Chair's Chat July 2025

Dear Ringers,

As I sit here watching the wildlife in my garden (and the black clouds gathering overhead!), I am grateful that it is not quote as hot as it was earlier this month. I am also grateful for those of you who attended our recent rallies and workshops. Although we, unfortunately, had to cancel the workshop about setting up a new youth team, this is a very rare occurrence in our region. We are very lucky to have an active membership in the South East Region who enjoy attending events – some willingly travelling long distances and even making a weekend of it!

You will see from the diary at end of the newsletter (we put it there, so it is easy to find!) that we have events planned across the region – from Downton (New Forest) to Headcorn, and Newbury to Sanderstead. You will also note that our Birthday Rally in January 2026 is again being held at Charter’s School in Sunningdale and hosted by Winkfield St Mary’s. We have been holding the rally here since we restarted events, and despite a few teams coming forward to saying that they were interested in hosting the event, no-one has found a venue or agreed to host this rally.

Back in the February newsletter, I gave a little history of the Birthday Rally. We are, I believe, the only region to run an event each year which is completely free for members to attend, and it would be a shame if we cannot find a different venue in order to host the event in 2027! I will repeat what I said in that newsletter – “As a team you can run the whole event, or just find the venue, or anything in between, and the committee will help with anything that is needed such as putting together the form, choosing music, finding conductors, doing the catering. We are happy to work with you to run a successful event, however large or small it is. If your team are always saying “there isn’t anything near us”, then maybe you could find somewhere?!” Please do think about this, otherwise you may find that we are unable to run the event in the future!

You will also see that we are looking at running some more workshops in 2026, possibly as a multi-workshop day. If you have any ideas for workshops or any other events, our next committee meeting is in September, and events for 2026 will be our main focus, so please do get in touch.

Included with this newsletter is the application form to join the South East Region Bell Orchestra for our next season. The audition day and first rehearsal in November is a two-way process – yes, it is for us to see whether you are a good fit for the team, but it is also a chance for you to have a go, so please don’t feel worried about applying. If you are unsure, please do speak to one of us about it. I always say to my boys at school that you never know if you don’t try!

Finally on events, a reminder that HRGB are hosting the next International Handbell Symposium in Aberdeen next August. Registration details will be out soon, and all the information is on the website https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/. Yes, it isn’t a cheap event, but it won’t ever be any cheaper than within our own country – if you have never experienced a symposium, now is your chance!

As well as including photos and write-ups of events in the newsletter, I also try and make sure that photos (and the occasional video) appear on our Facebook page during or just after an event. I know that there are some teams in the region who have Facebook pages, and it would be lovely to be able to share your posts on our page. If you tag us (by typing @HRGBSE) in your post, we can then easily share it. We have also been asked to tag @HRGB so that everything regional can be shared at a National level as well.

If you are at National Residential Ringing Week, I will see you there – otherwise I hope to see you at one of our Autumn events.

Yours,

Helen

HELENLSECKER@GMAIL.COM