KYR Sessions:
Sat 29th November am at Barming: 7 MINI-Ringers who rang a variety of “exercises”, including Twinkle Twinkle, culminating in rounds on 6 together by the end of the morning: a very enthusiastic session
Sat 29th November pm at Marden : 9 YR ringing rounds and CC, Plain Hunt and Plain Bob Triples under the spooky gaze of their resident robed “mannequin”!
Monday 29th December: Outing to East Sutton, Linton and Maidstone All Saints, ending with Pizza at Wildwood Maidstone. This was a very successful outing despite a number of “key” youngsters away. A total of 8 under 18s and 5 over 18s (YR) participated. Ringing at Maidstone was a highlight with Lexie (13 yrs), Jen and Helen ringing the tenor. We finished off joyfully with Stedman Caters.
2026:
Sat 24th January:
Not enough MINI-Ringers available am, so we rang a quarter peal for James Carter (11 years) of Ospringe at Otham. This was his 3rd quarter peal.
KYR met at Aylesford in the afternoon: 10 YR rang the “usual fare” and we welcomed Tristan and Charlie from Benenden
Sat 7th February: Triples Practice with 5 YR; a good practice although numbers were depleted by illness and birthdays!
Two YR from Swanscombe attended the M1 ART course at Ash and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Monday 16th February: 5 youngsters turned up for an extra practice, concentrating on striking in Plain Hunt, dodging, Plain Bob Triples (plain courses and a touch) and Call Changes. We are considering our options for ringing in SEECON and RWNYC
Thursday 19th February: 10/12- bell workshop at Benenden followed by a quarter peal of Grandsire Caters with 3 U18s.
We had a bit of excitement right at the start! 12 bells pulled off in rounds at the handstroke, but only 11 bells rang the backstroke rounds: the ringer of the 11th was a bit taken aback when his bell set beautifully at the backstroke and he found himself with the tail end in his hand!! The rope then flailed dramatically around the ringing room after the bell was tipped off the balance to ring down. We all kept a VERY safe distance! Once a new rope had been fitted we were able to continue with a rather shortened 12-bell session. We did ring some very creditable rounds and changes and followed this with a good quarter; the first on 10 for the ringers of 2 and 10 and the first inside for the 5👏👏👏.
Plans are in full swing for the KYR Inter-District Striking Contest on Sat 7th March at Kingsnorth. Each of 5(?) teams will ring their test piece at Kingsnorth and will also ring at Kennington, Willesborough and St Mary’s Ashford.
SEECON 2026 will be based at New Arlesford in Hampshire in April.
A University Ringers’ website has been launched: do have a look., especially if you are expecting to go to university or other post-18 education or placements in the next year or two. universityringing.org
A similar website for U18s is under construction. Let me know, please, if you have any suggestions for content.
The Dorothy L Sayers Society has announced the Dorothy L Sayers Award for a young person under the age of 18 who has shown leadership and dedication within the bellringing community. See the CCCBR website cccbr.org.uk for more details.