Fun with Bells

In this episode Graham Nabb introduces Fun with Bells podcast host Cathy Booth to one of the most English of pursuits - tower grabbing. Graham is the ideal guide to the uninitiated, having notched up the amazing total of 5785 towers to date.

Rather like the twitchers of the bird watching world, keen tower grabbers are always on the look out for the openings of rare towers that they’ve never rung at. If you’re the collecting type then this is the podcast for you as Graham is full of tips on the best way to plan and record your tower grabs.

However, it’s not all about the thrill of the chase for Graham as he also tells Cathy all about the development of the Association of Ringing Teachers and the huge satisfaction that comes from teaching and developing new ringers.

Whatever your stage of ringing this is the perfect podcast for you - you won’t help but smile at Graham’s huge enthusiasm, great advice and his fantastic ringing stories.


Links

• Dove’s guide: https://dove.cccbr.org.uk
• The ART website http://ringingteachers.org

Top five takeaways

• There are around 6000 ringable towers in the UK, so get out and about and see how many you can ring at.
• Dove’s Guide is a great source of information about towers – why not use it to keep a record of the towers that you have rung at
• If you can ring why not consider going on an ART course to learn to teach – it’s immensely satisfying. Find out more on the ART website
• ART is also a great place for new ringers to find out more – there’s the website, videos, booklets and all sorts of resources to help you learn.
• Yes, some of the bells at other towers might be a bit rough, but getting out and about will help improve your bell handling no end.

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following question in this episode:

Sarah: “I’ve got my first quarter peel coming up shortly. In practice and Sunday Service we only ring for short bursts of time. Have you any tips for maintaining focus and technique for longer periods of ringing?”

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

You may have heard of rope-sight but have you heard of rope-sense? Podcast host Cathy Booth discovers that this highly developed sense of rhythm is just one of the many tools and techniques that has helped Rebecca Legowski on her ringing journey.

Rebecca, who has been blind from birth, is learning to ring on both tower bells and hand bells, and is already lighting up Bell Board, scoring her first handbell peal in March 2019. Rebecca talks to Cathy about both the extra pressures she faces to perform, given that peals by blind ringers are so rare, and the emotional highs, such as ringing for the Armistice celebrations in November 2018.

Although ringing presents some specific challenges to blind people, some of the secrets to Rebecca’s success are things that every ringer can learn from - great technique, good listening and lots of practice on a ringing simulator.

So, if you want to give ringing a go don’t be afraid – as Rebecca says, just go for it!


Links

• Tad Hill http://tadhill.com/ringing/,
• Abel, Mabel and Mobil http://www.abelsim.co.uk/

Top five takeaways

• If you’re visiting a new tower or ringing a different bell, ask if you can test your bell out to feel if it’s light or heavy so you’ll be able to tell how slow or fast the rope will come down.
• Always pull off in a straight line and have a long, smooth pull on the handstroke and then the sally will come down in a consistent place.
• Need some practice outside of the tower? There are several bell simulators you can use – for example, Rebecca mentions Tad Hill, Abel, Mabel and Mobil and an Android app called Methodology.
• If you’re looking for tips for teaching a blind or partially sighted person to ring there’s an article about teaching Rebecca to ring in the ART WORKS magazine http://ringingteachers.org/application/files/4215/2941/7864/ART_WORKS_June_2018.pdf
• Ringing is a great team activity so is the perfect way to widen your social network.

Ask the expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Jon: “Do you have to be a Christian to be a bell ringer?”
• Rob: “What is the main difference between a bob and a single, when called when methods are being rung?”

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 Fun with Bells cream tea debate rages on in this episode as host Cathy Booth’s quizzes Cornish ringer Owen Borlase -  but there’s much more to this interview than cream and jam.

Call change ringing in Cornwall is seen as an art in its own right and Owen is clearly championing the cause through his promotion of call change peals, the book he co-wrote and his success in getting this unique style of ringing recorded.

How does a call change peal work? Helpfully Owen describes the maths involved in very simple terms and explains to Cathy how he goes about composing some of the call change peals that feature in the book.

And if you’re the competitive kind they have it all in Cornwall  – rounds competitions, call change competitions and method ringing competitions. So if you’re an up-country ringer why not travel south to find out more!


Links

• Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers 
• Ringing Down ‘ere’ by John A Purdey and Owen J Borlase

Top five takeaways

• There’s room in bell ringing for all sorts of skills – if maths is your thing have you thought about having a go at composing?
• Touches, quarter peals and peals can be proved to be true using ringing software
• You can find all the information you need about ringing in Cornwall at the Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers website
• Fancy a copy of the book – it’s called ‘Ringing Down ‘Ere’ by John A Purdey and Owen J Borlase
• Walking, canal boats and helicopters – there are lots of ways to get out and about to explore those remote towers

Ask the expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Anne: “When you’re faced with the uncertainty of ringing a bell you’ve never rung before and when you take hold, are there any tips for working out where your hands need to be on the tail end and how firm your initial pull off should be?”
• Mike: “I have seen some experienced ringers use white powder on their hands to help their grip. What is the white powder? Does it actually help? Doesn’t it make the sallies sticky?”

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

In this episode, host Cathy Booth catches up with Bruce Butler in the USA and teases out some top tips to arranging a successful ringing tour. Bruce has been organising ringing tours to the UK since the 1990s - the logistics of arranging transatlantic ringing tours in the days before the internet are mind-blowing.

Having rung in almost 4,000 towers you might imagine the Bruce has some great stories to tell, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Hear about inaccessible spaces, strange ringing attire and some rather unusual furniture in the ringing chamber. And just watch out for the flowers around the font!

Bruce gives a brilliant overview of the towers of North America, their various merits and the differences between ringing over there and in the UK. Loving the sound of a Cathedral with two elevators to take you up to the top.

As Bruce says, American ringers are a welcoming bunch and love to have visitors - so what’s stopping you from planning your tour across the pond ...

February 2022 update: We were sorry to hear of the recent passing of Bruce. I really enjoyed interviewing him and hearing about his enthusiasm for ringing. He will be very much missed by the bell ringing community.

Links

North American Guild of Change Ringers: http://nagcr.org

Top five takeaways

• Ringing in lots of different towers will help improve your bell handling as you’ll experience bells with different weights and different draughts.
• If you want to organise a tour a good tip is to start with the local association of the area you want to visit.
• Plan your days in a circular route around the hotel that you’re staying in.
• The website of the North American Guild of Change Ringers contains details of towers, tower contacts etc.
• If you fancy a real adventure on an island paradise you can even go bell ringing in Hawaii!

Ask the expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Stuart: “Is bell ringing dangerous”
• John “What is the best way to learn to ring bells?

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

In this fascinating podcast, Cathy Booth catches up with top bellringer and inspirational driving force behind the recent Ringing Remembers campaign, Alan Regin MBE. This is a must-listen interview for any new ringing recruit as Alan reveals the origins of his idea for this amazingly successful initiative. 

A prolific ringer, Alan confesses to having rung over over 5,900 peals, with nine of those being in the last seven days! Don’t worry if you’re not sure what a peal is though, as Alan enthusiastically guides Cathy through both the history and technicalities of change ringing, ringing methods and peals.

Not only has Alan’s ringing career resulted in an MBE for services to campanology and heritage, it has also taken him all over the world. Find out what it’s like to go on a bell-ringing tour from listening to Alan’s terrific tales - and why wait for hours at an airport, when you can nip off with your friends to ring a peal at the nearest church instead?

Peals and Ringing Remembers aside, one of Alan’s greatest achievements has been his involvement in installing bells in the church at Ypres to provide a lasting memorial to the fallen, a project so very clearly close to his heart. 

Cathy asks Alan about his own bellringing heroes - well, we don’t know about you, but after listening to this amazing interview, Alan is certainly one of ours.

Links

• The Ringing World – ringingworld.co.uk
• CCCBR Rolls of Honour – cccbr.org.uk/rolls-of-honour/
• St George’s memorial church, Ypres – stgeorgesmemorialchurchypres.com/

Top five takeaways

• Ringing can take you further afield than just the UK – there are towers in countries like Australia, South Africa and the USA.
• As a bellringer, wherever you travel you will find friends who share your hobby and enthusiasm.
• All sorts of people from different ages and backgrounds ring – once you’re in the tower you’re all equal and so it’s a great example of teamwork.
• Peal boards in churches record historic feats of ringing – look out for them when you visit a tower.
• Bellringing has had its own weekly newsletter since the 1800s and still has one today called The Ringing World

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Maddie: “I’ve heard the people in my tower talk about ringing methods.  How long does it take to get to the stage where you can ring methods?”
• Katie: “Apart from practice in the tower, what else could I be doing to help me progress my learning to ring?”

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

Hand bells, bell plates, hand chimes and boomwhackers - who knew there was so much variety!?! In this podcast Cat Nettles talks Cathy Booth through the wonderful world of handbell ringing, filling her in on the history, range of instruments and styles of ringing,

Cathy discovers that hand bellringing allegedly began when church bell ringers, unable to get into their towers for one reason or another, asked manufacturers to make small bells so that they could practice in the pub - smart move. With the addition of some extra bells they found they could join in with the hymns and hand bell ringing became an art in its own right.

How do handbells work? How much do they cost? Can you fit them all into your car?
Cathy asks Cat all the questions that you’re dying to ask, and more. Yes, handbell ringers do occasionally let go of them and yes, they’re insured.

The different style of bells means that all ages can learn to ring - from toddlers up to people in their nineties, and Cat is justifiably proud of her all-age ringing team. Hear about the triumphs and tribulations of leading a team and some of their scrapes - all part of the fun of ringing at weddings, functions and outside events.

Links

• The Music Makers Handbell Ringers: the-music-makers-handbell-ringers.business.site/
• The Handbell Ringers of Great Britain: www.hrgb.org.uk

Top five takeaways

• You don’t need to be able to read music to be able to play handbells – this means that it’s the ideal way of introducing tunes to toddlers.
• Unlike church bell change ringing, handbell ringing is more developed in other countries such as the USA and Asia.
• For some amazing handbell ringing, check out Damien Lim and the Ministry of Bellz
• Ringers can play in small groups but can get together for mass ringing, or ring in an orchestra of 35 – 40 ringers.
• Interested in finding out more and having a go? The go-to place is the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Chris: “My teacher tells me to ring faster so I pull harder but the bell just goes slower. What am I doing wrong and how can I correct this?”
• Rosa: “How old do I have to be before I can learn to ring tower bells?”
• Stuart: “Is tower bell ringing dangerous?”
• John: “What is the best way to learn to ring tower bells?”

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

What’s different about ringing in Australia to ringing in the UK? How is ringing on eight similar to rowing in an eight? How does it feel to be involved in the inner workings of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers?

David Smith’s amazingly diverse and wide-ranging ringing CV means he can give fantastic answers to all of these questions, and many more, put to him by podcast host Cathy Booth.

In this thoroughly entertaining episode, David also explains the benefits of ringing simulators, the fun of photo-bombing weddings at Brisbane Cathedral and how the Association of Ringing Teachers’ courses can transform able ringers into confident teachers. It’s heartening to hear that teachers can start off just as nervous as their learners!

Bell ringing is on the increase in Australia and New Zealand, and with such enthusiastic advocates as David one can understand why, so stay tuned to the very end - especially as the interview takes a dramatic and unexpected turn ...

Links

• Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR): cccbr.org.uk/about/
• The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bell Ringers (ANZAB) : anzab.org.au

Top five takeaways

• Although you may be an intermediate ringer at your own tower you might be more advanced than beginners at other towers. All the more reason for getting out and about.
• Why not try ringing on a simulator – it will help with your listening skills and is also a great way to get your head around new methods.
• Find out more about the work of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers – the representative body for all who ring bells in the English tradition with rope and wheel. Founded in 1891, it now covers all parts of the British Isles as well as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, South Africa and Italy
• Interested in finding out more about ringing in Australia? The ANZAB website has all you need to know.
• If you’re at a church wedding and get photobombed by the bell ringers don’t forget to compliment them on their striking!

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following question in this episode:

• James: “Why, when I can ring plain hunt on 5, people at my tower won’t let me ring plain hunt on 6 yet.  I want to know how to persuade them to let me have a go at it?”

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

Sparked originally from her interest in family history, the national Ringing Remembers campaign inspired Diane Smith to step forward to learn bellringing to honour the 1,400 ringers that lost their lives during the First World War. But what does it feel like to learn a new skill in order to take part in such a high profile event?

In this episode, Cathy Booth catches up with Diane after the big day to find out how it all went and hear about all the fun and hard work that’s gone on behind the scenes to becoming a novice bellringer.

Diane went from not really knowing anything about bells at all, to proudly ringing in Sheffield Cathedral as part of the armistice day celebrations - an emotional journey helped along the way by her fellow learners, helpful bellringers and proud friends.

It’s brilliant to hear how far Diane has come as she helps answer some of Cathy’s questions about the basics of bellringing, like rounds and call changes. This podcast is the ideal introduction to what to expect when you decide to take up the art.

Links

Association of Ringing Teachers shop http://www.ringingteachers.org/resource-centre/shop 

Top five takeaways

• Learning with others is a great way to go – you may get a little less rope time but you benefit from learning from others’ mistakes
• Your teachers and experienced bellringers all want you to succeed – listen to all their comments and you’ll make great progress
• Don’t worry if your friends and family tease you a little, they are actually secretly proud of you!
• Bellringers are a very friendly bunch so just pop to your local tower on practice night and ask if you can watch
• There are some DVDs that can help you – these are available from the Association of Ringing Teachers shop – see links.

Ask the Expert

Pip Penney answered the following questions in this episode:

• Aaron: “I’m getting a bit bored of doing the same thing (ringing rounds and call changes) – what can I do to spice things up?”
• Georgina: “My teacher tells me that I have a problem with the way I catch and let go of the sally.  I don’t understand what he is getting at.  How can I better understand what to do?”
• Rachel: “Bell ringing sounds like an interesting hobby.  How would I know whether I am likely to be any good at it?”

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

They do things differently in Devon, so Cathy Booth discovers in this interview with Devon call change ringer Ryan Trout. Not only do they have a distinctive cream tea, Devon also has its very own unique style of bell ringing.

With a great sense of regional pride, Ryan fills Cathy in about this fast and furious ringing style which has it’s own terms and traditions. Listen in to discover more about cartwheeling, Sixties on Thirds, which is also known as the Queen’s Peal, and when to employ a strapper.

Although Ryan’s been ringing since about the age of nine this podcast is evidence that he still gets a huge buzz from ringing, visiting other towers, going up into the bell chamber and, of course, visiting the pub afterwards. And keen to encourage others, he generously shares some great tips on places to ring both in Devon and further afield.
Ryan is passionate about ringing and spreading the word about Devon call changing, and although you can hear it second hand on You Tube, he urges people to come to Devon and experience if for themselves. Sounds like you’ll get an extremely warm welcome and so, with excellent bell striking, delicious cream teas and some wonderful pubs, what’s stopping you?

Links

• Devon Association of Ringers
• Guild of Devonshire ringers
• YouTube channel for Devon call change ringing: Bellr1ngers 

Top five takeaways
– Want to see and hear what Devon call changes are about but can’t travel? Check out these interesting You Tube accounts.
– You don’t have to be a Devon ringer to focus on your bell striking – try entering your band into a local striking competition to help you improve. 
– Would you be a good bell ringing judge? Try listening to some bell ringing from outside the tower and see if you can spot any gaps or clashes.
– There’s no set age at when you can start to ring – it’s up to individual development and a lot depends on the size of your hands.
– Ringing can get you into some special spaces that people would not normally get to see, like inside bell towers, historic colleges and even film locations!

Ask the Expert

In this episode, Pip Penney answered the following questions:

• Rebecca: “I’ve heard people talking about being able to hear their bell, but I can’t distinguish the sound of my bell.  How much of a problem is this?”
• Sophie: “I’ve started to learn to ring, but so far it is just me and my teacher.  How long should I expect it to take before I will be able to ring with other ringers?”
• Harry: “What is the most difficult thing about learning to ring?”

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

This interview smashes any pre-conceptions that bellringing is something that only older people do, with an inspirational interview with a ringer in her twenties, Emily Hall. Emily started learning to ring at the age of seven and then, when aged just nine, set up the Derbyshire Young Ringers so that she could spend time in the tower with people of her own age.

In conversation with Cathy Booth, Emily reveals what it’s like to be a young ringer and the huge benefits ringing can give to young people growing up, going to university and beginning their adult lives.

As well as having fun with her family, making friends for life and the fantastic social life, Emily explains that there’s a competitive side to ringing too and describes what happens at a striking competition when bands of ringers compete to be the best.

And if you’re one of the people Emily has come across that thinks the University Bellringing Society is full of weirdos, Emily’s heartwarming tales of travelling across the country, making new friends, drinking, dancing and discovering love will definitely make you think again - and also make you want to sign your children up for bellringing lessons straight away!

Links

• www.bellringing.org
• www.cccbr.org.uk
• www.universtityringing.org if you’re at uni.
• Nottingham Bellringing – an Android app

Top five takeaways

• All the maths you need in order to ring at most of the towers in the country is to be able to count up to 8 and back down again!
• When you start out, try visiting as many towers as possible so you get to experience different bells – this will improve your bell handling no end.
• Ringing can help with your concentration, confidence and looks great on your CV.
• If you’re looking for the perfect family activity, then ringing could be it! Spend quality time with your loved ones (without necessarily having to speak to them!).
• There are lots of great websites to find out more – see the links.

Ask the Expert

In this episode, Pip Penney answered the following question:

• Charlie: “There are often a lot of people at my practice night, is there anything I can do to improve my ringing whilst I’m sitting out?”

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