I pose a real life dilemma for you as we are on the subject of recruits. At the Birmingham School of Bell Ringing we now have a waiting list for Tower A bell handling. We are saying to new people who want to learn that we can start them in the new year. The scarce resource is the number of teachers. Last Saturday morning, four of us were teaching six learners.
We expect students to spend no more than 10 weeks at Tower A. Younger recruits spend far less time there. How long do you give someone to pass Level 1 (competent bell handling) before saying that they are taking up a valuable space and maybe ringing is not for them? — Simon Linford
So for instance you get every experienced surprise maximus ringers teaching bell handling whereas it would be better if they were running surprise major practices, and those attendees were doing the teaching of those on lower floors. So the surprise major practices tend not to happen. — Simon Linford
I am not absolutely convinced by "prestige" of teaching, although there is certainly kudos attached to it — Simon Linford
Do YellowYoYo have any ideas how to bring about change in voluntary organisations that are driven by emotional attachment rather than in organisations driven by career progression and money — A J Barnfield
Once you reached the minimum standard of the next tower, you were moved up, and people from the more advanced towers would support one or two of the less advanced towers. — Tristan Lockheart
One of the major factors holding back change in ringing is the high level of emotional attachment ringers tend to have to particular towers, associations, custom and practice and so on. — A J Barnfield
But at the moment this is all we have and without it ringing would fold ... They are loyal to their weekly routines, which is keeping ringing going — Phillip George
ringers in my (typical?) local, rural area are concerned with weekly practices (often shared and on a tower rota) to enjoy their ringing. They have little thought for the future of ringing and don't engage much with the Association. — Phillip George
Has anyone done any research on what ringers want? — Alan C
Right now, in our villages, ringing is being kept going, our communities are flourishing, ringers are recruited, supported and trained to the maximum that they are capable of — Barbara Le Gallez
I'm happy to hear that things are rosy in your area of the ringing world, but the national data that we do have suggests the opposite is true in many other areas. Can you lay out how that was achieved in your area? If there are are areas that have this problem cracked, I think it's important to share experiences so that struggling areas can learn from them — John de Overa
So what?
Whilst a national survey would be interesting, I don't see it as a prerequisite for change, I think the issues are already well known. — John de Overa
Maybe what you see depends on how you see it. — Barbara Le Gallez
Gladly. In one phrase "community spirit". — Barbara Le Gallez
Has anyone done any research on what ringers wan — Alan C
Which issues, the falling standard of ringing, the falling numbers of ringers or the falling number of ringable towers? — Alan C
Perhaps a representative body for ringers might want to know what all ringers think rather than just the vociferous members. — Alan C
Satisfying the desires of the current occupants of towers, many of whom are likely to say they don't want anything, is unlikely to generate the large numbers of capable, motivated ringers needed to secure a healthy future for ringing. — John Harrison
It seems that correspondents in towns and cities are depressed because they see their bands declining in skill: perhaps they can no longer ring Surprise Major. Whereas correspondents in country areas are delighted because they see church & village communities kept flourishing by people who can only ring plain hunt. — Barbara Le Gallez
A strong and committed territorial association (Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers), providing training and support.
A few public-spirited Spliced Surprise Maximus ringers who are not too proud to roll up their sleeves and teach basic bell handling to the same person for a very large number of weeks and months. You know who you are!
A larger number of decent ringers who enjoy pitching in and being part of a big group that works for the benefit of all. — Barbara Le Gallez
there's a huge void between PB5 and Surprise, — John de Overa
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