Bellringing at Holy Trinity Church Llandudno North Wales UK

December 25th. Christmas Day. An excellent turnout to ring for the Christmas Morning Eucharist. Ten ringers for eight bells. Thank you everyone, and especially our visitors, dad Colin, mum Michelle, daughter Eleanor and son Sam. Also good to see James back 'home' for the break.

The picture shows nine ringers, Linda who was the tenth, took the picture.

The handbell ringing team prior to entertaining members at a local group's Christmas lunch. The team has entertained several groups at such events in the run up to Christmas.

In October, David and Ruth Raggett set out to help with some development projects at a school in South Sudan. We are pleased to welcome them back after a successful trip.

Many thanks to David and Ruth for these photographs which show: Ruth and David preparing for the flight from Manchester airport; details of a water harvesting project which David helped to install; David up a ladder doing some of the work.

November. Following restoration of our handbells, we are very grateful to parishioner, Barbara Yates, who has made a new set of bags to put them in. Thank you Barbara.

The picture shows Barbara handing over the new bags to John Horsfield at the Parish Christmas Fair with ringers (l - r) Veronica Hopwood, Maureen Williams, Robin Marsh and Stan Whittaker.

October 27th. One of our ringers, David Raggett, together with his wife Ruth, left today with a group led by a local retired vicar, Rev. Peter Marshall, on a trip to Sudan. David, who is an engineer with an energy company, will assess some water projects there and be involved with some building work, and Ruth will assist teaching music at primary and nursery schools in south Sudan. The trip will last for two weeks.

October 26th. Members of the Hereford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers visited Holy Trinity and rang a splendid peal of 5088 Bristol Surprise Major in 2hrs 53mins. The group was led by Neil Bennett and it was good to welcome you all to Llandudno, and Holy Trinity in particular. We very much hope you enjoyed your visit to North Wales.

The band (l - r with the bell they rang), Michael Wilshaw (3), Roman Sadowski (4), Penny Salisbury (1), David Moore (in front 2), Dan Jones (behind 5), Chris Kippin (7), Gordon Birks (6), Rick Shallcross (Conductor 8).

October. We are now the proud possessors of a new set of Big Wilf's Mk 11 bell muffles. Thank you Wilf. We hope to use them for the first time on Remembrance Sunday.

September. We are very grateful for a very generous donation made by one of our handbell (and tower) ringers John Horsfield. The donation has enabled us to have fifteen of our handbells completely restored by Terry Jefferies of Mangotsfield (near Bristol). The bells look almost new and we commend the work done by Terry and express our considerable thanks.

John made the donation in memory of his late wife Enid, who was instrumental in setting up the handbell group when her illness prevented her ringing the tower bells. Thank you John.

John and the restored handbells

September. We are all saddened to hear of the sudden death of Ron Miers on 12 September. He was on a fishing holiday in Scotland. Ron was a Bangor ringer but regularly visited Holy Trinity to ring our bells, especially on the first Monday evening of each month. We shall miss him greatly.

His funeral will be on Monday 26 September at 12 noon, at the Church of St Cyngar, Llangefni.

Friday 19 ugust. Twin ringers, Ian and David from Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Wells, have been staying in Llandudno for a couple of weeks and have joined us several times to ring Holy Trinity's bells. We think that they are the first twins to ring our bells at the same time.

Sunday 5 June. This is St. Tudno's Day and instead of a service at Holy Trinity Church at 10.30 am there will be an open air Parish Eucharist at St. Tudno's Church on the Great Orme. There will not, therefore, be any bellringing at Holy Trinity Church on this morning. Any visitors will be very welcome at St. Tudno's church but as this has only one bell there will not be an opportunity for bellringing there!

Saturday 9 April. Choral Evensong and Presentation of the Archbishop of Wales' Awards for Church Music.

A quarter peal of 1280 changes of Plain Bob Major was rung in 47 minutes before the ceremony and service, by members of the North Wales Association of Church Bellringers. The ringers were Ron Miers, Kris Perruzza, Donald R Marshall, Chris Wheatley, Martin Brown, Tony Diserens, Jason M Walker, and the quarter was conducted by one of our own ringers David Raggett. Our thanks to all for ringing. This was the first time this event had not been held at one of the Welsh Cathedrals and was therefore a very special day for Llandudno and Holy Trinity in particular.

March Following the successful hosting of the North Wales Association and the number of visitors (ringing and non-ringing) who attended, I was reminded of the many visitors to our tower throughout the year.

Most weeks at our Friday practices or on Sunday mornings, we welcome someone and they are not always just from other parts of the UK. For instance below is a young Dutch visitor called Jesse (left) together with his mum Stephanie (far right) and some of our own ringers on a Friday evening. (Dad was taking the picture).

Visitors are always welcome to our tower to ring or to just see how 'it's done', and if after seeing 'how it's done' you would like to have a go, then that is even better. For more contact details, see above.

Saturday 12 March. Llandudno's Holy Trinity Church hosted an afternoon of ringing and the Annual General Meeting of the North Wales Association of Church Bell Ringers. The attendance was very encouraging and we like to think that is because it is known that 'Llandudno always puts on a good tea', as well as the quality of our bells and the desire to just visit "The Queen of Welsh Resorts".

In addition to the 30+ members who came, there were also visitors from further afield. Nigel and Geraldine from Godalming, Stuart from Tadcaster, and Dave from St Helens. It was good to see you all and apologies to anyone not mentioned.

Many thanks to members of our tower for making the arrangements and providing the refreshments.

Saturday 12 February. NWA (Gwynedd & West Clwyd) Branch ringing and AGM was held at St Thomas' Church, Rhyl. Five of our ringers attended and it was pleasing to see a good turnout from other towers too on a very pleasant afternoon all round.
The officials re-elected were:
Garry Peel (Bangor) - Ringing Master
Colin Birbeck (Bangor) - Secretary
Stan Whittaker (Llandudno) - Treasurer.