Coventry Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers
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Submit Article: Articles for inclusion in the newsletter are very welcome. Please Click here for guidance as to how to submit something, or simply Click here to email something directly to me. Many thanks! Mike Chester (Editor). Download Newsletter (PDF format): January Qtr 2009 April Qtr 2009 July Qtr 2009 October Qtr 2009 |
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| OCTOBER 2009 EDITION | LATEST NEWS (for next edition) |
Postcodes for each tower have now been added to the Tower Directory. Please ensure that you are aware of the correct one for your own tower and have a notice stating this, and any local emergency contact numbers, clearly displayed in your ringing rooms. Increasingly emergency call centres are being centralised and not knowing your postcode could easily delay the arrival of the emergency services.
President's Message
How many of you took part in the "Heritage Weekend" recently? This was a nation-wide event run concurrently with the "Ride and Stride Day" on Saturday 12 September. The idea was to raise money by sponsorship and otherwise for the care and upkeep of our ancient church buildings. The reason for mentioning it here is because at many churches the ringers took the opportunity to open up their ringing chambers and belfries to the general public. This gave them an opportunity to explain to the uninitiated some of the mysteries and customs of our ancient art (or is it a science?). Certainly at the Cathedral the fascination could be seen on many faces, particularly by the youngsters, and some even had a go (under strict supervision!). The Cathedral bells can, of course, be viewed quite safely from the glass fronted viewing platform above the bells while they are ringing.
Perhaps some of those who saw what goes on in a tower will be attracted and can be encouraged to come along and take up ringing. We need to keep on recruiting more people to keep the bells ringing on Sundays and the Festivals. Some towers are thriving and others are struggling to keep the bells going.
Just a word of caution. Bear in mind the rules on Health and Safety and the Child Protection Regulations when showing round those who may not be familiar with the hazards which can be encountered. Common sense is all that is needed.
Keep the bell wheels turning!
Michael Gray
Handbell Practice
On 22/06/09 I wrote to the change-ringers list to say that I had experimented with ActionXL motion controllers as dummy handbells and had written some interface software to use them with Abel. I am pleased to say that trials with a small group of testers is now complete, and has been very successful.
During the trials we identified not only some improvements to the "Handbell Manager" interface software, but also some improvements to Abel, which Chris Hughes has now implemented. Abel's bell pictures now swing rather than flip instantaneously between strokes. This dramatically improves handbell "ropesight", and this together with the use of motion controllers for the physical feel of ringing handbells takes simulation of handbell ringing to a new level.
For more information on the Handbell Manager software and motion controllers (including a video of them being used with Abel) Click Here
To download the latest upgrade of Abel, version 3.7, which also allows you to practise towerbell ropesight using moving rope images, Click Here
Graham Nabb
Kids in Charge - Early Success
Well done to Alexander Rogers (Pillerton Hersey) and William Taylor (Ladbroke) who rang their first rounds on the KIC day having first handled a rope only 8 days previously. Neither are teenagers yet. (they also cooked the Burgers quite well too...)
Kids in Charge - or Ready, Steady, Ring?!!
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Graham Nabb
The Harry Windsor Ringing Centre
Visit by Stoneleigh Tower
Many thanks are due to Graham and Sue for the hospitality and help given to Stoneleigh’s ringers during their recent visit to The Harry Windsor Ringing Centre. The Stoneleigh band thoroughly enjoyed their evening at Kineton and were ‘abel’ (excuse the pun) to try their hand against a machine with no mercy, which did not flatter the more experienced!
My personal feeling is that this facility should be used as much as possible and that we should not be afraid to put our hands in our pockets to support such a valuable resource. A good night’s fun can be had across a wide range of skills – even Ringing Parties can be catered for (at the Centre’s discretion). The learning potential is enormous for all abilities and, of course, a big plus is that it cannot annoy the neighbours.
Sue and Graham are certainly very keen and they deserve all the support they can get from fellow Guild members. Some of the Stoneleigh band have individually taken advantage of this Centre for private tuition sessions – a pleasant surprise to me – and others seem to be following their lead.
Bob Taylor
Stoneleigh Tower
HWRC Courses
Upcoming courses at the Harry Windsor Ringing Centre include:-
Basic Maintenance - November 21st 2009
Tower Captain's Course - January 30th 2010
Child Protection - Guild Responsibilities
Members will be aware of the new legislation which partially comes into effect from October , 2009 one element of which is that the Guild has to ensure that training of young people is under the supervision of CRB checked adults.
In order to help the discharge of its responsibilities, I should be grateful if tower captains or secretaries could notify me of the names of those adults in local bands who have been CRB checked, this could include those who have been checked because of involvement of other church youth actvities such as choir , youth group or Sunday school. Names please to Chris Mew on 01926 402273 or email mewsofwarwick82@tiscali.co.uk.
John Thornton - Memorial
Ringers will be pleased to know that John Thornton of Warwick is to be remembered at St Mary's by the installation of a new flag pole to replace the one removed due to its unsafe condition. A faculty has already been granted.
Warwick District News
We were approached by the Prayer Book Society to ring for their service at Honily on the 22nd July. The service was taken by Dr Christopher Cocksworth Bishop of Coventry . A quarter of bob minor was rung by members of the Guild prior to the service with ringing after the service.We were also able to ring on the 24th September for their meeting at Coughton.
There was a District picnic outing to Cropthorne, Gt Comberton and Emley Castle, on the 1st of August. The weather was poor and the attendance even worse. But the day was enjoyed by those that did turn up.
The meeting at Sutton under Brailes on the 5th September with a service, tea and meeting with further ringing at Brailes was again poorly attended.
We are as a committee about to form next year's calendar of events. With the poor attendance at most of the meetings this year it begs the question should we have any meetings this year?
Let there be no doubt there will be a full calendar of meetings and events this coming year 2010.
However I think its well worth considering, various questions surrounding the District Meetings in the future.
I do not propose to give any definitive answers to the following questions, but rather to try and stimulate some debate so that we can establish a workable well supported framework to take the Guild and the Warwick District forward.
What is the purpose of the Monthly Guild Business Meeting?
As I see it the main purpose of the Business meeting is to decimate information to the membership, and act as a conduit for the members to influence the Guild, and the election of new members. Also to give members the opportunity to socialize with other ringers and gain experience of ringing within a different environment, and to broaden their ringing skills.
With modern methods of communication the cross fertilization of information is now easily done without the need for a monthly meeting. Election of new member could be left until the Guild Quarterly where they are ratified anyway. Any question, problems, etc. could be debated within the whole Guild rather than at a local level, and then having to refer them to the main Quarterly Meeting for a final decision.
Therefore is there a case for only holding Bushiness Meeting Quarterly?
Should the monthly District Meetings be replaced by a monthly outing?
The Monthly meetings give members the opportunity to ring at different towers with different ringers. Being able to ring with more experienced ringers at all levels can only help everyone.
A meeting at a tower with few members or a lot of new ringers could help that tower bring on its ringers, therefore combining an outing with the possible training. Perhaps nominating a tower with identifiable needs, for example, a tower where members would benefit from a strong band ringing around them to help them improve, or individuals with needs that cannot be met within their own towers
Should there be a service at every meeting?
This is an emotive subject ,however one that needs to be aired. I would suggest that a service only at a Guild Quarterly and a Guild Carol service could be acceptable. This is perhaps an area which needs careful thought and discussion.
Should there be a tea at every meeting?
The main function of the tea is one of socializing, this is a major part of the monthly meeting for many members. Without a service and business meeting a monthly “outing” to towers ringing for an hour each would only cover a couple of hours do we therefore need a full afternoon “cucumber sandwiches” tea?
The Harry Windor Centre is doing great things on the training front , but should we be augmenting and strengthening that initiative with meeting dedicated to training , as some other districts and Guilds do. This perhaps is more in the remit of training within the Guild as a whole rather than at the District level, however we should not lose sight of the fact that training new ringers and bringing on existing ringer is the life blood of the Guild .It is an area where the district should become more active
I have posted these questions on the yahoo group for open discussion and I would be pleased to hear your views on any of the points I have raised. I hope that over the next few months we can arrive at a consensus ready for the 2011 diary of events, even if it is to maintain the Status Quo.
Tom Houghton
Laura's First Quarter
Claverdon, Warwickshire, St Michael & all Angels
Thursday, 24 September 2009 (11)
1260 Plain Bob Doubles
1 Laura Taylor
2 Graham Nabb
3 Lucy Gwynne
4 Robin Green
5 Sue Marshall (C)
6 John Gwynne
First quarter peal: 1
Ringing Competition Results
Judge Ian Unsworth, plus his sister judged the Ringing Competition Final, held at Exhall on Saturday 26th September. The results were:-
Call Changes
Whitnash A 93%
Monks Kirby 89%
Stoke B 85%
Whitnash B were a ringer short so rang with one from their A team and therefore were not placed.
Method Ringing
Warwick 97.1%
Stoke A 96.5%
Cathedral 96%
Southam 94%
Brinklow 93%
Bilton 88%
Viv Hopkins and helpers ran refreshments all through afternoon. They also had set up a camera in the bells and ran "The Craft of Bellringing" DVD, a well publicised PR exercise to try and get some recruits.
Newbold's AGM
At the St Botolph’s, Newbold-on-Avon, tower AGM on Thursday 12 November, John Slack was elected Tower Captain and V al Foster was re-elected Secretary. With immediate effect, the tower contacts are:
Val Foster, keith-foster1@sky.com, 01788 814489, 32 Mulberry Road, Bilton, Rugby, CV22 7TD
John Slack, john.slack1940@tiscali.co.uk, 01788 570899, 74 Chapel Street, Long Lawford, Rugby, CV23 9BE
The Rev’d Paul M Wilkinson, paulwilkinson54@btinternet.com, 01788 543055, The Vicarage, Main Street, Newbold-on-Avon,
Rugby, CV21 1HH
The retiring Tower Captain thanked the members of the tower and the ringers of the Rugby Deanery District for their generous support to St Botolph’s over the years.
Tim Weedon
Help Required
The Radford Semele band are practising at Offchurch each Monday evening and are in need of some assistance. They need a few people who can ring PB Doubles to help the band progress; Grandsire and PB Minor would be a bonus. Someone who can put people right would also help.
Can you help out? Perhaps you might team up with some other ringers to go on rotation?
Please make contact with Claire Darlington if you can help out. claire.darlington1953@yahoo.com
Would you like to ring church bells?”
How was I to know that this fairly innocent question would change the course of my life?
It was a question from a supposed friend who had visited the tower at Tewkesbury Cathedral, didn’t think she would even be let in the tower, but was made very welcome and enjoyed what she saw and heard so much that she decided to test the waters. She and I were in the habit of walking together over fields and styles in the countryside each Saturday and now June was suggesting we add the steps to our local church tower to our walking plans.
I was very naïve. I had heard church bells and liked them very much but hadn’t a clue what was involved – I was a bit like the photographer who sent a message to the bell tower – ‘Will you switch the bells off now, please?’
My answer to June’s question, ‘We can give it a try!’ set everything in motion. Before I knew it, I had been introduced to Tom at St Margaret’s, Whitnash, and I was on my way. Looking back I wonder how I could possibly have reached the age of 69 with so little knowledge of how it all works.
Anyway, we turned up at 7 o’clock on a Friday evening to ‘try it out’. I had never seen or heard of a sally or tail end before but soon found myself being instructed in how to hold the said items. Richard and Kelly were wonderfully patient instructors but June and I were not the best pupils. There were numerous times when one of us felt that the uphill struggle was beyond us – it was so often a case of one step forward and two back – and we passed comments about wasting everybody’s time, and best if we give up, on far more than one occasion. But, supporting each other, each time we lifted ourselves out of the doldrums and on we plodded. We spent hours and hours just learning how to hold the rope correctly and eventually, a fter months of practice, we were able to pull the sally with the silencer off. It was fantastic to actually hear the bell ring! But by now we realised that it was a mountain we were planning to climb and we had caught the addiction – there was no turning back!
Stepping into the tower was just like stepping into a foreign country. The language was like nothing we had ever heard before – hunt, dodge, make thirds, long fifths, bob, single, lead – would we ever understand what all of these words meant? And then the names of the methods the ringers were ringing – they were alien as also was this funny thing on a paper called ‘a blue line” The regular ringers seemed to us so competent that the mountain we had to climb seemed like Everest.
But June and I persevered. It was good to eventually follow another bell and then move on to rounds. Our stilted efforts demanded much patience from the rest of the ringers but they were all extremely tolerant and helpful. And eventually, after months and months of practice, we reached the dizzy heights of call changes. This took a lot of getting our heads round – ‘follow the bell that is in front of the bell you are following’ –or something like that, they patiently called to us. Richard and Kelly had been very generous giving up many Saturday mornings to help us on our way.
About the time we learnt that Richard and Kelly were moving to another area we discovered that a new bell ringing venture was just beginning at Kineton. It really was opportune and a chance to take our new found basic talent a step further. We introduced ourselves to Graham and turned up at The Harry Windsor Ringing Centre at Kineton where the sessions on the simulator seemed a lifeline, and it wasn’t long before we were turning up on Thursday mornings to be assisted by strong ringers who were very generous with their time.
Over the last couple of years we have endured injuries to fingers when we lost sallies or even on one occasion broke a stay. We have experienced trips to many other towers arranged by our fellow bell ringers and in truth we have never regretted taking up our new hobby but wished we had done so in our youth when mountains were easier to climb.
We have moved on to the wonders of Bob Doubles now and we have even tested the waters further afield with Grandsire Doubles, Cloister Doubles, Stedman, Bob Triples and Grandsire Triples –mostly on treble - but we have a lot more learning to do. At long last, thanks to Graham’s never-ending patience we have even managed to ring the bells up and down. Earlier this year I managed a quarter peal to celebrate my Golden Wedding Anniversary and what a marvellous achievement that was. But it is a never-ending uphill struggle.
We have had many hours of fun and friendship on our journey thanks to all of those who have helped us on our way. As well as everyone at St Margaret’s, we have had lots of help and support from bell ringers at Offchurch, All Saints, Leamington, Sherbourne and also Graham and his wonderful band of voluntary Thursday helpers at Kineton. To them all we are very grateful. And to all aspiring bell ringers we would strongly recommend the venture. An uphill struggle maybe, but a very pleasurable one with the friendliest people you could wish to meet anywhere. And the question that started it all? – I’m very glad it was asked.
June Arran + June Hawkins
Basic Maintenance…..
……..was the subject of a half day course at the Harry Windsor Ringing Centre at Kineton on Saturday. Thirty students attended the session and, divided into three groups, they spent time discussing and being shown how to carry out basic maintenance at two very different installations.
St Peter’s Kineton framework was installed by Gillett & Johnson in 1913 and the then 6 bells were rehung on ball bearings by Taylors in the ‘60s. In 2008 they were augmented to 8 by the addition of three new trebles (the old and overweight treble of six being sold to Charwelton via the KelteK Trust). Sessions took place in the belfry where the maintenance issues for this type of installation were examined together with the sound control system, clapper silencers and simulator. In the clockroom pulley and guide boards were in evidence together with the new dumb bell – and of course the clock & chimes.
A very different position was examined at Avon Dassett where the unringable five in a Churches Conservation Trust Church were examined. The tower & spire have been repaired here at sognificant cost and a trial ring on the bells showed minimal tower and frame movement. Permission has been given to carry out some restoration to allow occasional ringing. Here plain bearings, wooden headstocks and an oak frame all dating from 1869 were in the course of repair. The Blews bells date from this time as indeed does the whole building, so conserving the integrity of the building and installation is important. A recently re-soled wheel was on show and the work in progress discussed together with the maintenance issues on this type of installation. There was general surprise at the good state of frame & fittings after 140 of light rain!!
Our bell hanging lecturers for the day were Graham Clifton of Whites of Appleton, and Simon Adams of John Taylor, Loughborough.
These sessions were complimented by Chris Povey from the CCCBC who talked on Health and Safety and gave appropriate warnings (some following personal experience) on how to approach working in the Tower.
The students were well fed by Alex Gunn.
The next main course here is on the 30th January when Pip Penney will lead sessions on Motivation, Teaching, Kids Groups and Robert Wood & Chris Mew deal with Heath & Safety, Complaints & Children in the meantime our thanks to all those who gave their time & expertise to make this such a worthwhile day.
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