The Joy of Bells: New Ringers Reflect on Their New Obsession

Fun with Bells

This episode sees host Cathy Booth catching up with three Ring for King recruits to find out what their first year of ringing has been like. And what a year it’s been!
Jessica, Lindsey and Andy have notched up an amazing collection of ‘firsts’ since starting their ringing adventure. First tower tour, first wedding ringing, first quarter peal and first striking competition have all been ticked off the list. Also worthy of note are their first ringing blisters!
Find out what they have found hard, what they have found easy and what’s helped. Turns out that ringing is not easy as it looks, but as they enthusiastically point out, if it is too easy, it’s not worth doing!
Top five takeaways

• If you’re a novice ringer, pop into the beginners bell handling practice - it will make you realise how much progress you have made!
• Looking for some reading material? Try out Steve Coleman’s books www.ringingbooks.co.uk
• If you fancy a challenge and love a list then give 50 ringing things a go https://smartringer.org/50things/
• Inspired to learn to ring? Find out more at https://bellringing.org/learn-to-ring/
• On holiday? Fancy a ring? Dive into Dove’s guide to check out a tower and find the tower captain’s contact details dove.cccbr.org.uk

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).

Chapters

1. The Joy of Bells: New Ringers Reflect on Their New Obsession (00:00:00)

2. Introducing the Episode (00:00:23)

3. Recruiting New Ringers (00:00:39)

4. Interview with New Ringer: Jessica Hay (00:00:44)

5. Interview with New Ringer: Lindsay Cawte (00:01:06)

6. Interview with New Ringer: Andy Pearce (00:01:38)

7. Challenges in Bell Ringing (00:03:05)

8. The Complexity of Bell Ringing (00:03:33)

9. Safety in Bell Ringing (00:03:58)

10. The Concentration Required in Bell Ringing (00:04:19)

11. The Learning Curve in Bell Ringing (00:05:07)

12. The Progression in Bell Ringing (00:05:53)

13. The Support from Experienced Ringers (00:06:21)

14. Tower Open Day (00:07:04)

15. Ringing for Weddings (00:07:53)

16. The Joy of Ringing in Winchester Cathedral (00:08:13)

17. Ring for the King (00:10:14)

18. Jessica's First Quarter peal (00:11:17)

19. Striking Competition (00:11:23)

20. Next Year (00:11:32)

21. Typical Bell Ringers (00:12:33)

22. The Challenges of Recruiting (Young) People (00:14:22)

23. Keeping a Tradition Alive (00:16:42)

24. What is it About Bell Ringing that Keeps You Coming Back (00:18:03)

25. Ringing Organisations Awareness (00:22:11)

26. Knowing about Progress (00:23:01)

27. 50 Ringing Things (00:24:07)

28. Visiting Other Towers When on Holiday (00:25:49)

29. Next Challenges (00:26:37)

30. Bell Ringing Resources (00:28:06)

31. The Progress Made by New Ringers (00:32:37)

32. Recommending Taking up Bell Ringing (00:34:39)

33. Final Thoughts on Learning Bell Ringing (00:36:29)

34. Closing Remarks and Ringing by The Society of Cambridge Youths (00:37:05)