Young Ringers Training Afternoon
November 20, 2011 4:29 pm | by admin | Posted in Bedford District
Campton Church recently played host to a crowd of young people, (not so young!) helpers, bells and, of course, lots of cake. On the afternoon of Saturday 20th November, the young ringers from the Bedfordshire district gathered to have an afternoon of ringing on tower bells, hand bells, on a simulator, but mainly (let’s be honest!) for the feast of gorgeous cakes.
With a helping hand from the adult ringers, the young people were split into two groups, suitably named Bobs and Sallys. Then the fun began with the tower bells and hand bells being rung. As well as practising basic bell-handling in rounds and call changes, the youngsters also got to “judge” the more experienced ringers, and shout at them with hints to improve their striking, which caused much fun and hilarity.
On the hand bells we rang plain hunt with a difference. Everyone had a bell, and it wasn’t just striking in a different place, we were moving around like dancers, so we were able to move off some of the cake! There was also an opportunity to try the Abel simulator and a little competition was held, with prizes for best adults too.
The young people were definitely better than the adults. Although we may not have turned into expert ringers during the course of the afternoon, we did manage very successfully to get through all of the abundance of cakes. The afternoon was great fun and very useful for all the young ringers, and all of them are grateful to the people who organised it and all the people that donated the scrumptious cakes.
The afternoon finished with some more advanced method ringing for youngsters who could. It was an afternoon to remember and something that everyone could enjoy. We now look forward (with a certain sense of trepidation!) to the Ringing World Centenary Striking Competition in March, and before that a trip to Worcester to the Ringing Centre to perfect our techniques!
Alice