Ringing Forums

If it’s of any relevance to the discussion/statistics, I rang ONE quarter (PB6) before my first peal (PB8).
In my learning phase, I never went down the plain hunt/PB Doubles road, being lucky enough to ring with a very competent 8-bell band, and when “progressing” to doubles, I found the “wrong” lying confusing. Food for thought?

The poem “The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire”, of 1571, details the flooding of Boston, and bell-ringing features prominently at the beginning, as a warning, but the ringers are told to “ply all your changes; all your swells …. Ring out the Brides of Enderby [whatever that means]”, with no mention of backward ringing.
However, rhe Scottish folk song, “The Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee”, based on a Jacobite uprising, quotes:
“Dundee he is mounted and rides up the street
The bells they ring backward, the drums they are beat”.
Feel free to discuss!

In my experience, most learners are thrown-in at the deep end, being given a piece of paper with the changes of plain hunt doubles printed thereon, and given a rope, without having been told the basics: ie that you can only move one place at a time/stay where you are in the order, and the reason why you ring slowly going out (passing 4 bells), and quickly coming in (passing 3 bells). The result is an overwhelming desire to learn the numbers, which we know is a dead-end, which will get you nowhere if you wish to become a change-ringer.
Quantity not numbers!
I’ve been criticised for sitting with learners, explaining the principles, when told “we’re here to ring; not talk.” The following “thrash” did not need clarification.

To help answer that, it would be fascinating to have a 'level of complexity' axis to the analysis ... — PeterScott

In my early days of peal-ringing, the standard peal of minor consisted of:
Cambridge S
Oxford TB
Kent TB
Single Oxford
Double Oxford
St Clements
Plain Bob

Peals of minor, today, are mostly at least 7 surprise methods.

I taught myself to ring “from the bottom up”.
A local tower has, in my relatively short association with it, had about 20 learners, being taught with the bell up, and the looks of horror on the faces of middle-aged ladies, as the red & white express train hurtled out of the tunnel says it all. Needless to say, none of the learners went on to ring plain hunt competently, and none of them now ring.

Additionally, in Dorset, we have many small villages with rings of 6 of about 15cwt and above, and whilst certain very experienced ringers extoll the virtues of these rings, local bands are virtually non-existent, owing to the difficulty of teaching would-be ringers, and having taught, particularly young ringers, who require mental challenge, the attempted progression to Cambridge S Minor on a 15cwt 6 quickly blunts any enthusiasm.

Solution: Melt them down, and have a 6cwt 6 cast, selling-off the excess metal to assist in funding the operation; giving easier handling, and the potential to progress to change-ringing.

PS: I am renowned for my controversial views!

Roger that!
TVM.

John,
In order to comment constructively (and perhaps instructively) on your post, in attempting to ascertain at what level to pitch my advice I am unable to find any performances against your name on BellBoard.
You've already stated that you've not rung any peals, but do you appear under another name on BellBoard, and in the Ringing World? You state that you sometimes ring a QP (at practice night), and then go early to the pub. Are these QP's not posted on BB?
I would like to assist!

You can start your own peal band - I did many years ago, after consulting an eminent conductor, and we went on to ring many esoteric minor methods; even naming one after our "D-Band" (so-called because we were not good enough for the "A-Band" :-) !

John, Just to ascertain that we're talking about the same peal-ringing database (PealBase), which I doubt, as I can't find your name on it, and I'd be surprised if Drew would allow access for non-peal-ringers, please post the following information:
What was my most prolific year, and how many peals did I ring?
With whom have I rung the most peals, and how many?
I appear as "R Nicholas Lawrence".

Aha! (“Take on me”); I’ve just researched the subject, and there is a button to gain access by registering as a peal-ringing friend, but your name is not recognised unless you’ve appeared in the Ringing World peal columns, so as whom have you registered?
Your name is not recognised on PealBase!

Interesting. I wonder how Drew Craddock picked-up your name for the database.

At the risk of re-gurgitating common knowledge, to access PealBase, you must have rung at least one peal.
Log in with the name used in the peal report in BellBoard/Ringing World, and you will be asked how many peals you have rung this year (0 is valid!), and then you will receive a password.
Thereafter the world of peal-ringing will be your oyster, giving access to the complete records of all peal-ringers!

Everything back to normal in the Dorset County Association, although attendance numbers are slight down.

3-4 Down; PASS THE TREBLE; one other bell, then lead!
I think PB6 is easier than PBD, as you only have dodges with which to deal; and not long 5ths.

Surely, and to a degree from my own observations, if someone can ring PB Minor competently (and I mean competently) they won’t want to stop there; although advancement will depend on their band, and their willingness/ability to travel, and in many cases break through the glass ceiling imposed by dinosauric TC’s.
Apologies for inventing a new adjective.

@AJB: The fact that you are calling Omicron a “new hazard” is one of the reasons why ringing will never return to its pre-lockdown popularity.
It’s no worse than a cold, and no-one has yet died from it.
Project fear will be the death of ringing, in addition to our way of life.

My last post, prior to my recent retirement, was as Wing Executive Officer (Squadron Leader) of the Dorset & Wiltshire Wing of the Air Cadets, responsible for the day-to-day running of a volunteer organisation, with 200 adult officers/instructors, and 2000 cadets aged 13 to 18.
I have also, as a major, commanded several TA infantry companies, each comprising 120 volunteers.
The problems of recruiting & retention in these military organisations are very similar to those current experienced by the bell-ringing exercise.
I will put my detailed thoughts and experiences into print in due course, but the main factor in favour of the military organisations is that it is “glamorous”, and therefore attracts young people.
More ramblings idc!