St Laurence Ludlow Guild’s Scottish Odyssey

As with most ideas in ringing – good and bad – it started with a conversation in the pub. Post one quarter peal, the conversation turned from ringing on 10 bells to ringing on 12. The Hereford Guild does not have a ring of 12 bells within its boundaries so if we want to ring on higher numbers, it means a trip to Kidderminster, Worcester, or Shrewsbury. A little voice inside my head said, ‘why not go to Tulloch?’ but that little voice didn’t stay inside my head …. and the half-expected responses of ‘it’s a bit far’ came back as ‘now that’s a great idea’!

The Highlands Ringing Centre is a forward-thinking, purpose-built ringing training facility. It is the inspiration of its owners, Peter Bevis and Helen McGregor. Based at Tulloch Farm in the Scottish Highlands and backing on to the Nevis Range (yes, that is Ben Nevis over there …) it is in a very scenic location. There are two rings of bells – 12 (07-2-04) and 8 (03.0.21) alongside a simulator bell. All the bells are very easy and pleasant to ring. The ring of 8 was only installed in April of this year (replacing a lighter ring). There is plenty of self-catering accommodation on the farm as well as a kitchen and self-catering rooms in the ringing centre itself. It is ideal for groups to gather and ring whatever – the bells are practically inaudible outside (not that there are any neighbours to annoy).

Fast forward 12 months and a group of ringers who regularly ring at Ludlow headed north for our Scottish Odyssey.

The Ludlow band has changed somewhat in the last few years with several ringers moving into the area. So, in addition to ringing, this was an opportunity for the group to socialise and get to know each other better than we have been able to up to now.

From the ringing perspective our aim was to practice ringing, striking and rhythm on higher numbers. The week was divided into practice sessions (for all abilities) alongside quarter peal attempts and focus practices. Some made use of the simulator to practice methods and striking and, of course, there were handbells. Trips to ring at Inverness Cathedral and the majestic 10 bells at Inveraray were also arranged, enabling us to ring on different bells and experience the stunning Highlands scenery. Some of the more intrepid ventured further east of Inverness to ring on the Forres mini ringing.

We scored 12 quarter peals in the week – and lost a few more (which will give us food for thought as to how to improve) with several ‘firsts’ being recorded. The highlight was undoubtedly the quarter peal of Little Bob Maximus, which for a band that does not ring on 12 bells, was an excellent piece of ringing – a performance to be very proud of. Details of all the performances can be seen on Bellboard.

The week was a resounding success, with many wanting to know when we plan to return. It was particularly pleasing to see people develop their skills as well as seeing the group gel – with banter aplenty and the occasional dram of the amber nectar – as the week progressed. We now need to think about how we take our ringing forward – but a trip back to the Highlands is very much on the cards!

The Ringing Centre is available to anyone, however experienced you or your band may be. It’s well worth the visit!

Paul Wells

ART Course Report

Susannah from Burghill attended a recent Association of Ringing Teachers M1 course. Here is her report …

As August drifted its way into September and my mind was beginning to fill up with thoughts of algebra and teenagers, and how to make the latter learn the former, I found myself with one last challenge left for the summer holidays: the ART M1 course.

I am a Teacher by trade, and a bellringer by hobby, but I hadn’t really expected to bring these two things together until our tower captain at Burghill proposed that several of us should do an ART course. So, setting aside all thoughts of algebra for the day, I popped my soup into a thermos and headed out to church on Saturday to learn how to teach bellringing.

Our group was made up of a wide range of people – from those of us who have only been ringing a couple of years ourselves, to those who have been ringing and teaching for years or even decades. This definitely made for a very interesting course as the wisdom and advice from the course leaders Paul and Frank were complemented by stories, experiences and techniques from those on the course. Learning alongside such a range of ringers made it very easy to ask lots of questions to really deepen our understanding and the course leaders were great at taking on board what we were asking and explaining a technique in more detail, or talking us through the reasoning behind various choices that the ART scheme has made.

The course combined theory and practical, helping us to really get to grips with what Frank and Paul were recommending, and to realise the aspects of teaching that might be most challenging (such as remembering not to catch the sally if you’ve told the learner to catch it – the muscle memory was not easy to unlearn!)

It was clear by the end of the day that all of us were feeling reassured, equipped, and enthused to go away and teach more people how to ring bells, and we have already started to organise a follow up session between ourselves to help us practice some of the exercises and techniques that we’ve learnt so that we can be even more confident and comfortable when we use them on our new learners.

I expected to get quite a lot out of this course, but I have to say that the day surpassed my expectations, and I am very much looking forward to making the most of my learning and doing my bit to encourage more people to ring, and teach them to do so!

Quarter Peal of Stoke St Milborough Surprise Major rung for the first time

On Friday 30 August 2024, a quarter peal of a brand new method was rung at St Milburga’s for the first time. The method, now named Stoke St Milborough Surprise Major, was devised by Martin Scott, who also conducted the quarter peal with a band of ringers from The Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Members of the band agreed that the composition used produced a lot of pleasant “music” that made it enjoyable to ring.  Thanks to Stewart and Helen Sharp for recording the performance and to Henry Lewis, without whom none of this would ever have been possible.

Details of the performance are featured here on Bellboard. More details and an excerpt of the performance on their website here.

St Andrews Place Doubles on St Andrews Day at St Andrews church, Allensmore

It was only a whim, a silly idea
St Andrews Day, end of November
Last year was a peal, not done before
300 years to remember.

Les said, “a method, one we don’t know
Is there something relates to Saint Andy?”
Google came up with St Andrews Place Doubles
Well, that looks just fine and dandy

How hard can it be not even a dodge
But what’s this, 3 places in lead?
And look at the back, all those places to make
Success is not guaranteed

Saturday practice is called for, with coffee and cake
Including the odd sausage roll
Bells clashed straight away, “you’re all wrong” was the call
No, this won’t be a stroll

But gradually it came, the start was well practiced!
Then Nick said let’s call a touch
Back to square one, all over the place
Not sure I like this too much

But with thanks to the band, it all came together
Nick, Nick, Lesley and Vicky
Carol and Steve joined in with it too
… and our support team, Paul, Alan and Libby

St Andrews Place mugAt the end of it all, enormous relief!
We all need a great big team hug
And to remember the day, just one thing to say:
“Well and truly a St Andrews Place MUG!”

Nick Chapman, Nov 2023

The band: 1. Carol Williams, 2. Vicky Rees (c), 3. Lesley Meredith, 4.Nick Cooper-Tomkins, 5. Nick Chapman, 6. Steve Williams

Link to Bellboard is here

You can download the blue line and ringing notes for St Andrews Place doubles here

St Nicholas, Hereford

There is an evening practice at St Nicholas, Hereford on the 3rd Wednesday in the month; from 1830-2000, the next of which will be Wednesday next week, 20th September.

All methods and abilities will be catered for, but I would like us to concentrate specifically on Double Oxford Minor, (plain hunting treble), and Stedman Triples. Any ringers who might be interested to look these methods up; learn them, and we will have a go at ringing them.

Please come along and support this practice to help us out.

Yours sincerely,
Stu Swift (new Tower Captain and Steeple Keeper at St Nicholas, Hereford – initially for a trial period.)

Chetton bells are ringing again

In mid-May, the Guild received an enquiry from a group of new and lapsed ringers who wanted to get Chetton church bells ringing again.

The bells hadn’t been rung for several years, so on 14th June, Darren and Jools from Broseley popped over to check the bells over (picture above). Fortunately no problems were found.

Practices were started up on Tuesday evenings. Ginette then began the task of teaching the new learners and helping the existing ringers regain their confidence.

Despite usually only having one teacher to four learners, the new ringers are progressing well and it is expected the band will be able to ring independently by the end of the year.

Sue Robinson, our Master Elect, kindly drives over from Bromyard to look after things when Ginette is on holiday.

One of the returned lapsed ringers, Vikki, is now helping to teach the learners which should help to move things along even faster.

Vikki being presented with her Guild membership certificate by our Guild Master Nick Cronin at a ringing outing on 12th August.

Anyone interested in supporting the new band is welcome to visit Chetton on a Tuesday evening. Practices start at 7pm and are usually followed by a drink in the church.

Returned lapsed ringer Charles (left) with the four learners Tim, Sarah, Elisabeth and Phil.

Broseley awards

Broseley ringer Darren Swancott won a national award for Contribution to Ringing on 11th March 2023.

The award was given by the Association of Ringing Teachers. There was a prize of £125 which will go towards Broseley’s bell project.

Another Broseley ringer, Yvonne Hadley passed her Level 2 Learning the Ropes certificate. Darren and Yvonne are pictured above with their certificates.

Eastnor Bells restoration

The restoration of the bells at Eastnor was completed by Whites of Appleton at the end of March 2022 in time for Easter. The bells have been retuned and rehung with new fittings in the existing repainted frame. The tenor has been retired and now strikes the hours on the clock.

Eastnor TenorA replacement tenor was cast by Taylors at Loughborough.

Listen to part of the peal rung at Coddington 17th March 2023

On Friday, 17 March 2023 in 2h 57 (10–1–20 in G), a peal of 5040 Surprise Minor (7m) was rung.
One extent each of Wells, London, York, Beverley, Bourne, Norwich and Cambridge.
Ringers were:
    1. Mark Pugh
    2. Paul R Smith
    3. Andrew J Hartley
    4. Nicholas J Green
    5. Christopher J Pickford
    6. David Jenkins (C)

Click below to listen to a part of Wells Surprise Minor

The past and future of ringing at Broseley

Tower Captain Ginette Pardoe has written an article called “The past and future of ringing at Broseley” which was publisted in The Ringing World in September 2022.

You can download a copy of the article here:  Broseley Ringing World article Sept 2022

Pictured above are:
Front row: Ginette Pardoe, Jan Baldwin, Gaynor Evans, Pam Sheldon, Mel Price (aka Ding, hiding) and Suzy Roberts (aka Dong).
Behind: John Maclean, Bruce Watson and Darren Swancroft.
(Photo Patricia Marinic)