“Thingummy” was probably devised by Dennis Bayles, and is known by many ringers as “Bayles Method”, more pedantically “Repeating Lead Bob Doubles”.

By the treble making 4 places at the back, and the 2nd making 2 places under it, these two bells are swapped over in their coursing back to where they were the previous lead end, thus all the other bells repeat the lead again.

Hence, in each course:

• the Treble plain hunts to the back, rings 4 blows in 5ths place, then hunts down to lead;

• the 2nd makes 4ths under the treble, then 2nds over the treble;

• the 3rd and 4th bells dodge 3/4 with each other every lead end;

• the 5th bell makes 4 blows in 5ths as usual.

Note that each bell passes the treble as it hunts down exactly as it would in a plain course of Plain Bob – maintaining all those “treble passing” rules.  This is an advantage to using Thingummy.

Prior to introducing Thingummy learners will have completed LtR level 2 which includes some Kaleidoscope exercises, specifically continuous place making and dodging up and down, and then started on LtR3 by practising Plain Hunt on 3 to 5 bells.

Step One:  The Learner rings the treble – making 4 blows in 5ths.  Don’t underestimate how hard it is to ring 4 blows exactly in 5ths within Plain Hunting on 5 bells!  Many early attempts have the 4th blow down almost in 3rds.  Note that the order of bells to ring over is not quite the same when hunting back as when hunting out.  I use this opportunity to stress “Hospital Corners” – a neat exact drop at backstroke into 4ths place; not a dither in 5ths place and a yank into 3rds – is this a left-over from Changes called only at handstrokes? I find this step develops both ropesight and an understanding of rhythm.

Step Two:  The Learner rings the 2nd – making 4ths under then 2nds over the Treble.Making 2nds over the treble has been practised before, but now the Learner has to plain hunt on 4 with the other 3 bells in between – leaving out the Treble.  This step develops ropesight even more, and of course practices “Making the Bob” for the future.

Step Three:  The Learner rings the 4th – dodging 3/4 down every lead end.   (Or they stay on 2nd, and I call them into 4ths place, then call “Go”)I suggest this is the easier dodge to start with!  Dodging in Plain Bob Doubles is different to continuous dodging – you only do one dodge in the backwards direction before hunting on in the same direction. For the down dodge the Learner has to practice a big pull at handstroke in 3rds to place their bell neatly in 4ths, before checking in back to 3rds place and down to lead.

Step Four:  The Learner rings the 3rd – dodging 3/4 up every lead. This is a much harder dodge to strike.  It is also different to continuous dodging in that the check back into 3rds is followed by two hard pulls at back and hand in order to ring in 5ths so soon after.  So many Learners fail to follow through and never make it up into 5ths.  In this step the learner has turned the bell making 2nds from the lead just prior to the dodge.

Moving On to Plain Bob Doubles

Step Five:  The Learner rings the 3rd to several plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles.I think this is

preferable to ringing the 2nd – the Learner has an “easy” first lead end, making 2nds before tackling the terrors of the dodges!  It also emphasises that the 3/4 dodge is before the lead end – don’t forget to dodge even when “That’s All” is called a little early.At this step I will always go for 2 or 3 plain courses (without “Go Again”) to give the Learner both a chance to practice the 3/4 up dodge, and to emphasise that there is a circle of work that goes on until the conductor says “That’s All”.

Step Six and Seven: The Learner rings touches, firstly as Observation bell – this consolidates the method, and is of course a good development of their ropesight.  Then the Learner rings touches on an affected bell – a good time to discuss the merits of learning by ‘Place bells’ and ‘Starts’: setting firm foundations for the future.Aside: I have never successfully used Thingummy spliced with Plain – I think splicing is a concept best kept for some time in the future when the Learner has not only understood but also practised ringing by ‘Place Bells’.

I think the real strength of this Practice Method is exactly as Pam Copson set out many years ago – to facilitate step by step practice of each new action before putting all the pieces of the jigsaw together into ringing what is probably a Learner’s very first method.