đ We did it! Not only did we ring all 44 full-circle towers but we also rang four chiming towers too – beating our target. Over 245 bells rang out across Cary Branch. Over 100 ringers raced across the branch showing that ringing is alive and well in Cary Branch!
It was a fantastic day to celebrate our bells, ringers, and all that’s good in our communities. đĽł
We were covered on the BBC Somerset website, our ringing appeared on that night’s BBC Points West evening news bulletin, and we were part of the BBC’s “The One Show” which hit prime time viewing on the preceding Friday night.
We had chimers aged <10, ringers in teens, twenties, and all the way through to 80+ . It's a rare activity that can bring so many people together. Indeed, we had ringers that took part from across the "border" in Mere, from Bristol, and all the way from Inverness!
Rev'd Guy Scott, the Master of the Association was also able to join us ringing at Ansford (on the oldest bell in the branch, c1350) and Castle Cary. He was able to present to Jenny Alderson of Castle Cary a framed certificate commemorating her 50 years of Association membership.
We were also able to wrap up the day with a successful quarter peal at South Cadbury to celebrate the event.
A big shout out to all the clergy, wardens, key keepers, and congregations who supported us on our way round – providing access, moral support, applause, cake, tea, and even prosecco (thank you All Saints, Castle Cary đ).
Finally, a huge thank you to all the ringers, bands, and leads who made it possible to sound out our incredible bells across our branch and communities đđđ
It was a ding dong of a day đđđđđđđ
