On 15th August, the UK marks VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day), commemorating the end of World War II in 1945. As part of the nationwide remembrance, bellringers are encouraged to ring at their local tower, beginning at 6:30pm, to honour those who served and sacrificed in the Far East. This symbolic act of bell ringing echoes the celebrations that swept the nation 80
years ago and offers a moment of reflection and gratitude for peace restored. Further information on VJ day and other celebrations planned can be found on the website https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk
Some ringers have questioned why the 80 th anniversary is being marked; the main reasons are that the 75 th anniversary was very subdued as it occurred during covid times and there are now only a small number of veterans still remaining alive.
The annual liaison meeting with Ecclesiastical has recently taken place; they provide insurance cover for the majority of churches in England. There are two new claims being dealt with, one from injury when a ringer was being taught and the other for damage to a bell wheel. One thing they cannot do is get involved in disputes between ringers, the church and other organisations. Ecclesiastical Insurance continues to operate its Risk Advice Line, available to church members, to field queries about risk management. Providing the church policy number can be quoted, a call back by a surveyor will be arranged to offer advice and support.
At their last meeting the Executive discussed a number of challenges and expectations around the hoped for increase in new ringers as is outlined in Ringing 2030. There needs to be a clear understanding about what is deliverable and infrastructure support rather than concentrating on exact numbers. It was highlighted the importance of grassroots level efforts and noted that while ambitious targets are possible with increased recruitment and retention, there are resource and funding challenges; including the need for paid support staff for the Central Council.
In addition discussion took place on the development of a forward plan for 2026, building on the Ringing 2030 business plan. It was agreed to focus on detailed planning for the next two years, with a summary of longer-term goals beyond 2026.There was a proposal to update the existing business plan and working with workgroup leads to outline specific goals for 2026. The Executive also discussed the need for visual representations of progress towards 2030 goals and considered including the forward plan in their annual report.
Don’t forget that the Central Council publications’ team produce a wide range of titles to support ringers as they progress with their new hobby. These can be found using the following link. https://shop.cccbr.org.uk/
David Kirkcaldy
