Mid-Devon Tower Talk - March 2025
Quarter Peal successes
Congratulations to Henry and Sarah on these two quarter peals
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1823773
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1823771
Always great to see progress like this – we look forward to reporting many more from them and thanks to Mike Wigney for the information
Training Day and branch Meeting – Bishopsteignton
A lovely sunny morning and the usual warm welcome from the Bishopsteignton ringers. This was a "half n' half" meeting – the first hour dedicated to plain hunt practice and the second for open ringing. Ringing co-ordinator Mike Wigney assigned helpers to each of the "students" in order that they could stand behind whilst they were ringing and give helpful feedback afterwards. This approach worked well. In the background tea and coffee were dispensed with cake as well. Bishopsteignton are a superb six and one of our few ground floor rings. They are ideal for this sort of event and we made very good use of them. All was rounded off with a well struck course of Cambridge Surprise Minor which even got some applause!
A very brief meeting was held to approve the programme for 2025
There are several innovations this year and we hope that they meet with approval – the excellent turn-out for this meeting gives the programme a great start – please put the dates in your diary and try and support as many as you can.
A couple of photos from Saturday https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yyu64HdvTSQ9JziL6
Handbell change ringing
As far as we can tell in the early days of ringing, handbells were used to help ringers learn the methods they would then perform in the tower. Presumably this was with one bell per ringer. These days that happens very rarely. Handbell change ringing is most usually performed with two bells per ringer and is very much a separate practice from tower bell ringing. The methods are the same, but the ringer has to work out the paths of the two bells. Several of our branch members take part in handbell ringing and this is mostly aiming for quarter or peal lengths of ringing. It is a fascinating branch of ringing. The Guild training officer is planning some sessions at various levels. If you fancy having a go, watch out for notices as they come out.
Of course, there are also groups who ring tunes on larger sets of bells – another branch of ringing which is quite active in our area. There are teams at Teignmouth, Berry Pomeroy, Brixham and St Marychurch among others – some just forming to ring carols at Christmas.
Stop Press!!
Philip Stevens does it again.
Very many congratulations to Philip Stevens. By ringing the treble to a peal of Surprise Minor at the LB Campanile in Kingsteignton he has now rung a peal in 66 consecutve years.
https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1829676
Future Events
8 and 10 bell practice St Marychurch Tuesday 11 March 7.30 > 9.00pm
We look forward to another useful practice. A good chance to try 10 bell ringing if you have not tried it before – we will be ringing from call changes upwards. Special methods Yorkshire Surprise Major and Grandsire Triples and possibly Caters. As usual don't be put off by the special methods – if those are what you would like to ring that's great but there will be plenty for all levels of experience. We really look forward to seeing you.
