Ringing Forums

I've been thinking about doing this too. The two things that have been holding me back are: 1.the belief that something central is coming, and 2. what questions to ask?

Would it be worth pooling resources to get a good set of survey questions that could be asked, that anyone could then use locally? Then this could be used as frequently as individuals wanted to, and if a database comes down the road, no-doubt some volunteers will come forward to populate it with anything already gathered. — Jason Carter

Perhaps best done by visits to towers? I know some surveys have been done this way before. Perhaps anyone who has been involved in doing it this way could comment? — A J Barnfield

And of course the "tower band" is a bit of a vague concept given the amount of clustering and helping out that goes on. — A J Barnfield

Previous work also highlighted the need for more use of initial informal discussions face to face with a few people with different experiences, to understand how they would interpret the questions. This then needs to be followed by a small scale pilot survey to make sure that the responses can be analysed appropriately and will produce meaningful results, before going further. — Alison Hodge

For those that kept going what were the factors that kept them going for any that did not why not? — A J Barnfield

I think the Median ringer overall can ring Bob Minor - nothing more. I can't remember how I worked that out as it was some time ago, but I am sure it's about right. So not surprising that the median ringer overall has not rung a peal. — Simon Linford

1. a QP is a bog-standard event,
2. others where the senior ringers ring QPs sometimes but for the rest it's a special event, rarely occuring, and
3. where a QP is something distant and other-wordly.

We don't know what the ringing population is because we don't collect data in anything approaching a statistically meaningful way. We can guess. — A J Barnfield

We also might be able to do something about the replacement rate, ensuring that we can at least suitably replace everyone who steps down from leadership and organisation.

In central government there have been numerous attempts to solve problems with restructures. These normally eased problems in some areas, but then created all new problems in others. What they always failed to address was that the capabilities and resources of those within any of the structures didn’t change merely because they’ve been restructured. — Alan C

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

Finally, here’s something to think about if you think you’re in with the kids because you’ve got a branch Facebook page. Charlie gets teased at school for having the Facebook app on her phone. She only has Facebook to keep in touch with bellringers. Her friends think bellringing is OK and are even a bit intrigued by it – but as for using Facebook – how embarrassing is that! — Simon Linford

But the cake needs to look attractive to non-ringers. — Phillip George

When you sign up to learn to ring you are attached to a school. (you might, or might not, be attached to a local tower)
You will be assigned a mentor.
You will stay attached to the school into the medium and perhaps long term. In time you will be both teacher and learner. It is to the school that you will look for your development although of course you will probably also ring for services, weddings, peals and quarters. — A J Barnfield

↪A J Barnfield interesting that you frame the constraint on a DMO in terms of the weaknesses of local organisation rather than as a weakness of the CC per se. Your views in that direction are well known but I hadn't linked them directly with the problem of making the transition to a DMO. — John Harrison

And I have no idea how you'd work you the alternate timeline! :lol: — John de Overa

Thanks John, that's good to know. So suppose a CC rep has an idea, but can't get the relevant committee interested in it. Can they stand up at the annual meeting and say "I think we should do xyz"? That would be my test for democracy. — Barbara Le Gallez

Older people may be motivated by other factors, loyalty, service, etc.
I remember when I met Pat Canon in 1964 he bemoaned the fact that most of his band only rang out of duty, and weren't really interested in ringing. That remark stuck with me, and I think it is very relevant. Do we want keen ringers who will ensure ringing thrives? Or do we want it kept on life support by well meaning people who aren't that keen? — John Harrison