Improvers Day at Buckfast Abbey
Many thanks to Kate Marsh from Berry Pomeroy for her report of this very useful day
I joined many fellow improvers from around the county on a rainy Saturday at the lovely Buckfast Abbey. After a quick cuppa we started with 3 talks that gave some background on the topics of the day.
Firstly, Mike Tompsett gave an, often amusing, talk on better striking. This was followed by Graham Sharland who gave us some insight into raising and lowering in peal. Then finally Martin Mansley gave an interactive demonstration on the basics of method theory and a look at plain hunt. There was something about people with numbers around their necks moving around that made the whole process so much clearer!
We then were able to listen to the beautiful Abbey bells being rung and watch the ringing on the live TV feed. I think that a lot of us felt we were a long way from being able to ring on 12 bells!
After lunch the learners split into 3 groups for the practical sessions. I did the session with Mike Tompsett and Ian Avery at Holy Trinity church in Buckfastleigh, together with 7 other improvers. We were very ably assisted by ringers who call themselves the "Ringkly ringers" (!!) who were very patient with us. Hopefully by the end of the afternoon (3 hours and no facilities!) our striking and call changes had improved.
The second group went to practice raising and lowering in peal with Graham Sharland and Suzi Driscol at South Brent.
Mick and Deborah Wallis taught the third group at Holne and they covered plain hunt and basic method. I heard rumours of a competition at the end.
After assembling back at the Abbey for a brief catch up, we made our way home.
I would like to thank the Guild, and especially Nicola, for organising this day, and for making sure our learning needs were so well met. Also a big thank you to all the experienced ringers who came to help out.
We have heard nothing but really positive feedback from this day and we are extremely fortunate that the excellent facilities at the Abbey are so often available to us – many thanks to Geoff and his team. The enthusiasm and willingness to learn shown by all was extremely encouraging.
Thanks to Sarah McIntyre for sending these photos which include one of her very individual illustrations. https://photos.app.goo.gl/713FwtbaLd9GedFh6
