The Guild will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024, the first territorial Guild or Association to do so.
On this page you will find information about events being arranged and commemorative items which are being made available,
The revised and updated Guild history will be launched at Exeter, St Petrock on Saturday 16th March.
A programme of open ringing has been arranged to preceed the launch.
A poster is available with full details.
To mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Guild of Devonshire Ringers, a celebration dinner is planned.
Guild members (and former Guild members) and partners are warmly invited.
The Devon Hotel, Old Matford Lane, Exeter EX2 8XU
Friday 15 March 2024
7pm for 7.30pm
3-course dinner, with wine
Cost per head - £42
The anniversary dinner is now fully booked.
An auction will be held at the anniversary dinner, comprising items donated by or of interest to ringers (and others!). Further details are available including how to make pre-auction bids.
150th anniversary logo
We're delighted to launch our 150th anniversary logo, adapted by Sarah McIntyre from Elena Brake's design.
The logo is available to download for use on publicity materials and other documents throughout the year.
Branded clothing featuring the anniversary logo is now available via the Member Store!
Lester Yeo has prepared a revised history of the Guild, building on John Scott's centenary history published by the Guild fifty years ago with added material about the early history of the Guild that was not available to John and a history of the Guild over the last fifty years.
The new book is a hardback with printed colour cover, containing 188 pages of text and a 12-page colour insert and is available at a price of £15 or £19 for postal despatch.
Read some excerpts from the revised history here
The slides used by Lester in his presentation are available for those wishing to view them.
The book will be available for purchase (cash only) at the following events :
- Saturday 27th April - Devon Ringers' Council striking contest event at Cullompton and Uffculme
- Saturday 22nd June - Guild Annual General Meeting at Tavistock
- Saturday 7th September - Central Council meeting at Exeter
- Saturday 19th October - Guild Striking Contests in East Devon branch area
- Saturdays 18th May, 15th June, 13th July and other dates when the Guild Library is open at St Petrock's, Exeter.
Further events may be added to this list.
The book is now on sale in the Cathedral Shop, Exeter and at Heartland Old Books, 12-14 Newport St, Tiverton EX16 6NL at £15 per copy.
Alternatively you may order for postal despatch here
150 Ringing Things Challenge
To celebrate the Guild's 150th Anniversary we have created the '150 Ringing Things Challenge'.
There are many different things to do which we hope will appeal to ringers of all levels and interests.
The activities aim to encourage ringers and towers to get involved with things they wouldn't normally do and to have a broader experience of ringing.
You can include the ringing things you have completed on Bell Board. Use the link below :
Guild of Devonshire Ringers — 150th anniversary performances
Please keep a record of all your successfully completed things throughout the year.
At the end of the year, send a copy of your completed sheet, with a brief outline of all your successfully completed things and who participated, with photos, to the Guild Publicity Officer.
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The Publicity Officer will share your successes on the Guild Facebook page and the winning tower will be featured in Ringing Round Devon.
Enjoy your ringing!
Suggestions for things to ring during the 150th anniversary year
Touches of 150 changes in length - curated by Robert D S Brown
Devonshire Surprise Royal - this extension of the Major method, devised by Robert D S Brown is currently unrung - it is suggested you check the method has not been rung and given an alternative name should you choose to ring it
Devonshire Surprise Maximus - this extension of the Major method, devised by Robert D S Brown is currently unrung - it is suggested you check the method has not been rung and given an alternative name should you choose to ring it
GDR 150th Anniversary Doubles Call Change peal - 150 changes in length, composed by Owen J Borlase
GDR 150th Anniversary Minor Call Change peal - 150 changes in length, composed by Owen J Borlase
GDR 150th Anniversary Triples Call Change peal - 150 changes in length, composed by Owen J Borlase
Rung or attempted something from this list of suggestions?
Share by adding it to our BellBoard 150th anniversary ringing record
We'll regularly review this record of achievement during our anniversary year and plan to present summaries in our newsletters and communications.
2024 Ringing World calendar
The Ringing World Calendar 2024 is now sold out. Profits from sales of the calendar in Devon raised £1,077 for the Devon Church Bell Restoration Fund.
