Linda and I decided “What the heck, we’ll give it a go..” which is pretty much our approach to Life really, so we did just that, and here we are  ringing bells… however, I should begin at the beginning.

Life, as it is wont to do, turned several corners recently, leaving us with time on our hands and new routines to cope with; Linda more so than me.

So I set about looking for new challenges at which we could, as Wilfred Pickles used to cry, “Have a Go!”

Anyway, suffice it to say that of the many interests we considered, and after considerable internet trawling and You Tube browsing, Church bell ringing won out, or maybe lost out as only Time will tell; and so I emailed the Association of Ringing Teachers in November of 2016. expressing our interest, sat back with bated breath and awaited a reply.

Because I had revealed my age I only half expected a response, so imagine m y surprise and delight when my ‘in-box’ pinged at me to announce the arrival of an email, telling me we were to  report to St Michael’s church, Thorpe-on-the-Hill where we had been assigned a ‘Teacher’ no
less! Well, I felt like one of those Hollywood Stars who pay thousands for the services of Buddhist Gurus, or Hindu Mahatmas; it was very up-lifting.

Anyway, in December we met our Teachers, Sandra and Colin to whom we instantly warmed, recognising they knew their craft, but I did wonder whether they knew what they were taking on in trying to teach me, but I knew that Linda of course, would take to it like the proverbial duck…

Well, I need have had no doubts. What Linda and I could not have known in  December, was the range of experience and endless paternal patience with which Sandra and Colin approach their lessons. Never an impatient “tut;” never a withering ‘look,’ not even a cross word when my rope broke and the sally disintegrated! Thank you both for your patient kindness.

These early days for Linda and me have been very successful from our point of view. Our confidence is building as we learn new skills and we consolidate our progress due to the structured way that Sandra and Colin impart new knowledge and introduce new exercises, and we are confident that we shall reach the dizzy heights of the bottom rung on the ladder of progress. But it must be said, our Teachers are a ringing success!

St Michael’s Church, Thorpe on the Hill