On New Year’s Eve six Brecon ringers braved the wind and rain and assembled at St Mary’s Church tower for the traditional midnight ringing out of the old year and ringing in of 2024.

Looking back on last year there were several landmark occasions for the band and individual ringers.

2023 saw the centenary of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, of Brecon Cathedral as the mother church of the Diocese and of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers. The triple centenary called for much celebratory ringing and along with others in the diocese, Brecon towers and ringers played their part. Among many performances was a peal at the Cathedral and a quarter peal rung by the local band at St David’s on New Year’s Day.

Bells in all three Brecon churches were rung in May to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and in September the 10 bells of the Cathedral rang out to welcome the King and Queen on their visit to Brecon Cathedral. The royal couple showed a real interest in the bells and ringing when talking to Brecon tower captain Paul Johnson.

For many the bells are the voice of the church and in 2023 Brecon ringers rang for a wide range of services at the Cathedral, St Mary’s and St David’s.

As well as regular Sunday services they rang for special ones like the Ordination of new clergy and Remembrance Sunday.

Other special occasions included the marriage of Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones at the Cathedral and quarter peals were rung celebrating the weddings, in Seattle and Cheshire, of children of band members Rosie Gibson and Sarah Dempsey. Autumn saw a wet but cheerful Halloween Procession from St Mary’s to St David’s where, with the bells pealing out, the children encircled the church with ribbons.

The bells are also the voice of the town and the ringers enjoy ringing for civic services, mayor making and, most recently, as part of the ‘Brecon with Bells On’ for the switching on of the Christmas lights. There was also much ringing for a variety of Christmas services.

Moving into 2024 the band finished the festive season with a tour of local towers and lunch at the Clarence Inn.

The year saw highlights for individual members as well as for the band as a whole. Several achieved personal targets in ringing new methods and developing new skills or ringing peals and quarter peals. Claire Alexander, a talented photographer, had several of her photos featured on the front page of the Ringing World, the ringers’ national magazine and Grace Dooley, as well as becoming an established peal ringer, was elected Hon. Secretary of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

They also welcomed Tim Joiner, who formerly rang in London and Kent before moving to Brecon, as a new member of the band.

They extend a welcome to anyone, with or without ringing experience, who would like to become a Brecon ringer. They can offer challenges, satisfactions, fun and friendship, and free tuition in a unique art!

Tower Captain, Paul Johnson’s contact details are: tel. 01874 658670 and [email protected]