Name of Applicant:

Brinley Wilkes

Date of birth:

04/06/2008

Email address:

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Home tower:

Swaffham Bulbeck St Mary

County:

Cambridgeshire

Consent given:

Parent/Guardian name:

Clare Wilkes

Parent/Guardian email address:

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Application:

Last April I took over the organisation of monthly and other quarters for the Fen Tigers (the Ely DA young ringers). These were started the previous year after a conversation I had with an older member of the group, Thomas Green, and he had organised up until then. He was taking his A Levels and so I stepped up. I organised monthly quarters at St Clement’s, Cambridge, for the rest of the year, and encouraged various members of the team to try conducting. We had several quarters conducted by more than one person so everyone could have a go and the responsibility was shared.
This Christmas holiday, I organised a quarter peal day in Cambridge. This built on a similar day the previous year but with six more young ringers, two more quarters and an additional tower. Two people rang their first quarter, there were several other firsts, everyone was challenged, and many had the opportunity to ring at towers they wouldn’t normally ring at (Great St Mary’s and St Bene’t’s). All the quarters were successful but most importantly, everyone had fun. It was tricky organising the towers and making sure everyone got to ring what they wanted and had a suitable schedule for the day but rewarding when it all came together.
I have also made an effort to motivate people to take part in the Ringing World National Youth Contest, having entered for the first time with the Fen Tigers myself in 2023. Being able to ring at York Minster was inspiring, and so was taking part in the competition, and I wanted other people to experience that. We have been building our team and in 2024 entered two call change teams, and in 2025 entered a method team and were proud to come fourth.
Now I am heading for my A levels I am encouraging others to take on the organisation of the monthly quarters at St Clement’s, though I am continuing to organise occasional other quarters with one at St Edward King and Martyr in the next few weeks.
If I win this award I would like to use it to attend the Advanced Ringing Course run by the Ancient Society of College Youths. This would be an amazing opportunity to strengthen my ringing on higher numbers of bells. This is something I aim to improve when I go to university and can ring more regularly on higher numbers. Ultimately I would like to become Ringing Master of a university society and be able to teach and support other ringers in improving their ringing. I would also use the award to pay for travel to the Northern Universities Association meeting this autumn when I am at uni.
(For further information on the Fen Tigers’ ringing, see the Ringing World, 30 January 2026, page 93)