Ledbury Tower and the other seven towers of the Ledbury District would be much poorer places if it were not for all the things that Judith has achieved, promoted and worked for. The biggest has to be the £300,000 refurbishment and augmentation of Ledbury bells and tower. Judith was one of the team of three that have taken this project forward through from start to finish. It would not have happened so smoothly or quickly, particularly on the financial side, without her skills and hard work. Her ability at grant applications is reflected in the amount raised so quickly, including a £100K Lottery Grant. Raising finances was not made easier by Brexit or Covid both occurring at the wrong time. The applications is not the end of the process and I know many of the grants have required final reports which have only just been possible four years on. The bells have been restored and augmented, the clock and carillon restored. The ringing room has been revitalised and turned into a training centre, with training bell and an extensive exhibition space on the ground floor open to the public every day. Judith learnt to ring as one of eight new learners in 2014 being the latest of the District wide teaching projects. She continued to be involved with ringing at Ledbury, also visiting other towers and special practices. Steadily she progressed through the Learning the Ropes levels having nearly reached Level 5 when Covid struck. Since then she has regained her skills and we finally managed her quarter peal of Bob Minor earlier this year to give her Level 5. She became progressively more involved in district organisation, initially by raising grants during 2016 totalling £3,000 for the WomBell, our mobile training bell, its frame and associated equipment. She then volunteered as District Treasurer in 2017 and continues in that post now; she has organised the district involvement in the Ledbury Community Day each year, since it started in 2018, where we take our WomBell to the centre of Ledbury and promote ringing allowing everyone to have a go, toddlers to Grandparents. This involves rotas of people, designing and producing leaflets and banners etc. and follow up with all those who had a go. Like most places ringing almost ground to a halt during Covid but Judith was involved in our Zoom tower and District events and she organised a number of quizzes. As Covid restrictions were eased she was there supporting and driving the District efforts to get all towers back up and on their feet. She and the Secretary were responsible for a discussion document and special meeting last year which involved members in finding ways to revitalise the District approach to ensure Recruitment and Retention improved. Judith has followed this up, a year later, with a Survey Monkey questionnaire to all members. The results of that are to be used by the Officers and Tower Captains shortly, as the basis of the organisation of ringing and social activities in the year ahead. Judith has also been working hard to support the building of the band at Ledbury from what was basically a six-bell band before the augmentation and restoration project to one that is taking advantage of 6, 8 and 10 bell ringing. She is developing her own skills into Plain Bob and Grandsire Triples and loves calling Call Changes on 6, 8 and 10. Recently she has stated running some practices and kept the District going by running practices at different towers, when most of the tower captains and more competent ringers were away on holiday all at the same time. I am sure it will not be long before she is booked on a Module 2 course. Outside of the tower and district she is involved as Trustee and Treasurer for the Hereford Ringing Course Bell Fund Charity. I am also aware that with one of her other hats as a Trustee of another charity, that she is working behind the scenes to get a potentially redundant peal of bells saved as part of a wider project. We are most fortunate to have Judith in our midst in the Ledbury District, her skills and enthusiasm are, and will, help ensure ringing continues and grows in our area and wider afield. I cannot think of a more suitable person for this award. |
