Southampton University Guild of Change Ringers

The Southampton University Guild of Change Ringers is a society and charity supporting the bell ringers and rings of bells in the Diocese of Winchester who practice the art of change ringing. The Guild was established in 1955 as part of the University of Southampton, enabling students and staff of the university to do more bellringing.

Southampton University Guild of Change Ringers
Emblem of the Guild
AbbreviationSUGCR
Formation1955
TypeBell Ringing Organisation
PurposePromotion of Change Ringing
Region
 Hampshire
President
Noel Gibbin
Master
Joshua Watkins
Vice Master
Luke Brooke
Secretary
Charles Southcott
Affiliations
Websitesugcr.susu.org

Operations

Ringing

During the academic year the Guild practices once a week in the evening and performs at a Sunday service at one of the churches listed below. Each session the Guild used a different Tower, all are located in the Southampton region.

Peals

Annually the Guild performs two Peals at least, this however greatly dependent on numbers and availability. One of the Peals is usually performed in Southampton before attending the Annual Dinner.

Towers
Region Church Bells (tenor weight) Reference
Bitterne Park Church of the Ascension 12 (8-1-13) [1]
Southampton St Barnabas 6 (2-3-2) [2]
Southampton (City Centre) St Mary's 10 (21-2-8) [3]
Swaythling St Mary's Mini Ring [4]
North Stoneham St Nicolas's 10 (10-1-16) [5]
Southampton (City Centre) St Michael's 10 (16-1-15) [6]

Tours

The Guild hosts and take part in many different events throughout the year. Internally the guild hosts a "Freshers Tour" during Michaelmas, followed by a Spring Tour and lastly a Summer Tour. The first tour is usually done within a neighbouring Diocese, usually with each later tour traveling further afield.

Dinner

Annually the Guild hosts the Annual Dinner, which is attended by current members, past members, life members, members of the clergy and guests. This event is hosted each year on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. During the Dinner the Founders Cup is awarded to a member of the Guild at the Master's discretion.

Membership

The Guild members are divided into five classes. They are as follows:

  • Life Member, Southampton University Alumni
  • Honorary Member, granted by the discretion of the Master to anyone who has contributed significantly to the Guild.
  • Current Member, Southampton University student or staff
  • Associate Member
  • Past Member, Southampton University Alumni

Committee

The Guild is controlled by a democratically elected committee. The committee is elected at the AGM of the Guild, hosted annually on the day after Ash Wednesday. The committee is composed of a Master, Vice Master, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Secretary. The role is kept by the officer for a period of one year.

Alongside these roles there are honorary positions for past and life members. Firstly, every three years an Honorary President is elected by the Guild, this role is usually given exclusively to past Masters of the Guild. The Guild also have the power to elect an Honorary Vice-presidents for persons deemed worthy of this distinction, however this position is not currently exercised.

See also

References
  1. https://www.ascensionsouthampton.co.uk/
  2. "St Barnabas Church, Southampton".
  3. https://saintmaryschurch.org/
  4. https://www.swaythlingparish.org.uk/
  5. http://nsab.org.uk/
  6. "Welcome to St Michael's Church - Parish of St Michael the Archangel, Southampton".
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