Sylvia Bird - 1000 Peals for the Guild

When rounds came up after 2hr 55m at Stow - see below - Sylvia became the first lady to ring 1000 peals for the Guild

Lincoln Diocesan Guild
Stow, Lincolnshire
St Mary
Tuesday, 28 October 2025 in 2h 55 (9-2-0 in G)
5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Composed by Simon Humphrey
   1   Alan D H Bird
   2   Mary E Gow
   3   Christopher P Turner
   4   Sylvia M Bird
   5   Keith C Butter
   6   Martin F Mitchell
   7   Stephen J F Mitchell (C)
   8   Anthony D Walker
1000th peal for the Lincoln Guild: 4
500th peal together: 1 and 4

This feat was achieved just 8 weeks after Sylvia rang her 1000th peal. In addition this was Sylvia's 500th peal with her husband Alan. Sylvia joins - Jack Millhouse (1578), Geoffrey Parker (1548), Michael Maughan (1111), Chris Sharp (1092) and Robin Rogers (1012) in having rung 1000 peals for the LDGCB, and has rung peals with all of them. Alan Bird leads the way having rung 500 peals with Sylvia followed by Michael Maughan (325) and Anthony Walker (305). Mary Gow is the 400th ringer that Sylvia has rung peals with.

Of the 59 Guild/Associations - both territorial and non-territorial - who have rung more than 1000 peals - 34 can boast at least one ringer ringing 1000 peals for them. Sylvia joins a group of 241 ringers achieving this feat, of which 31 are ladies ( one lady ringing over 1000 peals for TWO guilds/associations).

Sylvia was taught to ring by her father-in-law Henry Collin in early 1972 - progress being hindered by the arrival of her third child - Andrew. It is said that Sylvia was learning methods before learning to ring. She rang her first peal at Silk Willoughby in September 1973. Only David Collin and Sylvia survive from this band.

Martin Mitchell who organised and rang in the Stow peal rang in Sylvia's third peal at Fulbeck in January 1974.

By the end of 1992 Sylvia had rung 686 peals but only sporadic peals were rung over the next 25 years so that by the end of 2017 the total had crept up to 704. A return to concerted peal ringing in 2018 - hampered by the two COVID years - meant that the next 300 peals were completed by late September 2025 - all but 54 of which were at Sproxton. She considers herself very fortunate to have rung peals with some great conductors, Jack Millhouse, Ian Butters and Michael Maughan to name a few of the more prolific.

Sylvia is not simply a peal ringing machine she actively supports Sleaford where she is Tower Captain and Silk Willoughby, she encourages new ringers and leads them through to quarter peals and peals - ringing in 64 ringers first peal - and organising many of them. Shunning high office at Guild level she prefers "working at the coal face" - she has served as Ringing Master of Central Branch, President of Central Branch for nine years and is at present Ringing Master of Southern Branch

Keith Butter