Ringing Forums

Thanks John. I don't recall ever seeing the PR Committee material, and presumably, neither had Bob Blanden. Even though newer, it surely needs updating, even if it could be retrieved and made available.

First, thank you to Bob Blanden for your comment about 'Striking the Right Note' that I produced a long time ago, before the days of on line information.

Like Bob, I would like to see a new and updated set of information on the same topic; it is desperately needed and I am also surprised that nothing has been produced by the CCCBR since the 1990s.

As Leader of the CCCBR Stewardship and Management Workgroup until last September, we produced our set of 3 online documents on Belfry Upkeep, Running a Tower and Belfry Projects. For the latter, we included some information on PR necessarily, simply because there was nothing else available from the CCCBR.

Regarding on line or printed, the Workgroup discussed at length, the question of on line or paper printed or both. Each approach has merits and drawbacks, but we decided the online approach was the optimum, even thought not everyone agrees. There were many reasons for our decision but the merits can be summarised as:
- readily updated or corrected
- easily expanded
- direct links to other sources
- latest information always available
- no printing, storage or distribution costs (time and financial)
- accessible to all freely (no cost, at any time, anywhere - almost)
- the medium used by virtually everyone nowadays and certainly preferred by the younger generations

Having had the experience of producing this set for the CCCBR, I agree that it would be very useful, and is actually essential, for the new PR Group along with the CCCBR Publications Group, to generate online information about PR for us all. PR is a fast moving and complex area that we all need now so online is by far the best medium. I am no longer up to date with PR matters but saw the need (and also mentioned it to the CCCBR) while producing the documents with SM Workgroup. I look forward to seeing it soon (and further online documents from the CCCBR) - thank you.

... and for those who are wondering, here are the links to our online documents:

Belfry Upkeep

Belfry Projects

Running a Tower

Thanks Lucy - I should have spotted that.

This seems a reasonable request. Can someone set it up please? It may enable young people to get involved in the wider community and feel that they have their own 'voice'. Thanks

Regarding stepping into surprise major, for comparison most activities other than ringing have dedicated 'coaches' / 'trainers' who themselves are interested in, trained in, and probably dedicate much of their involvement in the activity to that type of function, rather than 'performing' the activity itself.

Musicians, for example, usually rely on other professionals to train them at the appropriate level, maintain and repair their instruments, organise the orchestra / band or similar. This is especially so, for individuals who are capable of progressing to the elite levels of 'performance'. Similarly, for sports, there are equipment coaches and trainers, suppliers, repairers, groundsmen for pitches, etc. In many instances the individuals involved may do relatively little of the activity itself, especially at the highest levels.

Those advancing to the higher levels in other activities expect to travel progressively greater distances from the village / town, to city, county / national level. They do not and should expect to find enough people with the time, interest and capability in their immediate locality. So why do ringers and ringing continue to expect anything different?

Similarly, why can't capable technical people maintain bell installations without being ringers? Yes, they need some awareness of bells and ringing. This applies to many roles in ringing - e.g. interested historians / archivists etc could make a huge difference to certain aspects of ringing records without being fully active ringers themselves. However, there is often the restriction in ringing society Rules, that members have to be active ringers, and that only paid up members can be elected to the positions that undertake such roles. Let's be more flexible in our outlook!

I see numerous phones being used, but very few books now. Only the traditionalists (like me, I admit) get out their Red Diagrams, or similar.

What is appreciated at 2 towers where I ring is the tower copy of the blue lines in A4 spiral bound format. With that, several of the band can look over one copy together to sort out or explain a detailed point in the method. At that size, it is far easier for several people to see the page and where the a particular point of concern arises, rather than looking at separate books or phones. That however, is not a CCCBR publication, as far as I recall.

The other merit of online material, is that it can be kept up to date readily. This may not be of concern, say for basic blue lines, but for some items, that is important.

All seems OK now Graham - thank you very much.
I thought that I may have to buy some of your ebells instead.

Steph - we have prepared these but not publicly. Contact the 'Master' and 'Clerk to the BRF' via contacts given on the WDCRA website -

https://www.wdcra.org.uk/assn/central.htm

Have you contacted the CCCBR team that advises on noise matters for their advice? They have specialists with knowledge of technical options for managing noise / sound both inside and outside towers, and also Environmental Health legislation which is what covers noise issues.

Their contact details are on the CCCBR website here - https://cccbr.org.uk/resources/stewardship-and-management/dealing-with-complaints/

I can the answer I expected - hubs are a good way to maintain ringing both for routine services and practices since bringing ringers together can achieve critical mass. However, there it is still the imperative that we recruit more ringers, not least to enable ringing for major events like Harvest, Christmas, Remembrance and national occasions.

The advantage of hubs for recruiting is that they should appear to be active and lively groups able of fostering ringing. Having said that, hubs still need capable teachers and facilities, both for the initial stages and advancement. Recruits to such hubs also need to be willing to travel to other towers when required.

So forming hubs / clusters (whatever they may be called) in name only is not sufficient - training aids, teachers and recruitment have to be an integral part of forming a hub.

John - unfortunately, we have examples where special services are at different times from the regular service, hence the clashes created. Also, the Harvest services are in successive weeks for the reason you mention - one priest covering 11 churches (in one instance). In particular, the churches want the bells for the special services whereas there is no ringing normally - just one 8am service a month for example.

We will see what will be requested for Remembrance and Christmas.