WDCRA 2021 Diary of Events
Limited by Corona Virus

WDCRA Western Branch – first event on Friday 29th January 2021

Chris Pickford, a member of WDCRA, is highly regarded for his work on the historical aspects of bells. He has kindly agreed to give us a talk entitled - "Worcestershire bells – craftsmanship and sound" on Friday 29th January 2021 starting at 7.30pm.

For obvious reasons, the event will be on Zoom –

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81869260115?pwd=Z3ZqY3ZxUFR5dmJlZHVlYW1OTVBTUT09

Meeting ID: 818 6926 0115
Passcode: 187136

Biography: Chris Pickford

• Chris has been a ringer for over 50 years – interested in bells and bell history throughout that time
• He learned to ring while at boarding school in Worcester in the mid-1960s
• Taught by Paul Cattermole, his early ringing was at All Saints (where he learned to handle a bell), St.Swithun’s and the Cathedral
• Paul also encouraged his interest in bell restoration work and belfry explorations – helping with a study of medieval bells in Worcestershire for which Chris won a school local history prize in 1970.
• After studying at Leicester University 1970-1973 and a postgraduate year in London in 1974-5 Chris returned to Worcester for his first job in the Hereford and Worcester County Record Office
• His career was in archives, later as County Archivist in Bedfordshire and afterwards as Director of the Church of England Records Centre
• He has rung over 2000 peals and he is a past-master of the College Youths
• He is the author of ten books on architecture, bells and clocks – and a frequent contributor to the Ringing World
• In semi-retirement he is currently involved with the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, helping to develop the John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum and Archives

The Programme of Western Events for 2021

February 27th	Quiz Night	Virtual	19:00
April 23rd	Ringing Room	Virtual	10:00-11:30
May 22nd	Branch Outing	Tewkesbury area	PM
June 12th	Practice	Shrawley	19:00-20:30
July 4th	Striking Competition	Martley	15:00
September 11th	Quarterly Meeting	Powick	15:00
December 4th	Branch AGM	TBC.	14:00