THE latest community news from Llanbadarn Fawr

St Padarn’s bell ringers

RINGING has continued throughout the winter and spring and turnouts at the Wednesday evening practice nights, have been very encouraging.

There were a number of officer changes following the Tower AGM in March; Bob McIntyre stepping down from the position of tower captain and Fran Disbury taking on the role with Victoria Evans becoming the deputy tower captain and secretary.

There was sadness about the service ringing on Palm Sunday morning which concluded with Vic Evans tolling the Rudhall tenor for five minutes before the service, in memory of Paul James, county councillor for the ward of Llanbadarn Fawr, who died in a road accident the previous Friday evening.

At one time Paul started to learn to ring the Llanbadarn Bells and subsequently, Bryony, his daughter, became a ringer until she went away to university.

At the request of his family, the bells of St Padarn’s were rung un-muffled before his funeral service in St Michael’s Church on Saturday, 4 May.

Tower captain Fran Disbury led the band through rounds and Devon call changes between 11.20am and 11.50am; after which Bob McIntyre tolled the tenor for 10 minutes immediately prior to the start of the service.

The following Saturday, the Annual Striking Competition of the St David’s Diocesan Guild of Change Bell Ringers was held in St Martin’s Church, Laugharne.

The St Padarn’s ringers contributed two bands to a field of eight competitors and they came fifth and seventh respectively.

It was the first-ever attempt at a striking competition for five of the ringers and the result did them credit.

The adjudicator provided helpful comments about the ringing of all the competing bands and the practice nights on Wednesdays at 7.30pm will be used to take them on board and to do better in next year’s competition!

A very enjoyable event was rounded off by a sumptuous Ringers’ Tea in Laugharne’s Millenium Memorial Hall.

St Padarn’s ringers warmly welcome visitors to the tower, and practice nights are Wednesdays from 7.30pm t 9pm and Sunday Service ringing is from 9.15am until 10am.

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