General Chat

Am fairly new to bell ringing and could use some tips - stabbed myself in the eye last week when the bell got the better of me!!

Maggie I presume you are referring to Tower Bells? I'm a handbell ringer. Janet

Yes, sorry - did mean Tower Bells. Have had a go at hand bells - think they sound lovely!! (Born and bred in Leics, but with Norton line going back yonks in Yelvertoft, Northants).

Yeah, been ringing for about 40 years but haven't learnt many methods, mainly call changes, bob doubles and bob minimus. Six bell round tower with a long draught which gives the home team an advantage when we host change ringing competitions.

Haven't got to learning methods yet (tho am getting to learn some of the lingo of what seems to be a foreign language!!) - still trying to control the bell when ringing in rounds - am told I am getting better!! What is a "long draught"?? Assume it's nothing to do with wind whistling up your skirt!!

P.S. Does the shape of the tower make a difference?? Ours is square - also with 6 bells.

A long draught simply means that the distance from where you stand to where the rope disappears through the ceiling is greater than average, which makes it more difficult to control the rope, you have to be very careful to pull straight down and follow through, otherwise it lashes round all over the place. As for tips: don't let go of the end of the rope and don't try to push the bell up with the rope: it simply doesn't work. LOL. Seriously though, learn to use exactly the amount of pull required - too little and the bell comes down on you, too much and you will be checking it at the end of the stroke. And, use both rope sight and hearing to judge your place.

Hmm ....... looks as if there's just the two of you then!

Brian, Thanks for that!! it's learning how hard to pull I'm struggling with at the moment, plus timing when following different people in rounds - find that some are easier to follow than others!! Janet, Obviously a select band!! Have you ever tried tower bells? My friend had hand bells ringing christmas carols during the signing of the register at her wedding on boxing day - sounded really lovely!!

Hi Maggie, My husband has been a bellringer for about 45 years. Sue.... He has been trying to get me roped in............. If you want to know any questions email me I am sure he will have an answer.

Sue, Thanks for that. Didn't realise when I took it on that I'd have to learn all those "methods" - how is my poor brain going to cope!!?? Getting my head round some of the terms. Really amused me when I heard that the fluffy bit is called a "Sally" - have a friend called Sally - not sure she's a "fluffy bit" but she did say she'd always been quite good at being pulled!!!!!

Maggie No I've never tried Tower Bells. Our Musical Director is the Tower Bell Ringing Leader though (our whatever you call them). We're really busy around Christmas time playing carols around the old folks homes, and at the christmas parties of various groups and organisations. We've never played at a wedding though! We do it voluntarily, but usually get a very generous donation towards the upkeep of the bells, and the insurance, of course. We were lucky enough to get a Lottery Grant of £5000 a few years back which enabled us to be a two octave set of 25 chromatic bells. The whole set cost us £5300 in total, and we have had two bells donated too. We always play carols around the christmas tree in the Church Yard on the Wednesday before Christmas. Everyone brings their lanterns, and then we go into the church for mulled wine and a nibbles! The rest of the year, we play old time sing-along tunes, and tunes from the Musicals, such as Gilbert and Sullivan. We also play some classical pieces, such as The March of theTin Soldier, and the Magic Flute. At the moment, we are practicing a fantastic version of 'When the Saints.....'. It's going to be great once we've smoothed out the rough edges!

Janet, We seem to have a lot of children learning to ring hand bells - some of them are really good (also have some youngsters learning to ring the tower bells - they are doing well too). The Guides have a set of chime bars which give us hours of amusement. 'When the Saints.....' on hand bells sounds like fun!!