Ringing Forums

If there is extra noise at the end of a wedding (we ring from the back of the church)
I open the door at the base of the tower steps, next to where we ring, which helps.

We have a 37cwt Tenor, and have always bounced it off (as if you're below a certain weight, it won't move) and we've never damaged it's original stay. Any liter set, and it's difficult to set. To bounce it off, with straight arms, you put your weight on the rope to take all the stretch out of it, this also straightens the ash stay (which due to the weight of the bell, and slight flexability of ash) then release the pressure on the rope momentarily to start the bounce (this takes timing and practice) and as the person on the Treble says "Trebles gone" you let the Tenor drop back for it's final bounce before pulling off behind the other bells.

Recording the bells from outside works well if you're sat in a car with the window down, as this helps cut out any wind/background noise.

On finishing your handstroke, and letting the sally go, move both your hands down keeping them central to your body (no sideways movement) your hands are close to each other, and move your right hand to your left hand, where it should be straight forward catching hold of the tail end with your right hand, as it comes out from the front of your left hand.

Film crews, you could explain there's quite a lot of organising (some people having to travel a distance) to get a band of ringers together, so is there any chance of a donation to our bell fund? They'll probably ask how much you were thinking about, so have a figure in mind, and gage their reaction. Also, try to have a couple of sentences in your mind on what you would like to say in an interview, and no matter what you're asked, try and get these points across in your reply.

Publicity is the key, and that's down to all of us. Frequent short articles in local/Parish mags. emphasising what's happening, occasions you're ringing for, outings you're going on, etc. Intersperse these articles on why anyone may wish to try bell ringing. Helps to keep you physically and mentally fit and active, meet a new social group of friends, it's a cheap hobby, you're always learning something new, outings in the Summer to see other lovely churches/villages you would rarely go to, and a pint afterwards if you wish. An all round great traditional activity that's quite often over looked/missed out upon by many people. What's not to like!

To put emphasis on the word "Lite" does in my view, not help. Ringing is about long graceful strokes keeping the rope taught, finishing the back stroke pointing the hands downward to keep the rope straight. A bell rotating 360 degrees takes little effort, and it is this that needs to be taught. Slightly heavier bells naturally ring slightly slower, giving a learner more time, so can be easier to learn on.
Once I've explained how it works, and done a demo, I start with the learner holding the back stroke,(as explained before I pull off,) for the first few blows, I rest my hand on theirs so their hands go up and down at the correct time in a graceful manner, not stopping at the top. Normally after 6 or 8 blows, I can remove my hand, and they have the correct timing.
Never let go of the tail end (unless stay is broken) always let go of the hand stroke whilst ringing.
Handstroke - I ring the back stroke, the learner keeps their hands down in front of them in the middle, and brings them up to catch the sally at the same time I do, catching the sally on the way up, (as it bobs) pull down and let go, and keep telling them as the sally bobs, "catch on the way up, pull down and let go" and give advice "Too soon, too high" etc.

Ring for the King. Media coverage local and national.
If you wish to "Ring for the King" it takes practise. It would be good to target "New year resolutions" as an ideal time to take up a new hobby/interest/activity in order to be ready and capable in time. It also helps to keep you fit both physically and mentally, and is a good way to meet new friends. In doing so, they'll actively be taking part in this monumental event with fellow bell ringers across the whole country ranging from the largest city to tiny villages.

I agree with Peter Sotheran, wearing a hard hat whilst around a bell frame, the lip of the hat means you cannot see just above your head, and consequently you keep bumping the top of the hat, which is not good for your neck if done repeatedly or too hard.

It's always good to emphasis the different aspects of bell ringing when you're talking to non-ringers, or in leaflets, or if you're writing articles. Putting the thought in their head, as to why they might like to try bell ringing is crucial. This can range from wishing to find a new hobby/activity, meet new people/friendship group, to help stay fit and active both physically and mentally. That's why it's always worth introducing yourself to anyone new to the area, even better a family who might like an activity they can all be part of.
Write articles in Parish/local mags. confirming yours is an active tower (tower outings) and that you're friendly, and how much you enjoy bell ringing.

If you know the order of the work, you'll know when a 3/4 dodge is coming. With 3/4 down, plain hunt to 3rds place, ring back over the bell you've just passed (to 4ths place) then follow treble and the last bell before leading. Don't rush the lead, and then wait for the next bell, so you can go up into 2nds place, 3rds place, etc.
Hope that helps.

On practise nights when there is only 3 of us, we Plain Hunt on 3. Then I take the Treble, and the other 2 bells start to plain hunt, but after leading, if the treble takes them off the lead, they make seconds (by following the treble for 2 blows and leading again) and if the other bell takes you off the lead, followed by the treble, you make long 3rds (4 blows in 3rds place, before hunting back down to lead)
When they can do this, explain about "bobs" saying you start the same as before, but if you say "bob", they carry on plain hunting until the next time they lead. (These "bobs" are not true, as you just repeat yourself, but it's good practise)

In the Truro Guild, we have a Guild email list to cover nearly all tower Captains and Sec., as well as the Guild web. site anyone can visit, all with Data protection in place. On the web site, individuals can contact towers without seeing the contact details.
Guild events - we're trying to encourage publicity, and feedback with/via our District Secs. as much as possible.
Always give a good amount of notice of upcoming events, emails/local mags. and send reminders 8 days before, and 3 days before, so it's in their diaries early, and they don't forget nearer the time. This may sound over the top, but don't leave things to chance.
Our Guild AGM yesturday, we had courses on Bell handling, Grant funding, and Raising and lowering in Peal to encourage new people to attend.

If you really get in a muddle, try to see who is following you, and call yourself behind them, and up to the back, to become the last bell. Then hopefully, it is easier to see the order of the other bells which are now all in front of you, and start changing any pairs which will get it closer to rounds, ie; by calling the heavier bells to follow any lighter bells. After each change, it will get easier to see the order of all the bells, as they get closer to being in rounds.
Sam

A "Tailored training plan" has been mentioned. Sometimes, it can be good to get people interested in a "one off" event. Anything from bell handling, or a Doubles practise, upwards.
That way, people don't feel pressured to commit their Saturday mornings or another evening for so many weeks. At the end, you ask if they enjoyed it? and if they did, would they like to come to another one next week? Before you know it, it's been going for several months. Just takes one person to organise and keep people informed.

At the Truro Guild, to encourage new people to attend our Guild AGM, we're having some training sessions before hand. One for bell handling, where towers can bring along their learners, and for people wishing to learn how to teach others. The other is how to raise and lower a bell, both individually and in Peal. Then lunch, followed by some general ringing in other towers, followed by the AGM and Tea, cakes, etc. This have the double bonus of getting 2 extra groups from a wider sect. of our members along to a Guild event, and it shows what the Guild can do for them.
To make this work, so the day is not too long, we have had to drop the short church service we normally have during the day, however the service is still part of the various District Spring festivals they go to.
Sam.

This is how I organise an outing;
First get a date/Saturday which most/all can make, and confirm with people that they would like to come, which can be just the members of your tower, or a combined outing to make a suitable number of ringers. One local tower to me book a bus, and plenty of non ringers join them for a day out, visiting villages, etc.
Then I pick an area to visit with suitable towers ( not too far on your first outing)
I usually book some of the towers for 45 minutes, and others for 60 minutes, which gives time to ring up, ring various touches, and ring down. Even close towers to each other, allow 30 minutes travel, by the time people get to their cars, look at the map, etc. Nice pub/place for lunch, allowing 1.5 hours from finishing at the previous tower to arriving at the first of the afternoon. This seems a long time, but food orders can take a while, and it's always better to have a relaxing day, than rushing to make up time. Nice pub in the evening is always good. Tea/coffee/toilet break mid-afternoon is nice too.
You can ask the towers you're visiting if they can recommend somewhere to eat, as local knowledge is good. Have fun.

Dust does come off the walls, and settles on the bell frame too. This dust can then attract moisture when it's damp, which isn't good, so a general dust/clean off once/yr. could be beneficial.

Hi Barbara, no, I did not use marine ply as the tower is fairly dry, and it's been in place for may be 20yrs. and still looks good. marine ply would be better though, but is more expensive, so check on cost, and whether one sheet of ply per set of louvers is enough? Marine ply I think comes in smaller sheets.
This will lessen the noise of the bells on the sides you block up, without having any detremental effect on the other sides. but also bear in mind not to over do this, (even if you do have a complaint about the noise) as this needs to be balanced with the vast majority of the population who enjoy listening to them.
Sam

Being on the coast in Cornwall, I blocked up the louvers on the West side with a sheet of ply board screwed in place, as this was the direction of the prevailing wind and rain, and looked down on the pub and some houses. A few yrs. later, we were getting Jackdaws bringing in heaps of twigs for nesting all along the side of the frame, so when they finished nesting, I removed all the material (several bags) and fastened a stainless steel mesh (from a builders merchants) across the louvers, fastened in place by wood battons screwed around the edges. A bit pricey, but will last for ever, whilst maintaining good ventilation in the tower to minimise dampness on the bell frame.