambridge Surprise Minor was rung in 46 minutes to mark the commissioning on this day of the Rector of Llandudno, the Rev. Prebendary John Nice, as Area Dean of Arllechwedd.

The ringers were;- 1. Elizabeth Curtis, 2 Chris Wheatley, 3. Martin J Brown, 4. Jason M Walker, 5. Antony P Diserens, 6. Garry Peal (C). (1st in method 1)

Friday 5th February. Funeral of our friend and ringer Peter Goodwin. The bells were rung open before and after the service. In the evening a quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Doubles was rung as a tribute to Peter.

Back row l-r. Garry Peel, Chris Wheatley, Peter's wife Pauline, Elizabeth Curtis, Lynn Ferriday
Front row l-r. Jason Walker, John Horsfield (who pronounced the eulogy earlier) and Stan Whittaker.

27 January. A sad day - one of our ringers Peter Goodwin died last night at Ysbyty Gwynedd. He rang with us just on New Year's Day and is on the photograph below (1 January).

Saturday 16th January. Members of the North Wales Association successfully rang a peal of 5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major (Composer Arthur Craven) in 2hrs 49mins.

Bellringers from the North Wales Association

Ringers were:- (back row l-r) Tim D Hollinghurst, Kristoffer O Perruzza, Geoffrey Parting, Jason M Walker.
(front row l-r) Duncan L C Hyde (C), Garry Peel, David Raggett, and Martin J Brown.

January 3rd. We had conveyed greetings and best wishes prior to Christmas, to our bellringing friends in Harare, and happily we have had a response reciprocating.

Sadly it seems they are no nearer to ringing their bells again and in fact the current position is probably worse than it had been as they have been 'locked out' of their churches. Services are being held in alternative venues and even 'in the road'. The only other ring of bells in Zimbabwe at Kwekwe is also out of action because of a crack in the tower. That church is very poor and is in no position to carry out repairs. There is also 80% unemployment now too.

Our contact, Ruth Hutchinson who is the Harare Cathedral tower captain, will in the near future resign her position and after 30 years in the country, will return to Britain. We wish her well.

Friday 1st January. The New Year was rung in at 12 noon on this day,

Back row (l - r) Stan Whittaker, Gillian Blackwell, Peter Goodwin
Front row (l - r) Linda Fraser, Ellen Jenkins, Elizabeth Curtis.