The Best Kept Tower competition seeks to promote not only good maintenance of bells and their fittings but also good housekeeping in all aspects of the tower. This may even extend to promotion of ringing outside of the tower where this would be judged to be advantageous e.g. where a church might receive a large number of visitors.
The competition is split into several divisions, following a review in 2005. Towers now compete in the categories of Best Ground Floor Six, Best Upstairs Six and Best Eight and Over. This was done to recognise the particular problems which towers in these categories might face. In addition towers can be commended or highly commended by the judging team.
The results of the latest competition were announced at the Association AGM at Coalpit Heath on 25 April 2009.
Overall winner, and awarded the Bliss Trophy: St Christopher, CheltenhamSecond Place and awarded the “Littledean and Purton” Trophy: English Bicknor
Third Place, Winner of the Eight and Over category, and awarded the Great Peter Trophy: Chippenham, St Andrew
Highly Commended and awarded the Chairman's Baldric: Much Marcle (Although Much Marcle tower is not in the G&B the band are almost all members of Forest Branch) This page updated: 28/04/2009