The Central Council PR Committee met on 17th November in the teaching room at St Paul’s Birmingham. It was our first digitally enabled meeting with two members ‘present’ by Skype, one of them in Australia.

We almost had 100% attendance but two had to call off at the last minute. Also, the CCCBR President, Kate Flavell, joined us.

It was the day after the Stedman tercentenary, which we had promoted. Ringers responded in good measure but it was too early to assess the impact of our media campaign.

Plans for the Ringing Roadshow at Newbury on 6th September next year are progressing.

The Committee’s remit is very broad – it not only covers the relationships between ringers and the public (and between the Council and media, government, church, et c.) but also the relationship between the Council and the ringers we are here to serve. We discussed how we could do more, especially the need to overcome the widespread ignorance of the Council and its work among many ringers. We also discussed how to make better use of the Council’s presence on social media.

Our on-going services include: channelling around 200 Learn to Ring enquiries a year to suitable towers, supplying over 8,000 recruitments leaflets per year, supporting BBC Radio 4’s Bells on Sunday, providing periodic information to local ringing societies and maintaining ‘Things To Ring For’ on the Council website.

Barrie Dove has recently stood down as chairman and at the meeting John Harrison was elected to the post until the end of the current Triennium next May.

JOHN HARRISON
Chairman, Public Relations Committee