Ringing Forums

Indeed, I could not disagree with that.

Sorry if this sounds smart-arse, but I think it would be more useful to ask how much "ringing intelligence" ringers have, rather than what they can ring. I mean - can they use ropesight, listening, rhythm in such a way that, while ringing, they have a reasonable perception of what is going on within the method (or even call changes) and where they fit into it. Thus ensuring that they ring whatever it is well.
My point is that, if you have a good memory, it is easy to reel off a complicated blue line without having a clue what is going on around you. (Guess how I know!) Which does not produce really good ringing.
So I would say that someone who rings Grandsire intelligently is contributing more to the future of the Exercise than someone who crams the blue lines necessary to ring 23-spliced and then promptly forgets them all.

Thank you Philip Pratt, that is very helpful.

Sorry to be an incurable optimist, but I really don't think it's a problem. Clever people always crop up who will re-invent things. After all, method ringing had to be invented in the first place. So say maybe in 100 years time there is nothing but a few aged bands ringing call changes. Then some maverick youth will say "What if we joined all the changes up and rang them all at once? Bet no-one's ever done that before!". And change ringing will be reborn.

Is there a way to "Like" a message? If not, could there be? That would be a nice way of showing appreciation for a helpful comment.

We're marking it, Cathy, at my tower and 3 neighbouring towers I persuaded to join in. With a Festival of Ringing advertised in our village newsletter. The reason being simply that it's publicity for us (as we desperately need to recruit).

Hello Oliver, it's easy-peasy. If you have ever organised any outing whatsoever for self and friends then you can do this too.
Here's what I did my first time -
I picked an area fairly nearby, that I had already visited as a tourist, so I knew it slightly.
I picked towers that sounded, from the information I could glean, as if they fitted the abilities / interests of my band. Preferably ones that had some added attraction, e.g. cafe, views, interesting woodwork.
I picked a lunch venue in a popular tourist spot, so ringers' non-ringing families could spend the day there.
First and last towers were chosen to require fewer ringers. "Plum" tower was just before lunch. After-lunch tower was easy bells.
I then drove to the area myself, drove from tower to tower, writing down directions and times (Yes, on paper; this was in the dark ages!)
All went well. The experienced members of the band will look after you if any problems arise.
CHECK THE DAY BEFORE THAT EACH PERSON WHO SHOULD LET YOU IN HAS REMEMBERED. I once didn't - arrgh!
Good luck and have fun!
Barbara

I would like this too for my tower at All Saints' Landbeach, Cambs.

Our church has just set up a Friends group to organise events, secular uses etc, just as described in the article. The aim being to make the church building into a successful community resource which will be available for [almost] anything. The Friends are very keen on bellringing, as a community use which already exists. If they can succeed, then there is no fear of closure despite the small, ageing congregation.

Thank you Sam (is that what you like to be called?), that's very helpful. Did you find that blocking up just the one side caused an appreciable diminution of sound on that side? I.e. did the sound just go round? Did you use marine ply?

Thanks John, yes layout is complicated and there are many factors to consider. Don't know whether to DIY or just stump up for a contractor to solve all the problems!

Part of the project is to install sound control, as the bells are uncomfortably loud outside. However - there are already swift nest boxes installed in the belfry windows. Has anyone experience of this situation, please? If so, what did you do - did you a) install the sound control on the inside of the swift nest boxes or b) cut holes in the sound control to fit around the boxes? Thanks.

Thanks Sam, that's good advice.

Thank you Philip, I had no idea that this service existed. I will discuss it with the team and see what they think.

Thanks Philip, I take your point that nothing is free! I suppose ideally the church would have a competent person working for it as project manager (either one of us, possessing the necessary skills, or an employed person). Sadly, none of us has the necessary skills. And the church architect, from what I have heard, does not "fight our corner", so I do not think he would be a suitable person at all. So, unless there happens to be someone who earns their living by being a qualified project manager specialising in church projects, I don't think there is anyone available. So we might as well pay the main contractor to project manage the subcontractors, since we're going to have to pay someone to do it!

Thanks John, very interesting account.

Thank you John. Did you find that the specialist company and architect were exceedingly expensive? That is my impression, which is why I feel it would be a bad idea to use them. Did you also find that the PCC found it rather time-consuming to co-ordinate these extra people? Our PCC seem to experience great difficulty getting companies to respond to them at all, which again is why I think it would be a bad idea to put this extra burden on them.

Hello AJB, sorry for not replying earlier - have only just revisited this forum. The answer to your question is - yes, we have a very strong preference for doing so. However, of the four UK bellhanging firms, two specifically state that they will not do this. So really we are trying to choose between the other two. Best wishes, Barbara

Thank you for your advice. I would love to hear from somebody who has actual recent experience of having work carried out by a specific company. So, if that is you, please do email me directly at blegallezatyahoodotcodotuk . Your comments will be shared with our band and the PCC but will otherwise be in confidence. Thank you.