Vice president : June Wright - 0115 9373851 - JLWR@TALKTALK.NET
Secretary : Rosemary Mason - 0116 274 1074 - rosieandkingsley@yahoo.com
Treasurer : Val Webb - 01777 719220
Forthcoming events.
Further meetings to be finalisedWATCH THIS SPACE.
All are welcome - our members are from all age groups.
Rosie Mason
Secretary
A Surprise for a VERY SPECIAL MEMBER Jill Staniforth
By Val Webb Treasurer East Midlands Branch of the Ladies GuildWith additions by Rosie Mason - Secretary.
During my covert, convoluting, complex and very long cloak and dagger conversations with the committee members of the East Midlands Branch of the Ladies Guild of Change Ringers some very interesting facts came to light. Mrs. Jill Staniforth made a fatal mistake she gave me information about herself. I committed this to memory and after a small amount of further research can utilize these seemingly innocent comments. Jill is a past President our the Guild and on 20th May 1961 she conducted the Ladies Guild`s first peal of royal at the church of St. John the Divine Leicester the method being Cambridge. Jill also told me with her customary good humour, that she was the first lady to ring at St.Paul`s Cathedral she knows this to a fact as she rang the treble, thus starting first and finishing first !
Despite her high achievements Jill also told me that she is just as happy to ring rounds and call changes with those who are learners in our art as she is conducting the more advanced methods. This a sign of a true ringer.
Jill is a Life Member of the Ladies Guild of Change Ringers and represented us on the Central Council of Church Bellringers for at least 27 years. Initially this was a Miss Jill Poole and latterly as she is today; Mrs. Jill Staniforth.
However the most interesting fact to come to light is that in 1947 (exactly 60 years ago) Miss Jill Poole was the secretary of the Midlands Branch of the Ladies Guild. It is to her great pride that her daughter Rosemary is now the secretary of the branch which has succeeded the old Midland branch and that is us the East Midlands branch.
All of this came to Jill as a great surprise, a lady who is still ringing and eager to support all aspects of the exercise.
Photos supplied by Rosemary Mason
East Midlands Branch
We have had an enjoyable year 2006 -7, visiting four counties Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire with 11 towers being graced with our ringing. One of our meetings was held at Oadby Ringing centre in Leicestershire.
Members had a morning session on listening to faults as a judge relating to striking and also ringing on the simulator in the belfry. All those attending felt that they were now much more aware of listening to their striking and their own bell. This proved very popular and we are hoping to return.
Our meetings have been well supported by members, those in the areas arranging the towers to the secretary and also involving the members in arranging meetings.
Our ADM this year was held in Lincolnshire, a county that we hadn`t previously visited, the meeting being well supported and the weather being very kind. One of the towers in a field requiring a torch to be able to see up the stairs to the belfry.
We have had a special presentation to a member Jill Staniforth (see pictures above)- it was 60 years since she became the branch secretary in 1947. Jill Staniforth was presented with a gift from the branch to mark the special event. Sixty years ago Jill was secretary to the Ladies Guild Midlands district ... here we are 60 years later, she is still a member and giving full support to the guild and the ringing exercise.
We are proud of all our members and their enthusiasm for the guild. We have our forthcoming events planned for 2008 and so we are looking forward to an enjoyable ringing year, with the addition of new towers.