We’ve had a tough time in the tower in the last month or so. People have been away and some have suffered illnesses. These things happen but it is unfortunate that we haven’t always had enough ringers to ring all six bells. On one occasion we had to cancel the practice and on another we only managed to ring four on a Sunday.
We continually try to publicise our ringing and attract new ringers but we receive very little response. My estimate that we will not be ringing in five years time seems to be drawing closer by the week.
Nevertheless, we have had some success stories thanks to help received from nearby ringing friends. On the evening of our cancelled practice four of us went over to Gamlingay where we enjoyed a relaxed evening ringing triples and major, which made a pleasant change for us. And the week after, which was also scheduled to be cancelled, we asked friends from St Neots if they could help and we had a very succesful practice which included Stedman, Cambridge and Bourne as well as PLain Bob and call changes.
So we kept the bells ringing thanks to a lot of effort in drawing in other ringers. Many thanks to them for their support.
We have had other successes. Last week Josh rang St Simons inside (with a minder) but this week he was on his own, again due to shortage of ringers; but he rang it fairly well. Hazel was duty ringing master and managed the evening in spite of having to change her plan at the last moment.
Always workin to be part of the community we took the opportunity this week to ring for the 75th anniversary of the Mitchell family taking over the Chequers PH in Little Gransden (the ringers local). On Monday the 2nd (the actual date) we rang quarter peal of doubles in 4 methods, and during the practice on Thursday we rang a sepcially composed set of 75 call changes for the occasion. For both pieces of ringing we had to find substitutes due to illness but thankfully were able to ‘mix and match’.
The ringing on both occasions was very enjoyable. Thanks to recordings taken by David Prest we have been able to compile a short video summarising our ringing and presentation of a certificate to Bobby and Wendy Mitchell after our practice on Thursday.
The audio on the video is of the 75 call changes at the halfway point, which includes Queens.
I know that our ‘absent’ ringers are keen to get back in the tower and were looking forward to this.
Meanwhile, our weekly tied bell practices continue. In recent weeks, when only 3 or 4 ringers have been available we have used the simulator to practice listening skills. This has been very successful. The software scores each piece of ringing and we use this information as an incentive to improve the results. These practices also give more opportunity to include theory. They are very relaxed occasions.
Great Gransden Bell Ringers 