Learning to ring church bells

Ever wondered what it was like to learn how to ring? Or have forgotten what it was like when you first started out?

Discover, or rediscover, in this podcast, as host Cathy Booth talks to not one, but to two new ringers currently following the ART Learning The Ropes scheme.

Linda simply answered an advertisement in village magazine posted by a fellow dog-walker. As for Annie, well two years sailing around the world obviously wasn’t challenging enough and so has now found her land legs and a new passion for bells.

Both ringers talk enthusiastically about their newly found hobby, the patience of their teachers and the friendliness of the other ringers. Find out how ringing is good for your both your mind and your body and also what mischief you can cause


Top five takeaways

Want to learn to ring with an ART teacher? Go to http://ringingteachers.org and Rose can help!Learning the Ropes is a progressive learning scheme for bell ringers. It uses milestones to enable ringers to progress faster and further. Find out more at http://www.learningtheropes.orgRinging simulators are a great way for beginners to learn without annoying the rest of the neighbourhoodAs well as good physical exercise, bellringing can help with mindfulness as it takes your whole concentrationWant to explore what bell ringing is like from the comfort of your own home? Just go into YouTube, type in ‘bell ringing’ and take your pick.

About Annie’s sailing trip

Following Annie’s circumnavigation with her husband Tom in their 45 ft sailing yacht VELA, her memorable 3-year voyage took her to far-flung corners of the globe, including the remote pearl islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Returning to the U.K. keen to get back her land legs, she was looking for new challenges.

Instead of hauling the ropes found herself learning the ropes by taking up bell ringing.

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).