Royal Navy Guild
of
Bellringers

Step into the captivating world of the Royal Naval Guild of Bellringers’ digital realm. Here, a symphony of information awaits, resonating with the tales of those who’ve stood in service to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, WRENS, and QARNNS and found their rhythm as bellringers. Imagine a fellowship of around 120, a harmonious blend of active duty and retired, united by their love for the art.

In the tapestry of time, three grand gatherings unfurl annually. As the curtains rise on the year, the Winter Outing and the Annual General Meeting take centre stage amidst the crisp breath of March, traditionally painting the canvas in the hues of southern England. Then, as the sun warms the air, a joint symposium joins hands with the Royal Air Force and Army Guilds, a rendezvous of camaraderie. And not to be forgotten, an autumnal weekend reverberates with the spirit of October, paying homage to Trafalgar Day.

Across the landscape, appointments come to life, meticulously orchestrated by the willing hands of guild members, their efforts etching a mosaic that spans the nation. Amidst these grand crescendos, the Ringing Master may compose intricate peals or quarter-peals, a musical tribute to special, naval, or royal moments. In the realm of learning, a weekend training overture, courtesy of the RAF Guild, beckons RNGB members to elevate their craft.

Picture an average of 36 souls drawn together in informal harmony, their skills as diverse as the notes they produce. With an ambience that’s as warm as a sunlit embrace, each session is a testament to collective growth, as old friends and newcomers find solace in embracing their shared passion.

Objectives

First, to kindle and stoke the flames of fascination among naval souls, igniting an unquenchable zeal for the enchanting art of campanology. Picture the resonance of bells reaching the ears and hearts of those who proudly sail under the naval banner.

And second, to orchestrate captivating rendezvous, where naval bellringers and their cherished families unite in the embrace of towering marvels. Imagine the camaraderie as the chimes of tradition blend with the laughter of kin, echoing through the very fabric of these ancient structures.

History

Embark on a journey through time to a crisp January day in 1948, where a motley crew of Royal Naval ringers gathered under the watchful eyes of Saints Peter and Paul in Fareham, Hampshire. In their hands, the echoes of the past converged with the symphony of the future as they embarked on a peal of 5040 Bob Major. Among them stood two Schoolmasters, a Radio Electrical Mechanic, 2 Writers, a Chief Petty Officer, an Ordinary Seaman, and an Engine Room Artificer – a tapestry of roles weaving the history of camaraderie.

Fast forward to a celebratory June day in 1977, as a second ensemble assembled in honour of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The bells resonated with the joy of the occasion, ringing out a peal of 5086 Plain Bob Major. This triumphant moment became the spark that ignited the birth of the Guild on the same day – January 14th, 1978 – precisely three decades from that first recorded naval ringer’s peal.

The year 1979 unfolded with a flourish of firsts. Imagine the majestic Saint Michael’s in Southampton, Hampshire, bearing witness to a spellbinding performance of 5039 Grandsire Caters, led by Ernest Salmons, a torchbearer from the 1948 peal. In May, the bells at St Mary in Wareham, Dorset, echoed with a Quarter peal of 1259 Grandsire Caters, a testament to evolving mastery. The winds of October carried with them a Trafalgar weekend outing marked by yet another triumphant peal. And on a different note, the Guild joined hands with the RAF Guild, a collaboration that would become an annual tradition.

As the tides of time flowed on, the Guild’s family grew from a modest ensemble of 54 in 1980 to a resounding chorus of over 100 voices and counting. Each bell tolls not just for history but for the promise of the future, a future woven into the vibrant tapestry of camaraderie and the timeless art of bellringing.