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, and you will already be ringing plain courses of Cambridge. This Group is for you, though,

whether you are consolidating on touches of Cambridge or already moving on to Ipswich, Beverley,

Norwich or London.

 Grandsire Triples

A Group for those who can already ring touches of Plain Bob Triples and / or Grandsire doubles

and who wish to move on to, or consolidate on, Grandsire Triples. 

Surprise Major

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.

 Tower Leaders

This course is to support those who have or are taking a leadership role in their tower.

The aim is to cover Teaching Bell Handling, Health and Safety issues, Child Protection,

Basic Maintenance inc replacing a stay and Rope splicing, Discussions on Good Practice,

 Teaching skills, Delegation, Starting to Call and much more.

 This course will include a few practical session but will look at the theory in some depth.

 Please contact Mike W on 01264 790179 if you are thinking about this course

. 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.