For the last two Sundays the local Wargrave village band has rung rounds on eight for Sunday service; this time last year it was the front 5!
Since then we have used the Art Training Scheme, I am a full member of ART and we have four level 2, and four level 1 passes. After my Module 2 course, I had set a target of being able to ring the 8 with our own band and am delighted we have now attained this. The structure of the Art Training Course helps motivate both teachers and learners.
Rob Needham, from Sonning (my ART Mentor) teaching Jayne. I had a cold so thought I had better keep my distance!
Two of our ringers have just completed six months from their first proper handling lesson (not counting a try out at Holy Trinity, Wall Street, a couple of years ago). Kitty is usually designated to ring the treble as she is so reliable at leading, and Freddie quite often gets the 5th , a bell with a reputation – recently described by our very experienced branch deputy ringing master as ‘wanting to do its own thing’. Berna, our most recent level 1 ringer, rang some excellent rounds, and was instrumental in encouraging Ruth, who now worships at St Mary’s, to return to ringing. I taught Ruth some 30 odd years ago at Hurst, and am so pleased she is back.
Val Ringing the 4th
On an initial refresher tied practice, Ruth was most impressed by the changes in teaching and by “Learning the Ropes”
St Mary, Wargrave. Berks. (17-2- 10) 5 minutes Rounds
Sunday 24th March 2016 Sunday 1 st May 2016
1. Kitty Gingell
2. John Coombes (tower foreman)
3. Berna Parnell
4. Ruth Howse
5. Freddie Gingell
6. Carlos Soares
7. Bill Bookless
8. Dave Sullivan
And yes I do ring; we rang more rounds last Sunday with Carlos on the 4th and me on the tenor.
Sunday 1st May
- Kitty Gingell
- Roy Russell
- John Coombs
- Val Salisbury
- Laura Lord
- Bill Bookless
- Freddie Gingell
- Dave Sullivan
So now I need to set some new targets…….
Meanwhile tied bell practices are popular and, as at the open practices, are supported by Sonning ringers. Apart from Jayne, our newest learner and landlady of the Bull (the nearest pub to the church), others come for extra practice and to visit the Bull afterwards, for coffee, social chat, and dog therapy.
Sue, a Sonning ringer (just out of sight
on the second), was practising plain
hunt prior to her first quarter on Sunday.
Berna was trying following her!
Sue rang her quarter without a mistake on Sunday evening, so level 3 is not far off! The quarter was also dedicated to the memory of my brother Richard Wild, who introduced me to ringing at St Peter’s, East Bridgford back in 1961. How lucky I was, that they were not like Wargarve, but a little six suitable for little school girls!