Whetstone Bellringers

24/08/2026

Well done do our local visitors for their QP on Friday.

1280 Spliced Surprise Major (7m) rung at Whetstone (St Peter), Leicestershire

19/08/2026

Tonight practice was boosted with a visit by friends made through ART (ringing teachers), RWNYC (youth contest), and Ladies Guild. As ringers we make lots of friends! 🤝🔔🥤🍺

19/08/2026

We skipped last week for the eclipse, some of us went to Spain for the totality.. worth it! Photo credit M. Catherall (junior ringer)

05/08/2026

Another busy practice this week, much more sensible temperatures at 22C with a breeze coming in the window 🍃💚

Please note that there will be NO PRACTICE NEXT WEEK (Wednesday 12th August) as everyone tries to find a good West facing view to catch a glimpse of the Eclipse! ☀️🌙⚫️

Anyone planning jaffa cakes for the occasion? (Not sponsored, other treats are also good, but some of us older folk have a funny memory about jaffa cakes and eclipses!)

Happy and safe sky watching!

The solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 is the deepest seen from the UK since 1999, with up to 96% of the Sun covered. Times, safety and what to expect.

28/07/2026

Just next door really, and some beautiful displays. Our favourite is the Giraffe

23/07/2026

"July fortnight"* practice nights can go one of two ways, barely enough to ring or bustling and lively.

Delightfully we had a busy bustling practice last night, with 17 ringers! Ranging from 9yo to later 70s in age, 6 were under 18 (ringing with parents or grandparents).

It is nice to be such a community hobby that all ages can be included. It was also lovely to have the bonus visitors from our neighbouring towers making the most of summer holiday schedules.

Lots of Plain Bob Doubles as several people are at various stages of mastering that, bit of Grandsire doubles, lots of rounds on 8, plain hunt 5 AND 7 (less familiar for some), a few call changes and even a course of Stedman Doubles. Busy!

Enjoy this lovely picture of the sun peeking through the "window" in the bell chamber behind our biggest tenor bell from last week

* for those not in Leicestershire, it the the early school finish, traditional factory close, holiday season.

15/07/2026

Well if your life just got less busy with England getting knocked out of the world cup, drop us a line as we might be able to introduce you to a new fun hobby...

The wonderful Tom Scott (known to many from YouTube) has had a go at ringing, if the non-ringers who follow us are curious here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGia1R3xacM&t=154s

Tom here had a mere hour of tuition before attempting to ring with others which is a bold ambition! Typically we would not push someone that hard but for a video he can't be taking several lessons to film.

09/07/2026

Those of us who look after the tower are quite chipper tonight after our new friend Jeremy put in the rebuilt power supply circuit control, that charges the batteries, that power the motors, that winds the clock.

All rest to the right time (within 15s!) and chiming the right hour.

We will be wanting to know if it glitches again in the next couple of weeks so those of you living nearby please do reply in the comments if you notice anything funny.

🤞🔔⚡️🕑🔋

08/07/2026

Due to the heat we will be skipping ringing again tonight. Some discussion as to whether or not we gather in the pub garden so irregular visitors thinking about coming please message Sarah

Behind the scenes we've been having some hopeful conversations about the clock winding motors... more soon if ago goes well.

07/07/2026

Many congratulations to our young ringers who were with the rest of the Foundry Foxes team on Saturday (Leicestershire's youth ringing) in the RW National Youth Contest. They got silver in their category (8 Bell advanced call changes).
💪🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔💪