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The focus at practice nights and the instructions we give are very much on looking at a bell - follow that bell, look at that bell. Often striking instructions are given to the whole band rather than to the individual (hold up at backstroke, bigger hand-stroke gap etc) which then leads to people overcompensating or simply ignoring instructions. I appreciate no conductor wants to continually be pointing out striking faults to an individual but afterwards, we aren't we explaining how to hear you are ringing with a dropped backstroke or how to judge that hand-stroke gap or keep close in 2nds place etc.

We are starting a series of articles in Ringing Round Devon on how an experienced ringer rings - what they hear, see, how they strike and how they ring by rhythm, how they concentrate, how they learn learn a method. They are the things perhaps people have traditionally been expected to pick up or read about, but perhaps we need to talk about them more, and pass on experience rather than expect osmosis to work.

The first article talks about focus and increasing bandwidth so a ringer can increase their capacity to think about the method, striking and looking out for landmarks etc. It will be in our next edition published on our website (and goes out to all our members by email) at the start of December.

I've gone back to look at Simon's article. I would say there is a problem lower down than the red zone.

One of our big problems in my branch in Devon is aiding the progression of ringers who become competent at bob doubles. There are plenty of opportunities through joint branch practices and qps to ring S6 and S8 but way less opportunities to move on from bob doubles. In our branch, we have a monthly "triples and plain major practice" and from last month we have added a "plain minor" monthly practice and spoken to and encouraged all ringers we think will benefit to attend. The practices will be supplemented with qp opportunities.

Whilst I'm sure people are going to respond and say monthly isn't enough. But that's the resources we have to work with. Only 1 tower within our Branch can field a band of bob triples from its members, and there's only a handful that can ring bob doubles on a tower practice night.

We award a certificate to ringers who attain the level to ring 120 changes on a moving bell without any verbal instruction or anyone standing behind. We are now looking at the certificate data from the last 10 years. Which branches are these ringers in? What can we do to increase those numbers and what can we do help those ringers onwards in their journey.

Not too sure who these absent "Great and The Good" are. The 10 most prolific peal ringers in Guild Of Devonshire Ringers for 2025 include the Guild Secretary, Guild Treasurer, Peal Secretary, DAC Bell Advisor, Report Editor, Guild Master (outgoing), Devon Ringers Council Chairman, several Central Council Reps, one of our Bell Advisors, several Devon Church Bellfund Trustees and the co-editor of Ringing Round Devon. Many also hold branch officer positions. Whilst we do ring a lot of peals, we are out most nights of the week teaching new ringers and supporting local ringers on their ringing journey,

Go along to Exeter Cathedral Society you will find that the majority of members are tower captains in their home tower and/or are actively teaching new ringers, most members hold a Branch or Guild Officer role.

Perhaps in Devon it helps that most of our Branches are small (none greater than 125 members) and because there are so few opportunities to ring method in your home tower practice, the support for Branch activities and practices by the experienced ringers is high.

I'm not saying we've got it right, but we are very aware how important our Devon ringing community is and how important communication is. We have the excellent Ringing Round Devon publication which showcases activities and achievements across the county.

Devon is a county where only a handful of towers can regularly ring surprise major on a practice night with their home band. I don't see this as a weakness, or a sign of ill health in ringing. This actually strengthens our community because we have to come together from all over the county to ring method.

I think this is probably reflective of a lot of other areas of the country. Certainly the ringers I see at Central Council are doing all sorts of great things around the country.

Are you really sure "The Great and Good" aren't supporting ringing on the ground. If you know one who isn’t then why not invite them into your tower or branch practice?

We had a branch outing this summer, most ringing was PH5 PBD or call changes. At the 8 bell tower we gave opportunities to several ringers to try out ph7. There was 1 piece of ringing more advanced which was some mediocre grandsire triples with our PBD ringers on the treble and two. But what less experienced ringers could see was an achievable path to progression. One ringer who has not been ringing long, said afterwards that grandsire was amazing, "until now I though a goal was to ring for a wedding but now I can see there's so much more I can aspire to". Our approach to branch general ringing is to focus on giving opportunities to people who attend. Those of us who ring "fancy-pants" stuff have so many opportunities already and in my view general branch practices shouldn't contain very much advanced ringing as its a suitable time we can give more opportunities for the less experienced to try something new or ring with a steady band.

I wonder if we really have many ringers in the category "ready to move on from bob minor". I can only think of a 4 such ringers in my rural Devon Branch (1 youngster & 3 adults). The reality is that only 3 towers out of 20 affiliated Branch towers undertake any method ringing on a practice night. Of those 4 ringers ready to move on, only 1 can currently afford the time to attend other practices in order to progress.

The opportunities to ring at focused practices (such as triples, plain major, S6 & S8) are available and the encouragement and mentorship of those who want to move on is in place but sadly those who reach the level of bob minor are few and far between.

To be honest it is rare we have a youngster in rural Devon who reaches the "ready to move on from bob minor" stage. When we do encounter someone who wants to advance, ringers from the Devon method community are keen to be involved in helping their progress - with invites to QP days, to city practices where more advanced ringing takes place, to additional S8 & S6 practices and invites in peals.

I wonder if there is any need to set up a structured scheme when branch practices mentorship and opportunities are already in place. But perhaps in areas where there is more change ringing taking place, there may be issues in identifying and matching those who want to advance to the practices which are suitable for their progression and to meeting ringers who will aid their progression.

I think the insurance issue needs careful attention. If you look at a territorial association insurance policy, you will find it includes as a minimum public liability insurance, trustee indemnity insurance, and employee liability insurance. It might also include insurance of various assets.

If there was a central insurance policy that covered ringing accidents, I think it's likely local associations would still need their own insurance policies.

I can't see people standing as trustees of local associations without an insurance policy in the name of the association in place.

I really can't see there would be a significant overall saving by having a national insurance scheme.

You are right, there is very little opportunities to ring triples and plain major at regular practices. 40 years ago when I learnt to ring that was the standard for many 8 bell towers but that's no longer the case. In NE Branch GDR we run a monthly triples/plain major practice. This month the Guild Education Officer visited us and agreed this would be good to replicate this practice across branches and she's keen to focus some of the Guild training at this level in next year's plans.

It might be worth suggesting this in your local area.

I'm not sure another national newsletter is needed..Ringing World and ART already cover the national space.

May I suggest you have a look at Ringing Round Devon which is the quarterly newsletter for Guild of Devonshire Ringers. It's focus is on reporting news of our ringing community. I think promoting a sense of community in ringing is the key to what a territorial society is about. People progess in ringing due to who they know so the key thing Branch Officers should do is know their members and provide opportunities for everyone to take part and get to know other ringers.

https://devonringers.org.uk/guild/newsletters

Perhaps a consideration to achieving a well run Branch is the size of a Branch membership and the geographical area it covers.
I'd suggest the something manageable is approx 120 members and geographically 40 minutes to drive the length or width.

"83% say they are looking to improve their ringing"
Survey slide

I expect a similar proportion of the population want to lose weight. But very few people actually put that wish into action. Losing weight requires commitment, self discipline, perserverance etc.

Similarly, I'm sure most ringers want to improve, but it is very difficult to advance, not only do you need opportunities and know the right people, but you have to be very dedicated, and it takes a big investment of time both inside the tower and with learning methods in your own time.

A useful follow-up question to this would be - how.

For example, only at weekly practices in my own tower, through a branch mentoring programme, attending a weekend ringing course, attending a short course, regular attendance at focused practices, online ringing, quarterpeals etc...