The Worcester Cathedral ringers look forward to welcoming competitors, families and friends to the Ringing World’s National Youth Contest on 5th July 2014. The Contest will take place at Old St Martin in the Cornmarket and we have lots organised for the day including open ringing at the Cathedral. All the day’s events are also open to young ringers who are not taking part in the Contest.
Just about all the day’s activities are within walking distance of the Cathedral, and the Founders’ Company have generously sponsored a minibus to take you to St John in Bedwardine and St Stephen, Barbourne.
This is the plan:
- The social centre will be the Cathedral’s Chapter House where registration and University recruitment exhibitions take place.
- Hot drinks and bacon sandwiches will be available in the Chapter House between 09:00 and 11:00. The Cloister Café is open until 16:00.
- The competition is at Old St Martin in the Cornmarket between 10:00 and 16:30, with some open ringing in the judges’ lunch break and afterwards for non-competitors.
- The Teaching Centre will be open between 10:00 and 14:00 for individuals or groups to use.
- Tom Hinks will be running handbell workshops through the day in the Cathedral.
- Participants will get a discount at McDonald’s and Pizza Express all weekend.
- The Cathedral’s magnificent twelve will be open for young ringers between 14:30 and 17:00 and will be run by the Cathedral’s own young ringers. A band will be asked to ring for Choral Evensong between 17:00 and 17:30.
Simon Linford will be running a ‘Twelve Bell Masterclass’ at All Saints between 11:00 and 13:30. We’ve planned five half-hour sessions for groups of 15, which will give as many ringers as possible the chance to take part.- There will be additional ringing at All Saints later in the afternoon.
- Other towers will be available during the day: St Swithun, the oldest ring of six; St John in Bedwardine, a recently rehung ring of eight; and our lovely new ring of eight at St Stephen, Barbourne.
- The results of the competition will be announced in College Hall at 17:45.
- Afterwards there will be a pig roast and barbecue on College Green. Please let us know if you plan to stay on for the evening.
If you would like to book sessions in the Cathedral Teaching Centre or the Masterclass at All Saints please do so via your team leader. If you are not competing and would like to attend these sessions please eMail rwnyc@ringingworld.co.uk.
Please inform your team leader if you are planning to stay on after the results and join us for the pig roast and barbecue as it will help our planning for the day. It would be great to see as many of the young ringers as possible, together with their friends and families, for what promises to be a fun social evening. Alternatively if you are coming independently of a team please eMail rwnyc@ringingworld.co.uk to allow us an idea of expected numbers. This is a great national event. Please come to our fabulous city to support the Contest and to have a great day out.
MARK REGAN
Ringing Master, Worcester Cathedral
“I’m delighted to be able to welcome young ringers to Worcester for this contest and festival of ringing. We have magnificent bells, both old and new, in our churches in Worcester city centre and it will be wonderful to hear them all ringing at different times during the day. I offer my thanks to those who have helped organise this event and I pray for God’s blessing on all those taking part.”