Over the last three years, I have been circumnavigating the globe with my husband in an Oyster 45 Sailing Yacht, and since June this year returned back to England; not only to regain my land-legs, but to catch up with family and friends and to renew my love of singing.

Annie at the helm on an ocean passage

Even in retirement I still look for a challenge! I think it’s good to try something new. Having sung in churches and cathedrals over the years, I thought it would be a marvellous opportunity and privilege to have a go at the grand old art of bell ringing. Through surfing the net, I was pleased to find out that bell ringing was suitable for all ages so, undaunted, I contacted ART and it was Rose Nightingale who put me in touch with my nearest teacher, Alan Bentley, who has a wealth of bell ringing experience.

It was Alan’s warm and welcoming e-mail which encouraged me firstly to visit the tower at Wimborne Minster to watch the team rehearsing and then to continue with a weekly one-to-one hourly lesson learning the ropes. My one-to-one sessions with Alan went well, he certainly put me at my ease and is an excellent, patient teacher. I now attend practices at Ringwood on Wednesday evenings and, although very much a newbie,I am enjoying the experience. As well as technique to grasp, there is a lot of new jargon, which inspired me to put pen to paper:

Backstroke took him by surprise

Encouraged by her big blue eyes

Leading the hunt, seized his chance

Leaving Sally in a trance

Running in and hunting down

In and out, slower, quicker

Naughty Sally’s handstroke slicker

Garter hole then caught his eye

Inspired by her major cry

Never one to miss a sound

Grandsire Bob was left spellbound

This article first appeared in the January 2020 edition of Tower Talk, ART’s free quarterly e-magazine for new ringers. To receive future copies, sign up here: