Deciding on a Group

Introduction

Here are the various Groups. When deciding which one to apply for, please remember that being over-optimistic about your anticipated progress between now and the Course is unlikely to bring you happiness. You will be ringing on bells you are not familiar with, and students invariably find that they get most out of the Course if they are realistic about their current ringing ability. Your tutor's flexibility will ensure being over-modest does not hold you back.

Although there is a wide range of choices we cannot guarantee that every group will be run.

Bell Experience

For this Group the only requirement is that you are able to ring rounds unaided. You will then ring at a range of towers specifically selected to give you experience of ringing on light and heavy bells, long and short draughts, plain bearings and ball bearings, etc. Your tutor will help you acquire the variations in techniques required to handle the different bells with complete confidence, and the Group Tutorials will concentrate on specific handling techniques and how to overcome handling problems generally. Raising and lowering - both on a single bell and in peal - will be included, as will the skills of leading and striking accurately. You will also be able to practise the holding up and pulling in skills required for plain hunting. Much of the ringing, though, will be rounds and call changes. This group is ideal for ringers who wish to become well-rounded bell handlers on all types of bells.

For those ringing confidently in rounds and call changes and looking to take those first steps into method ringing. Plain Hunt is the fundamental basis of all method ringing. Without being competent and confident in hunting the way forward can sometimes be very difficult and confusing. In this Group, consideration will be taken of the student's handling skills, as when good handling and competence in hunting combine, the large majority of students make rapid progress in their method ringing.

Bob Doubles

For this Group you need good bell control and experience of plain hunting the treble to Doubles methods. You also need reasonable ropesight. Thereafter, this Group is for you whether you want to start ringing plain courses of Bob Doubles, or consolidate on touches.

A Group with the same requirements and scope as Bob Doubles but concentrating on Grandsire Doubles.

Stedman Doubles

You will need to have good ropesight and already be able to ring touches of Bob Doubles or Grandsire Doubles inside, with ease. You do not, though, need any previous experience of Stedman.

For this Group you need to be able to ring touches of Bob Doubles inside, well and reliably. You will receive tuition and experience in all aspects of Bob Minor.

For this Group you will need to be able to ring touches of Minor methods beyond Plain Bob with ease and confidence; You should be looking to take your first step into Surprise minor or are consolidating on touches of Cambridge or already moving on to Norwich, Beverley or London.

Stedman Triples

For this Group you will need to be able to ring Cambridge Surprise Minor and touches of Bob Major with ease and confidence, and it would be good if you have attempted ringing Kent Treble Bob Major. The Group will focus primarily on Cambridge, but if you want to, you will also have the opportunity to try Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and beyond.

And Finally...

As you can see from the above, even though all the students in each Group will be concentrating on the same method or methods, they will all come to the Group with different levels of expertise and experience. Your tutor will be ensuring that each of you gets the maximum benefit from the Course; you will all end up with different levels of experience. Please do not be upset by this, and please do not try to measure your own progress by looking at anyone else's. It is what you yourself achieve over the weekend that is important.