We’ll soon be visiting Ramsey on their practice night as part of a ‘practice exchange’. They will visit our tower in June as a reciprocal part of the arrangement. But, before I report on that I thought I would write a few words on our latest news.
For the last few weeks I have been teaching a new young ringer, 9 year old Haydn, who’s home tower is Conington but the bells there are a little more difficult than at Gransden and I have been asked to help. He is on a ten week course with the aim of getting him through Level 1 of the Learning the Ropes training scheme. He is doing very well and can ring on his own. He now needs to condolidate his skills and develop consistency but all being well he will reach that taregt within the time-scales.
Our other you ringer, 11 year old Josh will soon pass his Level 3. In fact it’s just a question of organising two quarter peals for him which we hope to do in the next two or three months. Josh has impressed the organisers of the Ely Association young ringers group, The Fen Tigers, with his ringing skills, and he has earned a place in the squad representing the Association in London at the National Youth Striking Competition in July. Based at St Paul’s Cathedral it will be a great day for everyone and we wish Josh and the team the best of luck.
Meanwhile, back in the tower, our weekly tied bell practices continue with sometimes 8 ringers attending. We silence the bells and use simulated sound. We ring a variety of things to help develop our ringing skills, mainly Rounds and Call Changes, to warm up, then Plain Hunt on 5 and we introduce excercises such as whole pull and stand and jump changes. Dodging practice is included, which is very important to develop good bell control.
Still on the subject of training, I offered some one to one training to a ringing friend who is at the begining of his teaching (ringing) career. Mark George (no relation) visited the tied bell practice I held for Haydn last week and I was able to go through some key teaching points with him. He stayed on to our open ringing afterwards and practised his Plain Bob Doubles, which he said, he found very helpful. We look forward to Mark returning for another session to consolidate his Plain Bob.
This Sunday, the 19th May, the church held its annual meeting. The ringers enjoy an excellent relationship with the rector, churchwardens and PCC, and as steeple keeper I report to the wardens about maintenance of the bells etc. It was thanks to Mark’s drone footage earlier in the year that we spotted some faulty lead on the tower which I reported immediately, and as a result it was repaired quickly. In the warden’s fabric report (Rob Chignell) it was mentioned …”Thanks to Phillip George for all he does ‘up in that tower'” Well, thanks Rob, it is a pleasure to be the eyes of the PCC in the tower, a place rarely visited by non-ringers, but it is important to keep a watch on things. Anyway, during the annual meeting I asked that if anyone was interested in knowing what was ‘up that tower’ to just let me know and I will arrange a tour.
I think that’s all for now. Watch out for news about our visit to Ramsey.
Great Gransden Bell Ringers 