Being the son of ringers, I have known my home tower of St Mark’s, Swindon all my life. I was taught to ring at the age of ten at St Mark’s, an easy going ring of eight (tenor 11½ cwt), and for the last 14 years I have never looked back. I’m a driven person, so organising ringing days out and events comes naturally to me. I am out ringing most weekends, mixing the more “serious” part (peals and quarter peals) with the “fun” side – outings,quarter peal days and young ringers’ events. I enjoy both aspects in equal measure and for different reasons, and like to keep a balance of both. Of course, most of these events inevitably end up in a pub (or child-friendly equivalent!) – the social side is just as important as the ringing!
The 2018 Lilliputters Ringing Tour, taken at St Nicholas, Brighton
A few years ago, I arranged a week’s ringing tour for a group of friends; basically a small group of young ringers going on holiday! We based ourselves at the Lilliput Sea Scout hut in Poole and, after a hugely successful week, subsequent tours have followed. Thus, the Lilliputters were born. This year, 25 of us from across the country attended the tour in Sussex, where highlights included the chance to ring on the twelve bells of Croydon Minster and an afternoon spent on Brighton beach (complete with fish and chips!). The ability of our ringers ranges from Called Changes to Surprise Major and beyond, but everybody is welcomed and accommodated – a good sense of humour is just as important as ringing on tour!
As well as the Summer Tour, we meet up frequently throughout the year for days out or weekends away, visiting each others’ parts of the world. Invariably, if the day is in London, we will end up at the theatre somewhere – our interests are wide and varied! Outside of ringing, I have many other activities – which comes as a shock to many of my fellow ringers! Much as it pains me to say it, I have actually been a Scout longer than a bell ringer! I joined the movement as a Beaver at the age of six, and, eighteen years later, I’m a Cub leader. Like ringing, Scouting is a worldwide family – but can also be a very small world!I often combine my two hobbies, and get the best of both worlds.My first peal, back in 2007, was for the Centenary of the Scout movement. I vowed never to ring another – but how wrong I was! More recently, in 2016, I organised a peal on Brownsea Island for the centenary of Cub Scouts, where the band was made up of past and present Cubs and Leaders. As a Scout, I reached Stage 5 of the musician’s badge despite not being able to play an instrument or sing a note – handy that the leader was also a ringer! Whilst working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award over the last 18 months, ringing has been my “Skill” – the real challenge for me here has been trying to show improvement, and I’ve had to push myself more than I would have done otherwise! Over the past couple of years, I have also arranged a number of ringing evenings for local Cub and Scout groups, on both tower and hand bells, sharing the love of bells and ringing with the next generation!
Simon, at home with the bells
If you would like to know more about combining ringing and Scouting, or find out more about the Lilliputters, please do get in touch; I would be delighted to help. The Lilliputters are an active and welcoming group, and we already have numerous outings and events already planned for 2019! If you are interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you! Please drop an email to lilliputtersguild@gmail.com.
This article was originally published in the 10th edition of Tower Talk, the free quarterly e-magazine for new ringers. If you’d like to receive future copies, please subscribe here !