The RNGB is a ringing guild for serving and those who have served in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, WRENS, QARNNS and who are bellringers. We also welcome any ringers with a close connection to the Senior Service.

 

At present there are approximately 100 members of the Guild.

 

We hold two outings each year: the AGM at the beginning of March and the October weekend meeting held as near as possible to 21st October, Trafalgar Day. All meetings are organised by members and held at various places around the country. These meetings are informal, sociable and cater for all standard of ringing. Everyone is encouraged to improve their ringing and new members are made very welcome.

 

In addition to these meetings the Ringing Master may arrange peals or quarter-peals for naval, royal and special occasions. A weekend training course run by the RAF Guild is also open to RNGB members.

 

 

How it all started

 

The Guild can trace its origins back to the 14th January 1948. On this day, a group of Royal Naval ringers, two Schoolmasters, a Radio Electrical Mechanic, two Writers, a Chief Petty Officer, an Ordinary Seaman and an Engine Room artificer, all from Portsmouth based ships and shore establishments, rang a peal of 5040 of Bob Major at St Peter and Paul, Fareham Hampshire.

 

Three decades later, in celebration of the Queen's Silver Jubilee on the 28th June 1977, a peal of 5086 Plain Bob Major was rung. This resulted in the founding of the Guild on the 14th January 1978 at HMS Collingwood, when the inaugural meeting of the Guild took place.

 

On 10th February 1979, a peal of 5039 Grandsire Caters was rung at Saint Michael's, Southampton, conducted by one of the members of the 1948 peal, Ernest Salmons.

 

A Quarter peal of 1259 Grandsire Caters was subsequently rung at St Mary, Wareham, Dorset, on the 19th May 1979 and a Trafalgar weekend outing took place in October, when a second peal was rung.

 

Since then the Guild meetings have become a regular fixture on members' calendars and are much enjoyed.