Mid-Devon Tower Talk - Jan and Feb 24

Highweek training Saturdays

Thanks to Katie Law for this report 

Sitting in The Grange listening to Sunday ringing at Buckfast Abbey I have remembered Martin asked me to write a paragraph or two on our recent training mornings at Highweek. January has been a busy month for training which is why the task has slipped my memory: we have now had three Saturday mornings at Highweek, extra sessions to the weekly Wednesday practice. These have focussed on the first steps in learning Plain Hunt and we have had just two 'students' per session. One could say this is by invitation only, but if you'd like an invitation please ask - there are more sessions in the pipeline.

If you are a guild member it's pretty obvious why we are doing this - method ringers in Devon are scattered and most towers manage only call changes for Sunday service ringing. Whilst this can sound lovely, in my opinion a mix of call changes and method is a more pleasant start to a Sunday morning and makes for a more stimulating practice.

Recruitment under the Ring for the King went well in our part of the mid-Devon region, resulting in a regular practice at Highweek, some brand new ringers at Bovey and Lustleigh and a significant number of lapsed ringers now adding to our numbers. We have now reached the point where most of our new learners are competent at rounds and call changes but have not yet had the chance to try method ringing.

For a while now at Highweek we have tried some kaleidoscope ringing such as making long or short places, dodging and plain hunting on 3 bells. With only Robert and I as method ringers we've made the most of visitors to extend this. So we were excited when Robert Brown (Wobbly Bob) and Mike Wigney suggested Saturday morning training.

Armed with coffee and biscuits, a portable heater and the promise of lunch at The Highweek Village Inn we tackled Plain Hunt on Five. We actually stretched to Triples on the second week with some additional volunteer ropes.
What have we learned? Well of course the students have made a start on hunting up and down, but we have learned things too. Being "just a rope" for two hours can be rather boring so it is important to either share the teaching or have something extra for the more experienced ringers: taking turns to stand with a learner, to call a touch, to lead up/down or to be asked to critically watch and comment on a learner as they ring. Two hours seems an optimum duration; using the lighter six is easier on the arms and adding in odd little doubles methods makes it an interesting challenge for everyone.

So, if you are an experienced ringer looking to do some teaching or a learner wanting to cement your plain hunt, please send an email to Robert or myself and we will see what we can set up. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

January Branch practice – Denbury

It soon became obvious that I was not the only one who had been looking forward to this practice. Eventually 24 ringers were present at some point during the afternoon and several of those were attending a branch practice for the first time. By far and away our best attendance at a January practice for some considerable time. It would also appear to vindicate our decision to move the timing to the afternoon.

The welcome from the local ringers was amazing and refreshments were available in their very pleasant church hall. Ringing featured a lot of rounds and call changes reflecting the number of relatively inexperienced ringers present.

An attempt for a touch starting with a course of "Unsaiph Little Bob" never quite materialised but we did manage 150 changes of Grandsire Doubles. The stories we had heard about the quality of these bells following re-hanging and augmentation, were all proved to be true and everyone was delighted with the wonderful transformation of a pretty poor ring of 5 into an excellent ring of 6.

Very many thanks to Steve and the local ringers for such a warm welcome.
Thanks to Rodney Horder for this photo of the brilliant mural in Denbury church.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z4caPoMS98QDRYyp8 
Also an apology – I thought I was taking photos of the ringers but had obviously pushed the wrong button – technology wins again!!

Plain hunt and Plain Bob Training morning – Bishopsteignton

Our first training morning of the year focussed on Plain Hunt and Plain Bob on 5 and six bells. We had purposely kept the trainee numbers fairly low (do hope those who were disappointed this time will be able to join the next session on this subject in August). We were lucky to have lots of volunteers to assist with the ringing so that each of the trainees could have some one-to-one theory on the subject they were working on – (Plain Hunt, Plain Bob Minor inside or Plain Bob Doubles touches) whilst the rest were getting on with practical ringing. We were made very welcome by Roger of the local band and we were able to take this first opportunity to welcome Bishopsteignton as members of the branch. Cups of tea etc were on offer and much appreciated as a break from the hard work. All the trainees had good opportunity to get practice at their chosen topic and the helpers even managed to beat the problems of the pesky "Unsaiph" and splice it with Plain Bob Minor for a touch of 150 changes as another celebration of the guild's 150th anniversary.

Comments afterwards included one learner saying how much she enjoyed it and to say she is confident the input will pay dividends for her once everything has sunk in. And another - "It was a great morning, I learnt loads! It was so useful to have the focused, intense session. It would have taken me weeks to learn as much as I did without the chance to spend the time yesterday.

Thank you also to the experienced ringers who made the morning possible".

I can only reiterate those thanks. The good humoured hard work was definitely worth it and much appreciated. Exactly what the branch is all about.

Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/8KAxjvoJN1P8Mo9M8 

In the group are L to R – Katie, Robert, Rodney, Sarah, Martin, Wena, Sherene, John (behind), Nicola, Nigel, Anne, Emma and Philip. The other photos show Sarah admiring the visual aids used during some of the theory sessions with their creator.