Ringers are a pretty friendly bunch, rather keen to find a reason to get together over tea, or something stronger, so once in a while you may want to combine (or replace) your practice with a social event for the tower; whether it’s to celebrate progress made, to get to know one another better, or just because you feel like having a party!

In winter, you might want to repair to a cosy local pub for a ‘lunchtime special’ – suitable for bands with junior members too, and cheaper than supper! You could also have a tea-time gathering (in the church if you have catering facilities): how about taking charge of providing a focus for your social, such as a quiz, party games, card games or board games, especially if you have a large number of junior ringers?

In summer, getting together is easy, with picnics or home barbecues an ideal option if you’re doing your own food; you may be able to use someone’s home or garden as a base for ordering in takeaway food; or again find a local hostelry with a range of food and a beer-garden playground – good for getting families with younger children to join in. If you’re picnicking or using a large garden, you can include outdoor games for all ages – but make sure parents are invited along to take care of junior ringers if you’re in a public area.

Rather than leave one person to organise everything, get everyone to bring food along; put someone in charge of checking who’s bringing savoury/sides/dessert and get everyone to bring what they like to drink (provide a few basics in case people forget); maybe ask everyone to bring their own cutlery/plates/cups. Designate someone to take photos, and have someone else do entertainment. Why not ask the Tower Captain to think up special bell handling or kaleidoscope exercises that you can try in the tower before you get down to partying? Can you get someone along with handbells – try ringing familiar methods on two bells each, or learning new methods?

Most types of gathering can be tailored to any number, space permitting. You may wish to invite over a neighbouring tower or two to say ‘thanks’ if you often collaborate for weddings, or perhaps because you’d like to get to know the members of an unfamiliar tower. If you need to borrow or hire space, you’ll need to be a lot more organised and book well in advance, so limiting numbers to what’s manageable in church is a good idea, but don’t forget that you’ll need to book the church, too!

Why not try a (driving/cycling) mini-tour of some nearby towers, with snacks along the way? If you’ve organised a ringing outing as your social event, don’t forget to tick off that challenge … and you could always have a ringers’ tea at the end – very traditional!

It’s best to invite families/friends if you can cope with the numbers, because it’s more fun for everyone; it also means that younger children will meet the ringers, become familiar with ringing, and perhaps take it up later.

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