By Christopher Wright on 20-Apr-2017 - What has a scooter to do with ringing? Now that we’re a one-car family and the demands of the bell tower are growing, I can’t afford the time it takes to walk down (and back up!) to church when my busy wife has the four wheels. So, at nearly 70, I’ve done my Basic Training, […] Read more
By Duncan Dobson on 18-Apr-2017 - Come and learn, screamed the poster, any age any ability. So a quick chat with a member of the Ely St Mary’s band and I arrived at Stretham R.E.C. I was fascinated and captivated immediately, on crutches and faced with climbing the spiral staircase the reward was well worth it. Concerned as I was about […] Read more
By Christine Purnell on 16-Apr-2017 - Edington Priory in Wiltshire was the venue for a very informative and enjoyable Module 1 – Teaching Bell Handling Course. The excellent Tutors were Andy and Sallie Ingram who kept us well occupied during the day which began at 9.00am and finished at 5.45pm. Several breaks for refreshments and lunch at The Longs Arms, Steeple […] Read more
By Jennie Higson on 14-Apr-2017 - I first saw the 50 things booklet at the ART conference in March and at first glance thought it would be good for the youngsters in our ringing school. However, on closer inspection I realised it is appropriate for all ages and my competitive nature kicked in and myself and my friend, without realising, each […] Read more
By Giles Willson on 11-Apr-2017 - On the first really sunny Saturday of the Year, eleven delegates assembled in Northampton for the ART Bell Maintenance Workshop. When signing up to this extremely good value event, booking a place seemed a great idea, on the day I was wondering what had I let myself in for! The tutor, Jennie Higson, who was […] Read more
By Christopher Wright on 10-Apr-2017 - All this climbing stuff… I feel a bit like the von Trapp Family. We had quite a good session with five of the recruits (and two trainers and a “stooge”) on Thursday – and there seemed to be a demand for another session today (Monday). Bells were muffled (I use the simple motorbike tyre ones […] Read more
By James Johnson on 07-Apr-2017 - In a ‘past life’ I was competent in many areas involving rope. After a break of over twenty years, today I made a short splice on two different coloured pieces of rope and whipped all the ends. I am happy with the result after such an absence, so I’ll take the work along to […] Read more
By James Johnson on 07-Apr-2017 - QUIZ 1 Read more
By Christopher Wright on 03-Apr-2017 - I’ve been ringing for some 55 years – but this one is new to me. Suddenly finding myself as a tower captain with no band, a recruiting drive seemed to be called for so yesterday, we held an Open Day. It was advertised with leaflets around the parish, in shops and community boards and the […] Read more
By Alistair Donaldson on 03-Apr-2017 - “Thingummy” was probably devised by Dennis Bayles, and is known by many ringers as “Bayles Method”, more pedantically “Repeating Lead Bob Doubles”. What is it? 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 […] Read more