Fun with Bells

For this episode, show host Cathy Booth stays close to home and interviews her ringer husband, Roger, a trustee of the Charmborough Ring. 

Not just your average mini-ring, the Charmborough Ring is the heaviest portable ring of bells in the country. Heavier, believe it or not, than some rings of tower bells. 

So how many people does it take to put up a portable belfry? Roger expertly talks us through the answer to this and all the other essentials, such as how much it weighs, how long it takes to put up and how big your car needs to be to tow it.

As well as talking through all of the practicalities, Roger shows how portable belfries and mini-rings are an inspirational recruitment tool and can lead to ringing in the most exciting places. Anyone up for ringing a quarter peal on a boat?

The message comes across loud and clear - if you can’t get people up to the bells then take the bells out to them!

Top 5 takeaways

• The difference between a mini-ring and a portable belfry is the weight of the bells
• Why not think about hiring your nearest mini-ring for your next recruitment campaign
• If you’d like to hire the Charmborough Ring or just find out more then visit their website at www.charmborough.org
• If you’re interested in what other mini-rings there are, try www.campaniles.co.uk or https://www.nsacr.org.uk/LDMB/
• Imagine ringing on a boat or the back of a lorry! What unusual location would you like to ring in?

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Ever wondered what it was like to learn how to ring? Or have forgotten what it was like when you first started out?

Discover, or rediscover, in this podcast, as host Cathy Booth talks to not one, but to two new ringers currently following the ART Learning The Ropes scheme.

Linda simply answered an advertisement in village magazine posted by a fellow dog-walker. As for Annie, well two years sailing around the world obviously wasn’t challenging enough and so has now found her land legs and a new passion for bells.

Both ringers talk enthusiastically about their newly found hobby, the patience of their teachers and the friendliness of the other ringers. Find out how ringing is good for your both your mind and your body and also what mischief you can cause


Top five takeaways

• Want to learn to ring with an ART teacher? Go to http://ringingteachers.org and Rose can help!
• Learning the Ropes is a progressive learning scheme for bell ringers. It uses milestones to enable ringers to progress faster and further. Find out more at http://www.learningtheropes.org
• Ringing simulators are a great way for beginners to learn without annoying the rest of the neighbourhood
• As well as good physical exercise, bellringing can help with mindfulness as it takes your whole concentration
• Want to explore what bell ringing is like from the comfort of your own home? Just go into YouTube, type in ‘bell ringing’ and take your pick.

About Annie’s sailing trip

Following Annie’s circumnavigation with her husband Tom in their 45 ft sailing yacht VELA, her memorable 3-year voyage took her to far-flung corners of the globe, including the remote pearl islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Returning to the U.K. keen to get back her land legs, she was looking for new challenges.

Instead of hauling the ropes found herself learning the ropes by taking up bell ringing.

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Most Ringing Remembers recruits were thrilled to have rung at their tower for last year’s Remembrance Day but enthusiastic new ringer and amateur film maker Chris Richmond rang at seven!

Podcast host, Cathy Booth, finds out that Chris’s enthusiasm initially stemmed from his interest in sound recording. His desire to record the sound of the bells led him up into a local tower, but it was the sound of the bells ringing down in peal was the final push he needed to take hold of a rope and learn to ring. From then on he’s been hooked.

Top 5 takeaways

• Don’t underestimate the impact that ringing up and down well in peal can have, non-ringers can be amazed by the sound
• If you’re keen to hear a range of different church bells why not tune into BBC Radio 4’s ‘Bells on Sunday’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006sgsh
• Why not plan a visit to the Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre and ring your way across Norfolk. Find out more at www.mrdc.org.uk or email [email protected]
• Interested in Chris’ You Tube videos? Take a peek here: https://www.youtube.com/user/djoska87
• Check out the website of your local ringing association – it’s bound to be a mine of helpful information

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Having worked at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for 40 years, Nigel Taylor is the perfect guide to how to tune a bell, talking podcast host Cathy Booth through the whole process from design to casting and tuning. And if you’ve never considered the actual sound a bell makes before, this podcast will be a revelation.

You might never use the word ‘dong’ again after you discover that a tower bell is inharmonic, which means although a bell appears to have a single distinct pitch, the sound is made up of a variety of different tones.

As Nigel describes how this all works, Cathy gets the answers to a host of fascinating questions, such as why new bells sound different to old bells, how the shape of old bells makes a difference to how you retune them and which bells are the hardest to tune.

Be warned though, after listening to this podcast you may well wish to scramble up a ladder into the tower to look at the bells, just as Nigel did as a boy.


Top 5 takeaways

• Find out more about the campaign to save the Whitechapel Bell Foundry here http://www.savethewhitechapelbellfoundry.com/
• You don’t need to have perfect pitch, or even pitch memory, to become a bell tuner. Nowadays there are all sorts of sophisticated computer equipment to help.
• Listen to some old bells and some new ones. Can you tell the difference? How do you feel when the ringing ends and the tenor sets?
• Nowadays any inscriptions and decorations on a bell are created by attaching silicone on the bell pattern. Are there any interesting inscriptions on your tower’s bells?
• Why not visit a foundry and see the process for yourself, or even organise a trip for your tower http://taylorbells.co.uk/visiting/

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

The world of 12 bell ringing on enormous bells is indeed a rarefied one, but that there is an overriding sense of outreach and community in Mark Regan’s in-depth and wide-ranging conversation with podshow host Cathy Booth. Being ringing master at Worcester Cathedral, having rung about 2,400 peals, helping set up the first bell ringing training centre in the country and being involved in an amazing number of bell rehanging projects there is a lot to get through!

According to Mark, the secret to all successful bell projects is having a strong purpose and good communications, especially getting the Church and PCC on your side. Enthusiasm helps too and this interview may just well inspire you to aim higher with your own projects. Or even just to get to grips with routine tower maintenance.

One of the highlights of this show is where Mark talks about the people that that both encouraged him and inspired him to become the ringer that he is today. And by the sounds of it, Mark has himself become a role model for a new generation of ringers – especially Sam who recently strapped Liverpool Cathedral tenor at the tender age of ten. Fantastic stuff!

Links

• www.worcesterbells.org
• www.stpeters-cathedral.org.au/music/ringing-centre
• www.mrdc.org.uk

Top five takeaways

• Who are your role models? Could you inspire the next generation of bell ringers?
• The key must-dos about steeple keeping are: Never work in a tower on your own, learn how to splice a rope, learn how to tighten up nuts and bolts, learn how to centre clappers, make sure that pulleys turn round, use polypropylene modern ropes, use modern top ends, keep wheels treated, paint everything with rust inhibitors and keep the pigeons out!
• The most important thing about any bell project is communications and keeping everyone on side.
• Why not visit your nearest training centre and try out their dumbbells – you won’t have to queue up like usually happens on practice night.
• If possible, open up your tower for visits from schools and clubs, engage more with your audience and get out and about in your community.

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Find out more about the CCCBR, with its long history, ambitious vision for the future and huge raft of essential services in this wide ranging interview with the CCCBR President.

Christopher O’Mahoney, President of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringing,  says that the good thing about ringing is that there is something for everyone. 

 Find out more about the CCCBR. Now you’ll know exactly where to turn to for help when the neighbours come knocking on the tower complaining about the noise!

 And you’ll definitely be making a beeline for the Council weekend in September once you hear Christopher reel off the wonderful line-up of activities that are going to be on offer.

 The message from Christopher comes out clear and loud – by getting involved, striving to do our best and contributing our skills, together we can transform bell ringing. Just look what he’s already achieved by stepping forward and giving something back. Not bad for a boy from Sydney who took up ringing to supplement the income he was getting as a choir boy.

Links

• Central Council of Church Bell Ringers: https://cccbr.org.uk/
• Council weekend https://cccbr.org.uk/about/annual-meetings/2019-meeting/

Top five takeaways

• Don’t miss the Central Council meeting weekend, 6-8 September at Goldsmith’s College in London.
• Need advice and guidance on insurance, risk assessment, fire risk, tower safety, safeguarding, child protection or more? Go straight to the CCBR.
• Think about using the skills you have in your day job to support your tower and the wider ringing community.
• The key themes for the CCBR are to recruit and develop new learners and leaders, engage more maturely with the church and stakeholders, raise positive public awareness, celebrate and promote historical legacy, promote excellence in standards and increase participation in the work of the council.
• Ringing is a great privilege and if you want to give something back there are great opportunities for leadership, teaching and service.

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Bonus episode:

This short episode is a trailer for the YouTube coverage of the national 12 bell striking competition to be held in Exeter on Saturday 22nd June 2019.

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtgohlpICbnCPm0vig3H_oA

National 12 bell Striking Competition website: http://www.12bell.org.uk/

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

The first Fun with Bells Podcast Season ends with a generous double helping as show host Cathy Booth interviews young ringer Charlie Linford and audio engineer David Richards.

Charlie (11) explains to Cathy that bell ringing is a rewarding hobby for all ages as she throws light on some of the theory behind ringing, including some tips on how to start learning methods.

With seven quarter peals under her belt already and an impressive list of towers she has rang at it seems only a matter of time before Charlie is ringing at the National 12 Bell Competition. Talking of which, if you’ve ever been interested in recordings are made to help judge a striking competition, or indeed the best way to record any bell ringing, then the interview with David will fascinate you.

Packed full of practical tips and suggestions, David talks Cathy through making detailed recording of bells for analysis, ambient recordings of bells to remember a special occasion and spur of the moment recordings when you just happen to be passing a tower and the ringing is brought you joy. This interview will really make you want to get you out and about making your own recordings.

Of course, Charlie doesn’t need to do this as her ringing has already been recorded – on Newsround!

Links

Recording on a mobile

• Voice Record Pro (for iPhone): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/voice-record-pro/id546983235
• Audio Recorder (for Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonymobile.androidapp.audiorecorder

Bells on Sunday

• CCCBR guidance (28 Jan 2022): https://cccbr.org.uk/2022/01/28/bells-on-sunday-guide-to-making-a-recording/
• CCCBR advice: https://www.ringingworld.co.uk/news-articles/general/504-bells-on-sunday-74.html
• Zoom H4n pro: https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h4n-pro-handy-recorder
• Behringer XM1800s: http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Behringer/Microphones/Dynamic/XM8500/p/P0120
• Behringer C2: http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Behringer/Microphones/Condenser/C-2/p/P0263
• Beyerdynamic M201TG: https://europe.beyerdynamic.com/m-201-tg.html

Top Five takeaways

• You don’t necessarily need any special equipment to record tower bells as you can capture the sound on a mobile phone, just be careful to record in a sheltered spot to avoid any wind noise.
• By far and away the easiest way to record bells is to take a video – you can then just take the audio out, if that’s what you’re after.
• If you’re recording hand bells indoors, consider the environment you are in. Be aware of hard walls or floors that could distort the sound or produce an unnatural reverberation.
• If you’re able to invest in some equipment the Zoom H4n Pro recorder comes highly recommended. If it’s mobile phone apps you’re after, take a look at Voice Record Pro for iPhone or Audio Recorder for Android.
• Bell ringers often celebrate their ringing achievements with a pint – but if you’re 11 years old a bacon sandwich can do the trick!

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

'Recruit 1400 new ringers to remember those who lost their lives in the first World War' – this was the mission that Vicki Chapman chose to accept and the rest, as they say, is history.

Vicki talks podcast host Cathy Booth through her involvement in the overwhelmingly successful Ringing Remembers campaign -  from that fateful telephone call one evening to the bells ringing out across the world on 11 November 2018 with the help of over 2800 new ringers. Stirring stuff!

And if you’re wondering what’s next, Vicki reveals some of the exciting plans ahead, so listen in for news of ringing for Versailles, the 75th anniversary of the D Day Landings and a mini bellringing roadshow.

Of course, there’s so much more to Vicki’s ringing story than Ringing Remembers so tune in for a podcast packed with activity - just like Vicki’s life.


Links

• Central Council of Church Bell Ringers: https://cccbr.org.uk/
• The Essex Association of Change Ringers: https://eacr.org.uk/

Top five takeaways

• Fancy some intensive bell ringing training? Check out the Essex Ringing Course and other ringing courses at Hereford and Bradfield.
• You don’t have to be a brilliant ringer to get involved, just volunteer your time and particular gifts and skills to your local tower, district association or guild.
• If you’re a Ringing Remembers recruit why not look out for other notable occasions to ring for?
• If you’ve lots of learners in your tower and want to practice without upsetting the neighbours, then think about investing in a ringing simulator.
• The Ringing Remembers campaign could not have been a success without the support of local ringers recruiting, training and continuing to teach all the new recruits. Great work everyone!

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following question in this episode:

• Steve: “My son Oliver has just rung in the south east England youth striking competition (for Essex).  He is struggling a bit with methods, any tips to help him learn. He is ringing three times a week and has been on the excellent Essex ringing course.”

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org

Ever wondered what the attraction of handbell ringing is? Well, Judy Vale gives Fun with Bells Podcast host, Cathy Both, a whole raft of reasons to take up this absorbing and musical hobby.

Handbells are part of our history and tradition, you can take your handbells out to places like care homes and really connect with your audience and you don’t need to be able to read music to play a tune.

And just like tower bell ringing, Judy explains, handbell ringing is a team endeavour, needs commitment and a great deal of technique. There is also cake involved.

What do you do if you want bells at a wedding in a church that doesn’t have a tower? Just bring your own.

Finally, you can forget about freezing cold church towers in the middle of winter, one of the perks of handbell ringing that Judy reveals is the pleasure of ringing in a medieval banqueting hall of a stately home with a roaring fire.

Links

• Handbell Ringers of Great Britain: https://www.hrgb.org.uk/
• Glossary of bellringing terms: http://www.jaharrison.me.uk/Ringing/Glossary/index.html#Top

Top five takeaways

• Learning to ring handbells is like learning to ring tower bells. You start off with learning technique and then move onto simple tunes.
• You can find a handbell group near from the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain
• A set of handbells is a bit like a piano – if you get any of them repaired, you’ll need to get them tuned to fit in with the rest of your bells.
• Good handbell ringing, like good striking, takes practice and commitment
• When planning to ring outside always remember to have some cover in case it rains!

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following question in this episode:

• Jessica: “What does ‘Don’t drop your backstrokes!’ mean, and what do you want the recipient, of this instruction, to do differently?”

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org