Youth Officer Report 2024 for Handbook 2025
We have a very exciting group of youngsters who are gaining oodles of ringing experience in the Association. Approximately 55 under 18’s and 12/15 18 – 24’s ring regularly in their own towers. A good number come regularly to the practices arranged specifically for our MINI-Ringers and Young Ringers, when exams and other activities allow. We now also have a monthly dedicated Triples Practice.
A number of youngsters have rung quarter peals and Oscar finished off the year with his first peal: Plain Bob Major.
Young Ringers in the Tonbridge District rang for a wedding and for a funeral.
In 2024 we entered teams in three contests as well as our Kent Young Ringers’ Inter-District Contest. The team from the Ashford District was thrilled to regain the trophy. In April we travelled to Hertfordshire to participate in the South East Contest; in July we participated in the RWNYC in London and in September we were again able to field a team in the Kent County Association Call Change Contest. Our youngsters really did justice to themselves, being especially pleased with being placed 3rd in the national contest in London.
This year 3 of our young ringers starred in one of Cathy Booth’s “Fun with Bells” Podcast; Jen, Neil and Steph Runting featured as leaders of the KYR two months later.
Happy ringing!
Jennifer Thomas