Ringing 2030 - stillborn? 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!